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Aircraft Spotting at France's Airports and Airfields

Spotting locations and the best spotting hotel rooms for planespotters travelling to French airports and airfields. 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 more

ABBEVILLE AIRFIELD (LFOI/XAB)

AGEN AIRPORT (LFBA/AGF) - TWR 121.3, APP (Toulouse) 125.175

AMIENS GLISY AIRFIELD (LFAY/QAM)

ANGOULEME AIRPORT (LFBU/ANG) - TWR 123.15

ANNECY AIRPORT (LFLP/NCY) - TWR 118.2, APP 123.7

BERGERAC AIRPORT (LFBE/EGC) - TWR 119.8, APP 119.275

BORDEAUX AIRPORT (LFBD/BOD) - TWR 118.3, APP 121.2

CALAIS AIRFIELD (LFAC/CQF) - TWR 128.925

CANDILLARGUES AIRFIELD (LFNG)

CANNES-MANDELIEU AIRPORT (LFMD/CEQ)

CHATELLERAULT AIRFIELD (LFCA/XCX)

CHAVENAY AIRFIELD (LFPX)

CHELLES LE PIN AIRFIELD (LFPH)

CLERMONT FERRAND AIRPORT (LFLC/CFE) - TWR 118.625, APP 120.325

COULOMMIERS AIRFIELD (LFPK)

CREIL AIRFIELD (LFPC/CSF) - TWR 123.3, APP (Charles de Gaulle) 119.85

CUERS-PIERREFEU AIRPORT (LFTF) - TWR 118.275

ETAMPES-MONDESIR AIRFIELD (LFOX)

FONTENAY TRESIGNY AIRFIELD (LFPQ)

LA FERTE ALAIS AIRFIELD (LFFQ)

LA FERTE GAUCHER AIRFIELD (LFFG)

LE PLESSIS-BELLEVILLE AIRFIELD (LFPP)

LENS AIRFIELD (LFQL/XLE)

LES MOERES AIRFIELD (LFAK/XDK)

LILLE-MARCQ EN BAROUEL AIRFIELD (LFQO)

LIMOGES AIRPORT (LFBL/LIG) - TWR 118.175, APP 119.2

LOGNES AIRFIELD (LFPL/XLG)

LYON-BRON AIRPORT (LFLY/LYN) - TWR 118.1, APP 119.45

LYON-ST. EXUPERY AIRPORT (LFLL/LYS) - TWR 120.45, APP 120.225 & 125.8

MARSEILLE AIRPORT (LFML/MRS) - TWR 118.375, APP 120.2

MASSY-ECOLE TECHNIQUE AIR FRANCE

MEAUX ESBLY AIRFIELD (LFPE)

MERVILLE AIRFIELD (LFQT/HZB) - TWR 119.075, APP 120.275

MONACO HELIPORT (LNMC)

MONTPELLIER AIRPORT (LFMT/MPL) - TWR 118.2, APP 120.375, 130.85 & 133.775

NICE AIRPORT (LFMN/NCE) - TWR 118.7, APP 124.175 & 130.825

The Ibis Hotel has excellent views of the runway and room 521 has been recommended.
The Ibis Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability

The Hotel Campanile is just east of the terminal buildings. Ideal for 22 movements but if they're on 04s some of the smaller stuff can turn off early. 5 minute walk from the terminals though there is a free shuttle. Top floor, odd numbered rooms from 503-511 will get you these airport views.
The Hotel Campanile features on for reviews, prices and room availability

The Hotel Galaxie is 5 minutes walk from the CAP3000 shopping mall and you can get down on to the beach and sit on the rocks. From here you can get everything taxiing out and all landings with a good pair of bins.
The Hotel Galaxie features on for reviews, prices and room availability

The Mercure CAP3000 is across the road (north) from the CAP3000 shopping centre. With the right room you can read approaches on 04s. A free shuttle bus from the airport terminals and is 5 minutes walk from the yacht club and beach. From here all arrivals and departures can be read off. If they're on 22s however, the north side of the airport offers better views of landing traffic. About 10 Euros by taxi (1 Euro by bus) to get over to Route Anglais on the north side, where most of the larger biz jets park.
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The Novotel CAP3000 is also across the road (west) from CAP3000, and as such has the same accessibility to the shopping complex and is closer to the beach.
The Novotel CAP3000 features on for reviews, prices and room availability

If you're staying at Place Messena, a 99 bus (express) runs from the Gare Routieres at the eastern end of the Place Messena, to the airport and costs 4 euros.

Transfer to Monaco Heliport
A 1 euro 30 bus ride into Monaco will let you have a wander around the harbour, there's a helicopter on the back of a large yacht sometimes. You can also walk around to the Air Monaco heliport, it's at the end of the Avenue de Ligures.
Last reported July 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

PARIS-CHARLES de GAULLE AIRPORT (LFPG/CDG) - TWR 119.25 & 120.9, APP 121.15, 125.825, 126.425, 118.15 & 119.85

All 57 French airports - their locations, hotels and viewing areas have been plotted on Google Maps and Google Earth's detailed satellite imagery and can be added to your SatNav - click to download. Planning your spotting trip has never been easier. Please read the Download Instructions for example screenshots and further details

