Nowra Air Station (NOA/YSNW), home to the HMAS Albatross, is a small airport in New South Wales built in 1942. The airfield hosts Australian Navy helicopters like the MH60s based at the HMAS Albatross in the east. In addition, the air station also hosts a Sikorksy hangar and is base for Air Affair and their Learjets in the west. Furthermore, you can find the Fleet Air Arm Museum in the northeast.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Clinton J Down Photography. Last Update: Spring 2024

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
03/21	2045m (6710ft)
08/26	2095m (6870ft)
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed actually.
Car/Public Transport	A car is definitely needed as public transport is very poor here.
Drinks/Food	Not a lot of cafés or shops around to be honest.
Hotels	No spotter hotels and also not a lot of other hotel options around the airfield.
Season	Traffic is roughly constant all year around, but on fridays there is less traffic and normally no traffic on weekends!
Security	Spotting is normally no issue here, but as the airfield is used military aircraft it is important to stick to the general rules for miliatry airfields: Always try to keep a low profile (stow your camera at all times e.g.) and be aware of law enforcement. Police and security forces may be uneasy of photographers around the base and it is very possible you will be asked to leave. In addition, always keep an ID with you in case you are getting checked: stay friendly, simply explain what you do here and cooperate… Mostly if you just say you are watching planes (and try to not have your camera next to you), they will leave you alone and tell you not to make any pictures. But sometimes they do also run license plate checks, wanna see the pictures on your SD or they will even make you delete shots, so plan on either having throwaway shots or download shots to another device while spotting to be safe. Stay away from the fence as long as possible to avoid attention and such trouble! Do not include any buildings at all time!
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 03/21 is more often in use and mostly in 21 direction. But as NOA is a helicopter base, do not be surprised of sudden changes, strange approach paths or whatever…

	Spot #1 – Braidwood Rd/Albatross Rd – 21 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located at the corner of Braidwood Rd and Albatross Rd where you will find a sort of dirt patch/car park. You can easily park here and position yourself freely according to your favourite angle.
WHAT	The spot is nice for 21 arrivals and low 03 departures.
TIME	Light is good from noon till sunset.
MISC.	There is a small shed hosting a café only opened on weekday mornings just at the corner of the two streets. Apart from that, there is nothing around.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm EC135 = 300mm

NOA-Spot1

NOA-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Fleet Air Arm Museum – 21 Arrivals + 03 Departures
WHERE	For this location, head for the Fleet Air Arm Museum, where you can easily park your car in front. Then you can either enter the museum (ONLY opened from Friday to Sunday though) in exchange for a donation to the museum and head to their viewing deck to the west. In the case the museum is closed. just use the stairs to the museum to clear the fence.
WHAT	From here you can nicely shoot 21 movements and low 03 departures.
TIME	This spot is only good in the morning for the runway movements, but you can afterwards head to the museum hall inside.
MISC.	The museum is ONLY opened Friday to Sunday as of Spring 2024. You have to pay a small donation as entrance fee, but the museum also offers restrooms and a gift shop.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm EC135 = 400mm

NOA-Spot2

NOA-Spot2

Viewing Deck is located behind the corner on the other/back side of the building:

	Spot #3 – Aviation Business Park – Nearby Apron + 08 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located in the Avation Business park in the southwest of the airport. To get here, take Wugan St till the end and then search your favourite position around here in the nearby side streets or along the fence somewhere.
WHAT	Here you can get the MH-60’s doing circuits and the parked Air Affairs Learjets in front. Plus, once there are rare 08 arrivals, you can also shoot them.
TIME	08 Arrivals work around noon, for the rest it depends on the angle, but around noon is a good time in general for this spot.
MISC.	Nearby is a small café which is opened on weekdays. Otherwise there is nothing around. Try to keep a low profile to avoid attention by the staff of the nearby companies. Try not hang at the fence for a long time and do not use ladders, try to make a quick shot through the mesh once needed.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm MH60 = 250mm

NOA-Spot3