Bolzano Airport - Spotting Guide

Bolzano Airport – Spotting Guide

November 30, 2023 - last modified on October 17, 2023

Bolzano Airport (IATA: BZO, ICAO: LIPB) is a small regional airport near Bolzano in the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy. The airport was created in October 1926 and nowadays has a single runway for all the operations, it’s located south of the city of Bolzano and is easilly reachable by car or by public transports. It’s the home base of local carrier Skyalps with some Dash8 aircraft, as well as local flying club, custom police with A169 and B412 helicopter, Italian Army with Bell UH1 and now and then with Dornier 228 and Piaggio P180, Italian Gendarmerie and many more private and commercial flights. The runway is capable fot the major business jet with a single appearance of a B737.

Written by Mattia De Bon and Tombarelli Federico. Some pics of Marco Papa. Last Update: October 2023

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways	01/19 1432x45m
	01/19 GLD 653x20m Grass
Terminals	One main terminal for all operations
Spotting Information
Ladder	Useful for spots 1 and 2 but you can shoot through the fence as well.
Car/Public Transport	If coming from the city center, there is a bus stop for the first two locations. Spot 3 is only reachable by car.
Drinks/Food	There is a restaurant inside the terminal, supermarket and restaurants within 500m
Hotels	A hotel directly at the airport is not available. Next ones in the city center
Season	Due to the north/south runway alignment it is better to visit the airport in the summer months.
Security	Keep a low profile as always when in Italy, our hobby is never fully understood…
Runway Usage
General Info	19 is mainly in use for takeoff except when northern winds are too strong. 01 only used for arrival traffic following the instrument approach. General aviation aircrafts normally takes 19 all the time

	Spot #1 – Airport Parking
WHERE	Get to the free parking lot next to the airport terminal. From the motorway A22 Bolzano sud follow signs towards Trento and then to the airport. If coming from the city center by bus exit at the airport station, approximate 200 meters north of the terminal.

WHAT	Runway 19 movements, taxi aircraft and parking aircraft in front of you.

TIME	Summer from sunrise (around 8.30 when the sun appears over the mountain) to 12. Winter sunrise till 2 pm.

MISC.	Restaurant at the airport or within 1 km with supermarkets. Ladder useful but you can shot through the fence

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm for runway shots, less than 100mm for the parking and taxiway.

	Spot #2 – Recycling Center
WHERE	When you leave the motorway follow the same route as spot 1. When reaching a roundabout with a supermarket (interspar) at your left, turn right behind OBI store. You can park here and walk for 200m as in front of the recycling center parking is not allowed. If coming from the city center by bus, there is a stop just around the corner at the main road.

WHAT	Lining up runway 19, takeoff/landing 19 and late vacating movements

TIME	In the summer from 3pm till sunset. Winter the sun remains at 45° in the runway axe so only landing shots are possible

MISC.	Supermarket and restaurant within 500m. Ladder useful but you can shot through the fence

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm for lining up shots, depending what you want, even less for landing shots

	Spot #3 – Field
WHERE	From spot 1 follow Via campofranco till the road makes an “S” after all the military hangars and a ranch. Park in the field or just outside the main road.

WHAT	All landings rwy 01 and (very high) takeoff 19. Backtrack 01 also possible as you are really close to the runway

TIME	Sumemr from 3pm till sunset. winter only rwy19 shots as the sun is at 45°

MISC.	Nothing nearby. First restaurant, supermarket near spot 2

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm, less for runway shots