Photography/Spotting Permit
At Charles de Gaulle airport, you are required to hold this permit if you wish to photograph aircraft anywhere in or around the airport. During your visit there is every chance you will questioned by airport police or security and asked to show this permit. If you do not have one you will be asked to leave. Whilst this permit is to allow you to photograph the aircraft, even if you are only logging registrations, some officials do not distinguish between the two so it's best to get a permit just to be safe. To get a permit to spot, attach a scanned image of your passport photo page to the email, with a covering note requesting permission to courrier@seine-saint-denis.pref.gouv.fr. When you've scanned the passport into your PC you need to make sure the file size is ideally less than 500kb. If it's too large the email won't get through and you'll receive no bounced reply advising you of this. Mark it for the attention of Le Commandant Xavier Huby (his direct email address is xavier.huby@seine-saint-denis.pref.gouv.fr if the first address bounces the email back to you), put in the email who you are, that you wish permission to photograph for personal purposes at CDG, and when you intend to travel to CDG. Don't forget to include your address. Use Babelfish or freeetranslation to translate into French and send your request in both French and English, this has been known to speed up the process. Click here for an example. If you are unable to scan your passport to send an email, you can post a photocopy and 2 passport size photos with the covering letter to M. Xavier HUBY Commandant de Police, 06 rue des Bruyeres BP 20106, 95711 Roissy en France. Tel 0033 1 74377716 or Fax 0033 1 48627588. It will arrive by post and usually takes 3 weeks (but has been known to take as long as 6 weeks if they are very busy so please allow plenty of time) to arrive and keep it safe, there is no expiry date and can be used every time you visit. Authorities will check it and leave you to spot in peace. There is no charge for this permit.

The Mound - "Roissy Pole"
Unless you arrive at T3, the best way to get here is use the CDGVAL, an automated underground train that runs from next to the TGV station to Roissypole station next to the Ibis. Easyjet arrive at T2B, to get to the mound, after baggage turn left towards Terminal 2D, and follow the signs to CDGval, which is next to the RER/TGV station between Terminals 2D and 2F. Take the CDGval to Terminal 3 station. On arrival look for Exit 1, signposted - Continental Square this leads to a covered walkway that ends at the traffic lights and the car park next to the mound. If you land at T3, turn right out of T3, walk through the tunnel to the bus/train station and then head down to the left of the Hilton Hotel (and away from the Ibis). Having walked down the side of the Hilton you will then be facing a large car park, with the Sofitel beyond. Cross the road and go left around the outside of it following the fence, which brings you to what's left of the Mound. If you land elsewhere and need to ask someone for help, DO NOT ask for the Metro Station, Metro, Station or RER, chances are you'll get sent the wrong way. Just ask for the bus to Ibis Hotel. In between you and the Sofitel are two taxiways. To the right of the Sofitel is terminal 1 and some remote stands. Beyond these are the two northern runways. To the left of the Sofitel beyond the trees are the cargo stands - keep an eye here too as things tend to appear without warning, sometimes you hear them first. On your left is terminal 2 and beyond that are the two southern runways. Behind the hotels you just walked from is another taxiway that you can't see and is regularly used so make sure you log everything you see! You need to keep constantly looking everywhere. Depending on the wind direction, you will either miss a few or miss a lot, but you will log hundreds. Take a radio and listen to Le Bourget Tower 118.925 as you can see the arrivals if they're using 27. Coming back is a longer route on the bus (especially if you're leaving from 2B), so make sure you leave plenty of time. You'll go from the Ibis, to 2A and 2C, 2E, 2F, TGV and then 2B and 2D. Would certainly recommend staying all day. There are no seats or facilities here, but there are temporary toilets outside the train station. The mound is plotted in the Spotting in France download.

Spotting Info
Fences around the perimeter of CDG have been damaged by photographers. More and more holes are appearing to allow photos to be taken and this is unacceptable behaviour. If you see anyone doing this, notify the authorities immediately. Three terminals: 1, 2 and 3. Terminal 2 is split up into 6 satellites - 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F. Instead of the mound (above), you can stay on the grass bank, which has been reported to have better views. Exit T3, turn right and then right again after the walkway tunnel. Walk along about 200 yards up the bank and find a spot on the bank at the side of the road. Here you are perfectly positioned right next to the T3 apron and can see arrivals/departures on all 3 parallel runways. It is also possible to spot from above the TGV station at Terminal 2. Just north of the mound is F-BVFF Concorde preserved in a take off pose. If you have a car, there are lay-bys on the south perimeter that offer good views. A6-BSM L1011 is stored at the northern end of the western cargo apron following returning to CDG in 2005 after an engine fire. These viewing areas are plotted in the Spotting in France download.

