Salvador Luiz Eduardo Magalhães Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Salvador Luiz Eduardo Magalhães Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

January 17, 2022 - last modified on December 6, 2023

Salvador is a large Brazilian city, with approximately 3 million inhabitants, and has the countrys 10th busiest airport. In 2019, the airport handled 7.4 million passengers with roughly 90 thousand aircraft operations on its runways. The airport of Salvador city (IATA: SSA – ICAO: SBSV) is named after Federal Deputy Luiz Eduardo Magalhães and was privatized in 2017 and is now managed by the French company Vinci Airports.

All major Brazilian airlines (LATAM, AZUL, GOL, ITA, and Voepass) operate at this airport, in addition to some international ones connecting SSA to Europe and South America (TAP, Air Europa, JetSmart, Aerolíneas Argentinas). The airport receives many charter flights, mainly from South America and Europe, latter in times of school holidays. It is also the base of the Brazilian Air Force and it is always possible to photograph FAB military aircraft, which are constantly land here. The movements at the airport taking place throughout the day, with no specific times, allowing more operations in the morning and afternoon.

It is a very easy and safe airport to spot from as the photo points are close to each other and the view is wide and the locations are safe.

Our thanks to the spotters Marcos Paulo Caput and Rafael Rozendo dos Reis, for helping us with the photos of spot 04 and the videos in spots 05 and 06 respectively.

Written by Ediney Ribeiro. Las Update December 2021.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10/28	3.003 m (9 852 ft)
17/35	1.518 m (4 980 ft)
Terminals	One terminal for all commercial passenger traffic.
Spotting Information
Ladder	There is no need for a ladder as the fence is very low. At spots 2, 3 and 6 one step is helpful but not really needed.
Car/Public Transport	If you are staying in the city it is very easy to get to the airport. There is a metro with several stations so it is likely that your hotel is close to one of them. The main metro line runs from the city center to the airport station at a cost of 1 USS dollar and you can reach the most important spots from there by foot. If you come by car you can leave the car in the parking lot, where you can already take pictures.
Drinks/Food/Restrooms	Nothing in any of the remote photo locations. But 1-3 are close to the terminal which provides all necessary amenities.
Hotels	There aren’t hotels next to the airport. But in a distance of 2 km from the airport you can find numerous hotels of various categories.
Season	In SSA it is possible to photograph all year round. From September to April the main locations are more favorable.. Rains are more abundant between Dec and Feb.
Security	All photo locations are safe, especially 1 – 3 as they are close to the terminal and the military base. But more care should be taken with the remote spots.
Runway Usage
10/28	It is the runway used in 90% of the time. Landings and departures mainly take place on runway 10, with rare excesses turning to head 28.
17/35	This runway is rarely in use, mainly when 10/28 is closed. As it is close to executive aircraft hangars, it is mostly used for this type of plane. It is occasionally used by commercial aviation.

	Spot #1 – Airport Parking – 10/28 and 17/35 movements
WHERE	Once you arrive at the airport you can already see the parking garage at the entrance to the airport. Go up to the 1st or 2nd floor by car or by elevator from the terminal and you will be at the photo locations. Local spotters prefer the 2nd floor, but from the first floor it is also possible to shoot with the same view, with the difference that it will be about 3 meters lower.

WHAT	As most of the operations are concentrated on runway 10/28 at this location, you will not miss a movement from this spot. 10 and 28 landings, 10 take-offs and taxi. Almost everything passes through here. It is also possible to take photos of runway 17/35 by walking to the western end of the parking garage from where you can see a good part of the runway. Night photography is also possible here, as the planes stop for a moment lining up on runway 10.

TIME	The best time here is from September to April, when the sun is more favorable, at practically all hours of the day. In the other months the sun is against it for most of the day.

MISC.	The parking lot staff are used to spotters and it’s okay to stay here. Safe location, snack bars and restrooms within walking distance to the terminal. There are sun protection roofs for the cars installed on the 2nd floor and the 1st floor has the shadow of the parking lot, but when taking pictures it’s better to stay in the sun.

FOCAL LENGTH	Taxiway: A320 / B737 50mm, Widebody 18-30mm. Landing: A320 / B737 150mm – 70mm, Widebody 100mm -50mm. Executive Aircraft and General Aviation, landing or taxi: between 220mm to 100mm.

	Spot #2 – Terminal Rd – 10 arrivals and line-up
WERE	The spot is at the head of runway 10 on the grass verge along the Avenida Frederico G. Santos, the main access road to and from the terminal. It is a short walk, about 400 meters, from the parking garage (spot1). Park there and walk back to find your preferred position along the road.

WHAT	Best for 10 arrival shots, side and front photos, depends on where you stand. It is possible to take taxi photos of aircraft entering the runway, or waiting to take off through the fence. But be aware of heat haze!

