Aircraft Spotting at Aberdeen City's Airfields and Airports
Spotting locations, viewing areas and advice on access for airports and airfields in Aberdeen City. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs and Google Earth to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more
ABERDEEN AIRPORT - TWR 118.1, APP 119.05, A/G 121.7
Spotting Info
Northwest of city near Dyce, off A96, these viewing spots are marked in the Spotting in the UK download. If you're after the many helicopters based here, it's best to visit early morning on a weekday before they all depart, starting at around 0645. Tuesdays 0600-0700 is the best chance to see the two offshore based Bond SAR AS332L2s as that is when they come in for crew change. Airside, you can see all runway movements. If you fly in to Aberdeen and don't have your own transport, to get to the eastern side of the airport, use Bus 80 to Dyce railway station, and the mound and hangars are a short walk away.
Terminal Area Spotting
The multi-storey car park across from the terminal is ideal for reading off the helicopters and anything on cargo along with a few of the terminal stands. It's £1.00 for 15 mins which is plenty of time. If you're on foot, don't spend any length of time here as some spotters get asked to move by the police. Others have reported no problems here though.
Turn left out of the terminal and after a short walk you will reach the dedicated viewing area. Shelter but no other facilities so stock up before you leave the terminal. The viewing area has views of the main apron and runway, and Bond and Signature over the other side of the airport, but not the helicopter pads. However the helicopters use the runway to arrive and depart so all movements are visible.
If you follow the road round from the viewing terrace away from the terminal and turn left and left again, this is Upper Farburn Road and leads to a farm. Along the way you'll have views of the stands this side of the terminal and across the runway. You can follow this right round past the farm to the 34 threshold.
For views of Bristow and CHC Helicopters, turn right out of the terminal and you'll reach a grass bank that looks onto their aprons. Excellent views of their movements but no shelter from the weather. CHC have been known to be friendly. A polite request there often results in you being able to look through the lower windows of their hangar to log what you can, and if someone is available you may be escorted round.
East Side Spotting
The mound is north of the eastern hangars and accessed by entering the main industrial estate off the A947, turning right at the roundabout and following the road round to the left. Take the next right onto Foinavon Close, park up for free and the mound is in front of you. You are above the perimeter fencing making logging very easy and allowing excellent photographs of movements though the sun gets in the way in the afternoon. Occasionally police move spotters from here to the lower part below the fenceline. On this side of the airport is an unknown Lynx on a mock-up oil drill platform. Also visible from here are XZ372 Jaguar and ZA110 Jetstream with the fire service - away to the right beyond the runway 16 threshold. G-BHIC C182 is also with the fire service.
Dyce train station has a bridge and a path that leads to more hangars - Bristow, Bond helicopters, Gama Aviation/Air ambulance. Here you get decent views of the terminal and all hangars. The police make regular tours and may question you but they're happy for you to be there. Ask for access at Bond - you probably won't be allowed in but they often let you look from the door and tell you the registrations. All ask at Bristow - they are friendly but you'll have to be escorted round so it depends if someone's available to do this.
Following the road south behind the hangars you'll reach the flying club on the right with all easily logged. You should also get a view across to the terminal stands from here though some will be parked tail on.
Planespotting Hotels - its location is marked in the Spotting in the UK download
The Speedbird Inn is best but book early as the oil rigs block book. Room 404 has a view of the runway and is fine in the autumn/winter but trees in full bloom in the summer will obstruct your view. Room 402 is on the corner and may give a view of the Bristow ramp and a view of the runway. The Speedbird Inn features on   for reviews, prices and room availability
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PETERCULTER-CULTER HELIPAD
Spotting Info
Head west out of town on A93 and take the first right, signed Culter Helipad. Follow the signs (Culter Helipad or HJS Helicopters) from then on. Friendly and may provide an escort in to the hangar, though access has been known to be denied sometimes.
HJS Helicopters
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