Planespotting Hotels - these are all plotted in the Spotting in France download

The Pullman is close to the central taxiway between terminals 2 and 1/3 so a fair amount of traffic passes by, although you'll struggle to read them off at night as floodlighting for the taxiing aircraft is non-existent plus relatively bright background lighting. Room 308 for example is square onto the taxiway and has good views although if photography is your passion you'll need a much higher room due to flag posts and lampposts slightly intruding. From here you can see and read most on terminal 3 and the north side of T2. Landing traffic for both pairs of runways are visible although not readable unless taxiing by. The hotel has 3 arms, aligned roughly west, northeast, and southeast. West arm - rooms on north side are odd numbered 21-35, and even on the south side 20-30. NE arm - even 60-72 on northwest side, odd 61-73 southeast side, room 869 for example gives closer views of the main link taxi way than the Hilton and onto both Terminal 2 and the low cost terminal. SE arm - even 2-18 on northeast side, odd 1-15 on southwest side. Lower numbers are nearer the centre of the hotel.
The Pullman features on for reviews, prices and room availability

The Comfort Hotel in le Mesnil-Amelot, a small village just outside the airport eastern boundary only a couple of minutes walk away. A north facing room (303 for example) faces the 2 northerly runways from where everything can be easily read off. If you have an SBS you can monitor movements on the southerly runways as well, and if there's something of interest you can walk down the corridor to a south-facing window. A cheap alternative to the Ibis and Hilton. There is a free courtesy bus if you don't have transport, which is supposed to operate every 20 minutes, but is unreliable. The rooms are a bit small and the buffet is nothing to get excited about.
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At the Ibis Charles de Gaulle Airport (don't confuse this one with the Ibis in the Paris Nord 2 complex west of the airport with no views), you can check in from 12 noon. The hotel is back towards the T3 entrance and then across the road by the bus station/Roissypole (train station). The mound is only a 3-4 minute walk away. Request a room as high up as possible in the north facing part of the hotel. If you get a room facing the wrong way you should be able to change it for an even number (i.e. 652), which is the sort of number you need for a superb view of the 2 northerly runways - an even numbered room on floors 4, 5 or 6 should do the trick, the staff are very helpful and will accommodate you where possible. Room 662 overlooks T3 and everything can be logged on this apron and anything using the northern runways and taxiways. Even numbered rooms between 668 and 674 (or possibly 676) might be even better still. The windows in the rooms can be pulled wide open and a good scope will help you to pick off aircraft you can't see when you are on the ground around T1 including the French Air Force A340s and A310s, plus Air France, Delta and JAL types that sit on an apron away from T2 to your far right. They do cheap 'no refund' rates.
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At the Hilton Hotel, room 229 and 627 have great views and there are windows at the end of the corridors on each side of the building. 2nd floor and upwards are fine and rooms with odd numbers usually have airport views - 221, 223, 225, 227, 229 are all good, while 201/229, 301/329, 401/429, 501/529 are even better - these are corner rooms and so there is a limited view of cargo. Room 1029, which along with 1017/21/5/33/7 not only gives north facing views, but also the windows are slightly angled towards T3 and T1 beyond. In the original building, similar numbered rooms on the 9th floor would be just as good, whilst in the new block, 670 and evens up to 682 would suffice. The old block has east (odds '01 to '15), south (evens '18 to '38) & west (evens '02 to '16) facing rooms, but don't forget, runway ops change with the wind, so east/west could give differing results to what you hope for. Rooms with a 'Concorde view' can also be requested, these rooms are the western wall of the hotel, overlooking T1, the cross taxiways and Concorde. As usual, the higher the floor the better. Rooms ending x03 on each floor gives views of terminals 1 and 3, the cross taxiway and taxiway accessing terminal 2. If high enough then there are limited views of cargo, obvously the higher the better. The down side is that many aircraft landing on the southern runways turn off early and can be missed, also with the new linkway to the northern runways aircraft coming off terminal 2 can be difficult, although there are large windows in the lift lobby and a quick visit here can see those waiting for line up clearance. The best views of the T3 ramp from the hotel are from the elevator lobbies on each floor. Email the hotel reception in advance with your request - email address is on the hotel website. If you are a member of the Hilton Honours programme then you can e-mail the manager responsible for this programme. The receptionists are extremely helpful and seem to understand all about wanting a good view of the action. Tends to be cheapest at weekends and French bank holidays, though alcohol there is always very expensive. You can just make out the Le Bourget departures on 09 but you'll need an SBS to give you warning of their departures as they are very easily missed.
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At the Paris Nord 2 complex west of the airport are 4 hotels - Etap, Formule 1, SuiteHotel and Ibis (different from the one at T3 above). For food there's a grill restaurant within the complex. You have to pay for parking (8-10 euros per night), but there's also a courtesy bus which runs to Roissypole and Terminal 2 every 10 to 20 minutes. For Terminal 3, get off at Roissypole and walk through the pedestrian tunnel, for Terminal 1 get off at Roissypole and take the CDGVal.
The Ibis Paris Nord 2 features on for reviews, prices and room availability

The Etap is perfectly adequate, and the shuttle bus usually runs on time - a timetable is available at reception, but on first arriving be warned that it only runs every 45 minutes during the afternoon, usually picking up around door 8 or 9 at T2 A/C/D/B. The shuttle is much less reliable on weekend evenings.
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The SuiteHotel has rooms overlooking the airport - ending x01 x03 x05 x07 x09 and x11, the higher the better as usual. From here, with the prevailing westerly wind, you can see all movements - both arriving and departing on 08s/09s. You have to be quick to get the departures off the northern runways as the Hyatt obscures the view a bit, but anything off the southern runways goes right over the hotel. You can also see the approach to Le Bourget.
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Transfer to LBG
The 350 bus to LBG takes 30 minutes. It starts from Quai E at the bus station at Roissypol outside the Ibis hotel and is 3.50 EUR return. Ask to get off at Le Musee de l'Air, (NOT Le Bourget as that stop is the town centre). When the bus turns left at a T-junction and you can see big 'Air France' signs across the road you are nearly there - not the next stop but the one after deposits you by the museum, where you start the long walk down the various nooks and crannies, which will take you about an hour. As you walk back go across the main road, and you can get the return bus just before it takes the turn you came out of, rather than walk all the way back to the museum (just check inside the bus shelter that it's got a little blue plate with '350'on it). The timetable for bus 350 can be found here RATP. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the roadworks on this road, you have to catch the bus back to CDG from the Musee de l'Air.