TIME	As it is possible to walk on the grass verge you can take photos from both sides fo the runway is all day long, following the sunlight.

MISC.	There’s nothing here, not even shade. Restrooms are about 500 meters inside the terminal. Safe place and no problems with the police or airport security.

FOCAL LENGTH	300mm for a B737/A320 approaching already for the same aircraft from the side between 100 to 70mm Executive and General Aviation 170 to 150 mm under the same conditions.

	Spot #3 – Air Base Entrance – 10 arrivals and departures
WHERE	Another spot which is not far from the terminal. This location is on the road that gives access to the air base of the Brazilian Air Force. Before the entrance of the air base there is a large lawn at the perimeter fence where you can stay. It is possible to walk to this place from the airport’s parking lot, a distance of about 1500 meters. Keep in mind there is no place to park vehicles and if you insist, soldiers can ask you to leave.

WHAT	It is possible to photograph aircraft entering the runway and aircraft approaching for landing. Unfortunately a ladder would be necessary, but totally inadvisable, you will have to take photos through the fence of the aircraft in taxi, as the approaching aircraft are still high, so it is possible to photograph them.

TIME	The best months are in the winter from May to August when it is possible to photograph almost the whole day with favorable light. In the other months the light is very bad.

MISC.	Spotting is tolerated here, but you will be close to an military base and maybe asked to leave, but normally the spotters can stay here without problems. There are no bathrooms here, but there are shadows. You are near a military base, so you will be safe here.

FOCAL LENGTH	Boeing 737, Airbus A320, ATR 72 approaching 300 to 250mm. Aircraft in Taxi between 100 and 130 mm.

	Spot #4 – Dunes – 10/28 movements
WHERE	This location is far away from the airport terminal, located on some sand dunes near the head of runway 28. To get here it is necessary to go by car Public transport is not recommended to use. Use Google Maps to locate Rua Eng. Carlos Berenhauser, in Parque das Dunas. Park the car when the street turns into dirt road. Now walk on the small path on the dunes until the border of the airport. From there you have a wonderful sight as the position is elevated so no ladder is needed.

WHAT	You are very close and the planes passing right in front of you. As you are in the middle of the runway 10/28 and the taxiway you won`t miss a single movement.

TIME	The best time here is from September to April, when the sun is more favorable, at practically all hours of the day. In the other months the sun is against it for most of the day.

MISC.	It’s a remote location, there are no restrooms or shade and you should take what you need with you. The area next to the spot is pretty wealthy and we don’t have news of cases of violence against spotters here. But as we always recommended is not to go alone and keep a watchful eye about the equipment.

FOCAL LENGTH	Boeing 747 taking off: 300 to 180mm Boeing 737 taking off: 400 to 250mm Boeing 747 taxiing: 30 to 100mm Boeing 737 taxiing: 70 to 120mm

	Spot #5 – Highway – 17 arrivals
WHERE	There is a huge meadow at the head of rwy 17, at Avenida Tenente Frederico Gustavo dos Santo highway, about 1500 meters from the airport terminal, where you can stay. To get here by car follow the highway that leave the airport. After passing the approach path of 17 make a U-Turn, drive back and park next to a parking lot on the side of the road (as marked on the map). There is a large lawn, where it is possible to stay and take pictures mainly of landings, but also takeoffs. Walking from the terminal is not recommend as there isn’t a sidewalk.

WHAT	Landing on rwy 17 but the use of this runway is very rare! The place is very close to where the planes pass and it is possible to take close-up photos as well as side photos.

TIME	All day, as the lawn is large and walking from one side to side to another is possible.

MISC.	There are no shades and no bathrooms. You will be between two busy streets. Take what you think you need, sunscreen, water etc.

FOCAL LENGTH	Boeing 737 – between 200 and 70mm Executive and General Aviation – Between 300 and 100mm

	Spot #6 – Dunes – All movements
WHERE	This is a reomote spot and located near the head of runway 35 and only reachable by car. Take the Carybé Highway from the airport until the interchange with the Dorival Cayme highway. Use the freeway intersaction to get back on the Carybé highway heading to the airport. Use the exit o the Eng. Jose Afonso Teixeira and drive along this road until you find the first exit on the left. Park here on the side of the road and walk along Alameda Holanda for about 500 meters until you see the threshold of runway 35 to your right. The fence at this point is very low so you can easily get over it with your camera. Car parking is limited at this position.

WHAT	You won’t miss a single movement because all planes roll by to and from the terminal on the nearby taxiway. Furthermore all runway movements are possible, even 17 departures are still very low at this point. Keep in mind this runway is less in use!

TIME	After 12pm until sunset.

MISC.	There are no toilets or any support here. Take what you think is necessary, water, food, repellent, etc.

FOCAL LENGTH	This location is very close to the runway, we believe that between 70 to 150mm for aircraft passing in front of you.