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Planespotting Guides for Egypt's Airports and AirfieldsHome >> Africa Planespotting Guides >> EgyptSpotting locations, viewing areas, the best spotting hotel rooms and advice on access for plane spotters travelling to airports and airfields in Egypt. 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, Google Earth and Google Maps to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many moreCAIRO AIRPORT (HECA/CAI)Spotting InfoTerminal 1 Terminal 1 is at the northern point of the airport, overlooking where the left parallel runway (05L/23R) meets the old, disused cross runway. No piers, all aircraft park remotely so if you arrive here, you may log more on the bus ride in. Opposite Terminal 1. on the other side of the cross runway is the long military apron, often containing C130s, with the maintenance area containing stored aircraft to the right of it. A little further to the right is a large GA apron where you'll often see biz, helicopters, turboprops and possibly more stored airliners. Airside there are good views through large glass windows, looking out to the runway or across the cross runway to the ramps previously mentioned. Terminal 2 Terminal 2, both the building and the stands, is in the process of being rebuilt and therefore is not used at the moment. Terminal 3 Good views airside of two of the three parallel runways (the eastern two) but a fair proportion of the Terminal 1 movements land on 05L/23R away to the north which can't be seen. Early morning onwards is a good time to log the majority of EgyptAir's fleet, both domestic and long-haul, as they use Terminal 3. Stored Aircraft There are a lot of stored aircraft parked at various places around the airport. Maintenance Area HS-VAC B743 YA-HSB B733 YA-SFL B733 05C/23C-Cross Runway Intersection SU-BGO Ce337 SU-ZDA IL62 Long-Term Storage, Runway 23C Threshold - only visible on taxi in and out, and arriving and departing, providing you're sat on the correct side of the aircraft SU-MWA A310 SU-PBO DC9 TL-ADY B727 B777 - SU-GBP or SU-GBX? Planespotting Hotels The Le Meridien Hotel has limited views of the approach traffic from rooms on the 6th floor from 620, 622 624 etc. The Le Meridien Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report CAIRO-CITADEL MILITARY MUSEUMSpotting InfoThe Egyptian Military Museum at the Citadel in Cairo has six aircraft displayed outside - 254 Wilga, 621 Yak 18, 2481 MiG17, 5908 MiG21, 7320 Su7 plus an unknown Zlin Z226. Photos aren't a problem if you're visiting the museum as it's a tourist attraction of historical importance. CAIRO-6TH OF OCTOBER WAR PANORAMA MEMORIAL MUSEUMSpotting InfoThe 6th of October War Panorama Memorial is alongside the eastern carriage of the main airport road that leads to Cairo city, or on your left as you drive away from the airport. The three aircraft on display outside - 2961 MiG17, 7771 Su20, 8040 MiG21 - can be seen from the road and photos aren't a problem if you're visiting the museum, as it's a tourist attraction of historical importance. SHARM el-SHEIKH AIRPORT (HESH/SSH)General Info2 parallel runways - 04L/22R, 04R/22L. Most of the time 04s are in use (04L is the main landing runway), with occasional changes some afternoons when the wind picks up over the sea. Arrivals start around 6, it's not busy but the movements are steady and dominated by Russian and eastern European airlines. Sunday is the busiest day. Beware if you travel outside your hotel, don't get in any of the blue and white taxis. Use hotel taxi or the blue mini buses - 1 LE fare anywhere. Using a scanner very discreetly will help as they use their full registration on their first inbound call, or the use of an SBS/Radarbox/RTL. Very little gets reported on spotting in and around the airport, and for good reason. The airport is under military control and as such, there are many armed guards around, both landside and airside. The best advice is to use mini bins and cameras on the taxi in/out and from the bus if you park remote. Then travel to your spotting hotel for the rest of your stay. Because the usual wind direction dictates 04 is often in use for arrivals, it's usually better to stay southwest of the airport, hence why Naama Bay is so popular with spotters. Spotting Info Airside there's lots of glass, no problems but be discreet. There are guards at the gates, but if you wish to take photos just ask them if it's ok. As far as they're concerned, you're a tourist, and they'll either say yes or no, without further issue - it's usually ok to take photos, just make it infrequent. Landside there are security guards everywhere so spotting and photography is not advisable, and they regularly patrol the perimeter. Planespotting Hotels NAAMA BAY HOTELS The Sonesta Beach Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability The Sharm Cliff Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability The Tropitel features on for reviews, prices and room availability The Sheraton Sharm Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability NABQ HOTELS The Radisson Blu Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability AIRPORT COASTLINE HOTELS The Concorde el Salam Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability The Hilton Sharks Bay features on for reviews, prices and room availability The Grand Oasis Resort features on for reviews, prices and room availability The Coral Sea Sensatori features on for reviews, prices and room availability Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report |