Transfer to Orly
The best way is to get the Air France bus. The ticket booth for, and the bus itself, can both be found outside Exit 34 on the Arrivals Level, although tickets can also be purchased on the bus itself. It runs approximately every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour, less frequently at weekend, it goes direct, costs 19 Euros each way and takes 45 minutes. From CDG, the coach starts at T1, on the hour and half past (in theory) then calls at Roissypole, before doing numerous circuits of T2. The last pick up is behind T2E/F walkway, approx 35 minutes after leaving T1. Of course, the danger is that the coach will be full by the time it reaches here. The return starts at Sud on the hour and half past, leaving Ouest about 10 minutes later. The 2-day pass is 28.30 euros (both are for zones 1-5 which covers you for the 350 bus to Le Bourget and the RER train from CDG to Anthony), and you can use the pass on the Orlyval which links Anthony to the two Orly terminals - a great saving. On the RER train back from ORY to CDG, you can leave the train at Gard du Nord and take the 350 bus to Le Bourget, have a walk around and then continue on the 350 back up to CDG. The Air France buses buses depart from opposite exit 34 on the arrivals level at terminal 1 and from outside the various halls at terminal 2. There is a company in England that sells Paris Visite passes - you can order on line or visit them at their base in Basingstoke. The prices are a few pounds more than buying in Paris but it usually only takes a couple of days to arrive and may be more convenient - Allo-France.com. Alternatively, the train costs EUR17.20 each way. You can buy tickets at the counter or the easy to use self-service machines with English instructions. It's cheaper than the Air France bus especially if you have the visite Paris ticket, which also gives you the buses including the bus from CDG to LBG. The RER line B train can be caught at T2 CDG or the station near to T3. You need to make sure that you catch a train on line B heading for St Remy-les-Chevreuse that stops at Anthony. Journey time to Anthony is over an hour as it makes many stops along the way. It's slow and very busy with many pickpockets about, so strongly consider the buses. At Anthony leave the train and head to the left towards the end of the platform to catch the driverless Orlyval Link to Orly Airport, journey time between 5 and 10 minutes. Make sure you keep your ticket for the train, as you will need it to get onto the Orlyval link. The link first goes to Orly Ouest terminal and then reverses out to Orly Sud terminal. For more info visit Conciergerie.com though don't buy the tickets from here as there may be a delivery charge.
Last reported August 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

PARIS-ISSY LES MOULINEAUX HELIPORT (LFPI/JDP)

Spotting Info
Southwest of Paris off E05.
Last reported . Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

PARIS-LE BOURGET AIRPORT (LFPB/LBG) - TWR 118.925, APP (CDG APP) 121.15, 125.825, 126.425, 118.15 & 119.85

All 57 French airports - their locations, hotels and viewing areas have been plotted on Google Maps and Google Earth's detailed satellite imagery and can be added to your SatNav - click to download. Planning your spotting trip has never been easier. Please read the Download Instructions for example screenshots and further details

Spotting Info
The top ramp is easily read off and access can still be had alongside the Roundhouse up to the Signature gate though the car park next to the hotel has been fenced off and gated. The gate at the top end of the airfield off the N7 roundabout near NetJets is now open so with a car you can enter and leave the airport from that end now (as well as the museum end). The museum car park is now a pay car park, and the ADP car park next to it has been gated. On a week-day, there's not much parking available; the only other area is the big empty space next to the Signature hangar. The metal fence at the end of the Signature hangar has one or two small gaps to help read stuff off. The building site next to Signature (opposite the Flight Safety training school) is making slow progress so there are still good views through the gates. There is a new building site next to Darta, so parking is hopeless on a weekday (but no problem at weekends). There are still a few parking spaces at the top of the lane, just before the NetJets gate. Further along the walk, one hangar/office at the top of the slope has been demolished and consequently views can be had over the fence onto the ramp and into the middle. Even further down there is access at one point to the front of the old big hangars, which gives good views across the ramp there and again into the middle. The Hotel Bleu is located just past the Falcon service centre. When you get off the bus at the museum, walk back on yourself towards the big half round hangars (there's a road you can use between these hangars and the old ones that runs the length of the airport), and use all the openings going up this road to read anything off. Follow the road right up to and around Dassault as there are other views of aprons after the hotel up there. The Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace is open Tuesday-Sunday 1000-1800 in the summer and 1000-1700 in the winter. Free entry, if you want to look inside Concorde and the B747 it costs 5 EUR. A look at the outdoor exhibits also gives you a different angle on a few of the parked biz, as well as views of movements. Every September the museum has a weekend 'Open Day' that allows access to the Dugny site and restoration facilities normally closed off to the public. These spots are plotted in the Spotting in France download.

