Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
| Continent: Oceania | Country: Australia | Region: Victoria |
| Melbourne Tullamarine Airport |
|
| Location | Melbourne, Victoria |
| IATA code | MEL |
| ICAO code | YMML |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.melair.com.au |
| Overview map | [ ] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 120.5 |
| Ground | 121.7 |
| Clearance | 127.2 |
| Approach | 132 |
| Departure | 118.9, 129.4 |
| ATIS | 114.1, 132.7 |
| Plane Spotting Hotels guide | |
There are many spotting locations around Melbourne airport, and access is very simple provided you have a vehicle. There is no public transport around the airport perimeter. Good photography can be achieved in most locations.
Please note: While not essential, a ladder to get above the fenceline to photograph aircraft is an advantage, but please remember to keep at least 3 meters away from the fence due to safety and security reasons. Happy snapping!
Official Spotting Locations
Operations Road Aircraft Viewing Area
Operations Road Aircraft Viewing Area is an ideal spot to view/photograph aircraft movements. Excellent photography opportunities of aircraft movements on R16/34 are available. 70-300mm lens sufficient. All movements on the airport runways can be seen from here, although a good scope is needed to read aircraft off on R27/09.
Getting to this area is probably the most diffilcult for those not familiar with Melbourne Airport. Access to this area is from the southern end of the airport and is further around the road from the Maintenance areas of Qantas/Virgin/John Holland. There is no public transport nearby and it would be at least a 45 minute walk from the terminal area, so car transport is the best option.
Sunbury Road Aircraft Viewing Area
Sunbury Road Aircraft Viewing Area is situated directly beneath the approach to RWY16. It is a great to place to experience the "feel" of a jet passing right over your head. Kids love this place!
Other Spotting Locations
Operations Road Runway 34 Landings East
Photography of aircraft landing on RWY34 is best from the grassland on Operations Road just past Qantas maintenence. The best lighting is before mid-day. The area is not marked as a viewing area, but local authorities seemed to be very tolerant of spotters using this location as it is well away from any perimeter fences or buildings. 70-300mm lens is sufficient. A short walk to the perimeter fence allows you to photograph aircraft on Taxiway "K" about to line up on RWY34. Once again, there is no public transport to this loaction and it would be a 45 minute walk from the terminal area.
Runway 27 via McNabbs Rd
Located on Mansfield Road via McNabbs Road, good shots of rwy27 departures and rollouts/taxiing can be taken from here, although once again the early morning sun can be tricky. Aircraft taxiing off rwy 27 pass within 50 meters of your location making for some stunning photography. 300mm lens for departures (although 500mm better), 70mm lens for rwy 27 taxiing shots.
Runway 16 Threshold
Some great side on shots of aircraft landing on rwy 16 can be taken from Uniting Lane, just off Sunbury Road (next to the Uniting Church) there are also some shady trees to sit under on those hot days. Alternatively, the spotters carpark on the corner of Oaklands and Sunbury Road sees aircraft passing overhead at 150 feet. 70-300mm lens.
Runway 27 Threshold
Runway 27 threshold just off Sunbury Road (look for the flight markers) is another good spot to photograph aircraft landing on rwy 27, although it can be quite noisy due to traffic on Sunbury Road. The airport itself cannot be seen from this location due to a small hill blocking the view. 70-200mm lens.
Locations to Avoid
While there's no real places to avoid, it's probably best if you don't do your spotting/photography from the terminal itself, as this will attract the attention of security. Also, don't park your vehicle in front of any emergency/access gates and be careful on how close you stand to the fences as sometimes the security will ask you to stand 3 metres back.
Regular Traffic
Australian Airlines
- Jetstar: A320, A321, A330-200 and 787-8
- Qantas: A330, A380, 717-200, 737-800, 747-400 (commences Dec. 2014), 767-300 and Dash 8
- Virgin Australia: E190, 737, A330-300 and 777-300ER (ends Oct. 2014)
- Pacific Blue: 737-800
- Tiger: A320
- Skytraders: A319
- REX Regional Express: Saab 340
- Australian Air Express: B737F
- Toll Express: B737F (night time only)
- Skywest: F-100 (once weekly)
International Airlines
- Air Asia X: A330-300
- Air Calin: A320-200
- Air China: A330-200
- Air India: B787-8
- Air New Zealand: A320, B777-300ER and occasional B747-400 or 767-300
- Air Vanuatu: B737-800 (1 weekly)
- Cathay Pacific: A330-300
- China Eastern: A330-200
- China Southern: A330-300
- Emirates: B777-300ER and A380
- Etihad: B777-300ER
- Fiji Airways: B737-800
- Garuda Indonesia: A330-300
- Malaysia Airlines A330-300 and B777-200ER
- Norfolk Air: B733 (1 weekly) also uses Our Airline B733
- Philippine Airlines: A340-300
- Qatar Airways: B777-300ER
- Royal Brunei: B787-8
- Shanghai Airlines: A330-200
- Singapore Airlines: A380, B777-300ER and A330-300 (A380 switches to 77W Oct. 2014)
- Thai: B777-200ER and B777-300ER
- United: B777-200ER (787-9 starts Oct. 2014)
- Vietnam Airlines: A330-200
International Cargo
- Atlas Air: B747-400F
- Cathay Pacific Cargo: B747-8F
- Polar: B747-400F/B747-8F/767-300F
- Singapore Cargo: B747-400F
Facilities and Transportation
Public buses stop at Oaklands Rd/Sunbury Rd. From here you get dropped off at the Sunbury Rd viewing location and short walk to Uniting Ln. The following buses stop at Oaklands Rd/Subury Rd:
479, 500 and 478/479 combined