Transfer to/from CDG
The 350 bus to LBG takes 30 minutes. It starts from Quai E at the bus station at Roissypole outside the Ibis hotel and is 3.50 EUR return. Ask to get off at Le Musee de l'Air, (NOT Le Bourget as that stop is the town centre). When the bus turns left at a T-junction and you can see big 'Air France' signs across the road you are nearly there - not the next stop but the one after deposits you by the museum, where you start the long walk down the various nooks and crannies, which will take 60-90 minutes. To get bus back to CDG, walk down the road for about 400 metres from where you get off on the other side of the road. There are a few bars and after a set of flats is the bus stop. Just check inside the bus shelter that it's got a little blue plate with '350'on it). The timetable for bus 350 can be found here RATP. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the roadworks on this road, you have to catch the bus back to CDG from the Musee de l'Air. I will advise again once these roadworks have finished. For more see CDG above.

Paris Airshow
During the airshow, there is a free shuttle bus that runs from 07.00-10.00 from CDG to LBG during show week and the service returns from LBG from 16.30-19.00. There is also a free shuttle bus from Le Bourget RER station to LBG throughout the day. The 350 bus often gets re-routed during the show, and you may have to change buses along the route on to bus number 148.
Last reported August 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

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PARIS-ORLY AIRPORT (LFPO/ORY) - TWR 118.7, APP 118.85 & 123.875

All 57 French airports - their locations, hotels and viewing areas have been plotted on Google Maps and Google Earth's detailed satellite imagery and can be added to your SatNav - click to download. Planning your spotting trip has never been easier. Please read the Download Instructions for example screenshots and further details

Spotting Info
A lot of the Air France fleet are based here and won't be seen at CDG so it's well worth the trip. Best to go during the week and for either the morning (approx 7-9am) or early evening commuter rush (approx 5-7pm). The based Air France B777s tend to arrive early morning and don't stay longer than necessary. Friday afternoon seems best. With two runways, one being used for arrivals and one for departures you need to make your choice as to where you spot from - they land on 07 and depart from 08, or land on 26 and depart from 25. The Orlyval monorail operates between the terminals. Stored at the Parc de la Coulee Verte close to the 08 threshold is "3" Dassault Etendard. The park is adjacent to the southern perimeter of Orly and 08 threshold where you can get great line-up shots when 08 is in use. Not so good with 26 as landing aircraft tend to turn off before the park. The park and the Etendard are plotted in the Spotting in France download. The outdoor Musee Delta Athis Pararay Aviation is in the south of the airport near the 02 threshold and opposite the Kyriad Orly Athis Mons below - it's plotted in the Spotting in France download.

Ouest Terminal
Make your way to the restaurant floor level above departures. You can see most of the stands through the windows from this level but inevitably there will be some aircraft parked at the wrong angle or have air bridges in the way of the regs.

Sud Terminal
The viewing terrace is on the 4th floor, free entry and open from 6am-10pm in summer and open at 10am in winter though it doesn't appear to close as some have logged here beyond 10pm. Don't leave your bags anywhere on the terrace as the airport security will perform controlled explosions on any bags left unattended. Before 10am you can view from behind the glass at the extreme right hand end of the cafe, up some stairs where there are some seats looking down the runways. There are two stations for the Orlyval link at Sud terminal - one for arriving passengers and one for departing passengers. Leave the link, go in to the terminal and head for the escalators to take you to the departure level. Look for the signs for the Panoramic Terrace and head up a further two floors to the terrace. This has views of the southern runway 08/26 with the cross runway 02/20 to the left. You can read the aircraft on the opposite runway 06/24 back to your right, but you have to be quick as views are restricted. Also from the deck you can see most aircraft parked on the stands, restricted views of the maintenance area and distant views of the stored aircraft. There are arrival and departure screens near to the entrance to the terrace - they don't provide registrations but are handy to see what's due in as it gets very quiet. The outdoor terrace has no shelter but is behind glass - covered with lots of handprints etc but photographs are still possible, and it has free admission. If the weather is bad, there are still views from the floor below. There are regular visits to the terrace by armed security guards but no problems at all. There is a cafe downstairs with good views but nearest toilets are upstairs. Prices are expensive in the terminal so check out the mini supermarket at the bottom of the main escalators, straight ahead, and down the steps. A quick 5 minute walk from the Sud terminal allows limited views into the hangar and maintenance area.

Planespotting Hotels - their locations are marked in the Spotting in France download

The Premiere Classe at Rungis is about ten minutes away by shuttle bus, and has a good nightly rate. Sufficient for a shower and a bit of kip and breakfast - the courtesy bus is only free from airport to hotel - for the return journey you pay 5 euros for a ticket at hotel reception.
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At the Ibis, rooms on the 4th floor are good. 434, 436, 438, 452, 456 have views of one of the runways. Not cheap but only 5 minutes walk from Terminal Sud so a lack of views doesn't matter.
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The Kyriad Orly Athis Mons is opposite the outdoor museum containing Concorde, Caravelle etc. Free shuttle bus both ways - ask at Information in the terminal, they ring for the bus and it picks you up within 10 minutes. Good seafood restaurant and reasonable room-only rates. Breakfast is optional but expensive at 8 EUR. If you are a photographer, the other advantage of this hotel is that it is only a short walk to the park "Parc de la Coulee Verte", details above.
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The Premiere Classe in Chilly Mazarin is west of the airport and you can log aircraft on approach from here.
The Premiere Classe in Chilly Mazarin features on for reviews, prices and room availability

Transfer to/from CDG
The best way is to get the Air France bus. The ticket booth for, and the bus itself, can both be found outside Exit 34 on the Arrivals Level, although tickets can also be purchased on the bus itself. It runs approximately every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour, less frequently at weekend, it goes direct, costs 19 Euros each way and takes 45 minutes. From CDG, the coach starts at T1, on the hour and half past (in theory) then calls at Roissypole, before doing numerous circuits of T2. The last pick up is behind T2E/F walkway, approx 35 minutes after leaving T1. Of course, the danger is that the coach will be full by the time it reaches here. The return starts at Sud on the hour and half past, leaving Ouest about 10 minutes later. The 2-day pass is 28.30 euros (both are for zones 1-5 which covers you for the 350 bus to Le Bourget and the RER train from CDG to Anthony), and you can use the pass on the Orlyval which links Anthony to the two Orly terminals - a great saving. On the RER train back from ORY to CDG, you can leave the train at Gard du Nord and take the 350 bus to Le Bourget, have a walk around and then continue on the 350 back up to CDG. http://www.paristoolkit.com/airport/paris_cdg_orly_bus.htm - these buses depart from opposite exit 34 on the arrivals level at terminal 1 and from outside the various halls at terminal 2. There is a company in England that sells Paris Visite passes - you can order on line or visit them at their base in Basingstoke. The prices are a few pounds more than buying in Paris but it usually only takes a couple of days to arrive and may be more convenient http://www.allo-france.com/. Alternatively, the train costs EUR16.50 each way. It's cheaper than the Air France bus especially if you have the visite Paris ticket, which also gives you the buses including the bus from CDG to LBG. The RER line B train can be caught at T2 CDG or the station near to T3. You need to make sure that you catch a train on line B heading for St Remy-les-Chevreuse that stops at Anthony. Journey time to Anthony is over an hour as it makes many stops along the way. It's slow and very busy with many pickpockets about, so strongly consider the buses. At Anthony leave the train and head to the left towards the end of the platform to catch the driverless Orlyval Link to Orly Airport, journey time between 5 and 10 minutes. Make sure you keep your ticket for the train, as you will need it to get onto the Orlyval link. The link first goes to Orly Ouest terminal and then reverses out to Orly Sud terminal. For more info visit Conciergerie.com though don't buy the tickets from here as there may be a delivery charge.
Last reported August 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

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PERPIGNAN AIRPORT (LFMP/PGF) - TWR 118.3, APP 120.75

Spotting Info
There are roads that run alongside the EAS hangars allowing you to easily read off the stored aircraft. If you turn right at the roundabout just before EAS this will give you views over the whole airport and you can see if there is anything parked at the terminal. Turn round and come back and you can pull over onto the grass to read them off. Turn left at the roundabout takes you past the GA and hangars on the right (views from car park and nearby areas), and straight over next roundabout for the terminal. As you approach the terminal the road bends right. At the crossroads turn left onto Avenue de la Salanque and on the right is the GA visitors apron. A bit further on is a spot to pull in and you can walk back and log these aircraft. All these areas are plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported May 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

PERSAN-BEAUMONT AIRFIELD (LFPA)

Spotting Info
Friendly, ask for access. 33 Mirage marked "75-OH" is the gate guard and is plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported May 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report


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PONTOISE-CORMEILLES EN VEXIN AIRFIELD (LFPT/POX) - TWR 121.2, APP 118.8

Spotting Info
Various vantage points around the airport to read most off.
Last reported May 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

REIMS-PRUNAY AIRFIELD (LFQA) - TWR 119.8

Spotting Info
As you turn into the airfield, follow the road down to the control tower and park. Looking left past the control tower is the Cessna factory apron, ahead and right is the GA visitors parking. Head back towards the entrance and before you join the main road take the turning on your left. Follow it round and you'll be able to look onto the hangar aprons. It's a dead end so come back out, turn left then turn right onto the main road. As you go up to the roundabout keep looking back, there is a small apron tucked round the side of the Cessna factory. All these viewing areas are plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported May 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

RODEZ AIRPORT (LFCR/RDZ) - TWR 118.125, APP 125.375

Spotting Info
Parking is free and there is a viewing balcony just beyond the southeastern end of the terminal overlooking the biz ramp. The flying club is at the other end of the terminal - the aircraft parked outside the hangar can be logged from the fence. Airside there are views of the remote stands. All these viewing areas are plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported July 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

ST. CYR-L'ECOLE AIRFIELD (LFPZ)

Spotting Info
Best to contact in advance to ensure full access, sometimes the hangar by the entrance denies access.
Last reported May 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

ST. ETIENNE AIRPORT (LFMH/EBU) - TWR 118.65

Spotting Info
A road off to the left just before you get to the terminal will lead to the hangars and a view of the apron in front of the terminal - this is plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported May 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

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ST. INGLEVERT AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Friendly, ask for access.
Last reported Juny 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

ST. OMER AIRFIELD (LFQN/XSG)

Spotting Info
If it's all locked up there are gaps in the hangar to read some off.
Last reported June 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

SAVIGNY LES BEAUNE MUSEUM

Spotting Info
As well as the main museum there are aircraft in the restoration tent, the building with tractors in, the storage area up the hill and the main storage area further up the hill. There are aircraft dumped in the field behind the MiGs and several more stored behind field against wall, all dismantled near woods - to see these, when leaving take first left up to tennis court, walk into woods and look over the wall.In the Chateau amongst the bike collection is a HiWay Super Scorpion and a Flying Flea. Take your binoculars round with you as you get a lot flying overhead. For more info including opening times and a list of exhibits, visit AviationMuseum.eu.
Last reported June 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

TOULOUSE AREA PRESERVED

Spotting Info
The following are preserved in the Toulouse area. 3814 MiG15 gate guard and Mirage c/n 02 (thought to be serial 02) at Ecole Nationale Superieure de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace. E52 AlphaJet fuselage, 01 Mirage F2 and 01 Super Etendard are displayed outside at the Centre d'Essais Aeronautique de Toulouse. Preserved at ENSICA (Ecole Nationale Superieur s'Ingeneurs Construction Aerospatiale) is F1-00 Mirage F1. All these aircraft are plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported August 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

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TOULOUSE-BLAGNAC AIRPORT (LFBO/TLS) - TWR 118.1, APP 125.175, 121.1, 129.3 & 123.85

All 57 French airports - their locations, hotels and viewing areas have been plotted on Google Maps and Google Earth's detailed satellite imagery and can be added to your SatNav - click to download. Planning your spotting trip has never been easier. Please read the Download Instructions for example screenshots and further details

Spotting Info
Weekends are busier for terminal traffic but during the week the factory is busy with test flights and moving aircraft around. The Belugas tend to leave in the morning. There is an area by the cafe on the second floor of the arrivals section in the terminal that provides good views, though it's through two sections of glass which distort things at the wrong angle. You can read movements on the terminal side but it's very difficult reading any of the new Airbus aircraft over the far side. The top (level 7) of the multi-story car park behind the terminal is also useful and you shouldn't encounter any problems at either area. There's a bench to sit on and good views of the whole airport. The locals tend to congregate at a gate overlooking the 32R threshold. You could probably walk it from the terminal following the perimeter stopping at gaps to read aircraft on the relevant aprons, maybe a 20 minute walk including stopping to log. By car - if travelling on the D902, come off at junction 3, signposted Blagnac-Centre, and at the roundabout take the 6th exit, which will take you across a bridge that goes over the motorway (if you are heading north on D902, if you are heading south your directions start here after exiting D902 at junction 3), at the next roundabout, this one has a tailfin in the middle, take the 3rd exit, which is roughly in front of you, Avenue Emile Dewoitine. At the next roundabout take the 2nd exit round to the left (turn right or straight over for views of biz ramp), the one that looks like a road, not a dead end, Rue Jean Chatain, which will lead you on to Rue Gabriel Clerc. There may be nooks and crannies along here. You are now heading for the Airbus training area. At the end before the security gate, turn right, this is Impasse Santos-Dumont (note, down this road are several gaps between hangars with a view of the GA apron and the stored Jetstar VP-BLD). This road that will lead you to the gate at the end. Security do patrol both sides of the fence but there are no problems with spotting or photography from your vehicle or from the fence. Photos will be good here in the morning to lunchtime or just after. To get here after picking up your hire car, turn left out of the car park, follow to roundabout and come back on yourself. At the next roundabout, right hand lane and turn right to the terminal (if you find yourself on D902 make sure you're headed south, come off at junction 3 and follow above instructions. Stay in the right hand lane, ignore the first filter and as the road bends right your right lane will split from the left. Get in left lane and follow round the terminal. Just past the terminal get in the right lane and filter right onto Rue Charles Lindbergh - there may be places on the right to view the remote parking. Follow to end and turn left (if you turn right, then left at the end before the security gates this should give views from the northen end of the biz apron. There are views from the southern end also, just follow the roads for nooks and crannies). At the roundabout take the first exit right onto Rue Emile Dewoitine and follow directions as above. At the southern end of the airport is a car park that has views of the cargo, biz and GA as well as some of the Airbus aircraft - head south on D902 and then head west on A624. Come off at the very next junction and turn right at the roundabout on to Chemin de la Crabe. At the next roundabout take the second exit and follow road round to left for the car parks. On approach to Toulouse are F-BUFS Transall fuselage and 55-0018 C-130 fuselage - sit on the right of the plane if landing on 32R, or on the left and hope for a straight line departure off 14L. They are behind a wall and can't be seen from the street although there is a large car park to the west of the compound that you may be able to park in and peer over. Airside you can walk up and down with large glass windows giving good views across the field. No views of northern or southern remote parking, A380 factory or biz apron though. All these viewing areas and stored aircraft are plotted in the Spotting in France download.

Airbus Factory, Tours and Museum
Taxiway Tours run the tours and you need to book in advance either on their website or over the phone, giving them at least 24 hours notice. They are located by the A380 facilities and Latecoere hangars, so either a long walk or a taxi to get there. The walk will take 90-120 minutes including numerous stops to read stuff off (if you fancy walking right round to the main Airbus facility via the northern A380 area, it will take roughly 4 and a half to 5 hours). The walk enables a better view of several A320s whose tails can only be seen from the terminal car park. Also revealed aircraft previously hidden at Air France's maintenance facility and A380s not visible from the car park. There are several fast food outlets at one location, an ideal place for a break. Plenty of aircraft are moved around the airbus facility, including being towed from the delivery centre hangar onto the delivery centre, so keep your eyes peeled. Tuesday afternoons usually sees the changeover of ATRs at the Aero Technique Espace paint shop. Heat haze may hamper you logging the aircraft over the far side though. Unfortunately the Clement Ader tour of A330/340 facility is only for schools and students so it's best to get a combined tour of A380s and Concordes F-WTSB and F-BVFC to travel round the airport and log as much as possible. The Concordes are plotted in the Spotting in France download. The SSC visit is recommended as it also provides extended close-up views of the stands currently used by ATR and various other production and painting hangars not easily visible from elsewhere on the perimeter. The A380 tour gets you A380s in the finishing hangar that you probably wouldn't otherwise see. A380 tours are still offered on Saturdays with default times 13:30, 15:45 and 16:15 and the Concorde tour is at 13:30, 15:45 and 16:15. Required details for bookings are: forename, surname, date of birth, place of birth, nationality and telephone number. To get to the A380 area by car, either follow the western perimeter north from the main Airbus factory, or from terminal/D902 - rejoin the D902 at junction 3 heading north, and stay in the right hand lane (don't follow the perimeter north as large boulders block the road stopping access by car). Don't follow the signs for Aerogare, it will take you to the terminal. If you pass a McDonalds, which is located alongside the other carriageway about a mile after joining the road, you are heading the right way. You are now heading away from the airport, coming up are 3 junctions, either of them you can leave at for views of the airport, or A380 area. The 2nd one is best, come off here, turn left at the roundabout, and then left again at the next roundabout. Here you will see the A380s that are constructed and ready to be test flown. Continue along this road, Rue Franz Joseph Strauss - it will take you around the facility to the D1 road. At the roundabout turn right, this will take you under 2 bridges, which are taxiways from the A380 area, and to a roundabout. At the roundabout there are a couple of car parks on the right (empty on Sundays), which you can pull up in and read off a few other aircraft on the main site. Rejoin the D1 and continue on as if you are doing a tour around the perimeter, and just after the roundabout on the right are 2 hangars in which ATRs are maintained - closed on Sundays. If you carry on down the D1 to the next roundabout and turn left onto the D63, this will take you under the flightpath of the runways to another roundabout. Here turn left again onto Avenue Pierre Georges Latecoere and this will take you to a great place for photographs. If you hire a car to visit the production site, the A320 production hangar usually opens its doors between 14:00 and 15:00 to enable the swap over of aircraft on the line, which allows the majority of aircraft in the hangar to be read off from the nearby road. Drive round the perimeter in and out of the nooks and crannies, there's plenty around. Very little happens at weekends, all the Airbus hangars are shut, even the normal traffic is slow. Details including a list of exhibits at the Parc Aeronautique can be found at the Aviation Museum website. Only open on Saturday mornings and you will only see all exhibits on the guided tour leaving at 0930 and 1030. The tour lasts between an hour and a half and 2 hours, just turn up 10 minutes before the tour start time at the Airbus 'Louis Breguet' entrance and show your ID. More info on the museum website.

Planespotting Hotels - its location is marked in the Spotting in France download
The Premiere Classe is a 10 minute walk from the terminal with reasonable nightly rates.
The Premiere Classe features on for reviews, prices and room availability

Last reported June 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

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TOULOUSE-FRANCAZAL AIRPORT (LFBF)

Spotting Info
208 Nord Noratlas N2501 is preserved as a gate guard and is plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported May 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

TOULOUSE-LASBORDES AIRFIELD (LFCL) - TWR 122.7

Spotting Info
Friendly ask for access.
Last reported June 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

TOUSSUS-LE-NOBLE AIRPORT (LFPN/TNF) - TWR 119.3

Spotting Info
Friendly. Ask in the ops room for access, it's usually granted, then ask at each hangar. Most are friendly but be wary of Heli Union. The first hangar on the left - Farman - is strictly private, even viewing from the hangar doors is not tolerated and you will be told to leave. They don't allow visitors during the Paris airshow, maybe they are more accommodating during other times when there are less people visiting. Turn left out of Toussus and you'll pass 306 Mirage preserved on a roundabout - this is plotted in the Spotting in France download.
Last reported June 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

VATRY AIRPORT (LFOK/XCR) - TWR 119.4

Spotting Info
The Rue Henri Farman is all very flat and a building site so you should be able to see across to the right to the 'derelicts' apron - plotted in the Spotting in France download. Keep going as far forward as you can, it's a building site and so changing all the time. You should be able to get a view across the main apron. Join Rue Louis Bleriot by following the way out signs. At the first roundabout (you went straight over right to left earlier) turn right, to the next roundabout and turn right again, this may still be a dirt road. Follow up to the cargo hangar and park. Then walk across to the fence and you'll be able to see more of the apron. This is also where they park the GA visitors.
Last reported April 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

VITRY-EN-ARTOIS AIRFIELD (LFQS)

Spotting Info
Ask for access though they are very cautious so it may be denied. Gaps in the hangars if it's all locked up.
Last reported July 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report