Doncaster Sheffield Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: United Kingdom | Region: England |
| Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood | |
| Location | Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
| IATA code | DSA |
| ICAO code | EGCN |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.robinhoodairport.com |
| Overview map | [ ] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 128.775 |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | 126.225 |
| Departure | 126.225 |
| ATIS | 134.95 |
Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport is situated south of Doncaster. It is the newest airport to open in the UK, formerly RAF Finningley. Due to still being relatively new, it is very quiet in terms of movements. This has picked up for summer 2009, with a few new operators commencing flights, however it's not the sort of place you would want to spend an entire day at though, unless you take a good book! Well worth stopping by if you're in the area though, and the authorities are very friendly to spotters.
Official Spotting Locations
There are no official spotting locations as yet.
Other Spotting Locations
Runway 02 end
From the airport turn left, and head for the A638. Turn left to head south on this road. Take the first road on the left (High Common Lane). This road runs between the A638 and A614. There is a layby on the northern side offering good views and photography of aircraft landing and departing on runway 02.
Map of this location: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=465625&Y=396545&A=Y&Z=3
Alongside the runway
From this location, continue straight past the end of the runway and you will come to a roundabout. Take the first exit, onto the dirt road (Old Bawtry Road). This road comes closer to the runway and then runs parallel to the runway for most of its length. This offers good views of all traffic landing and departing on both runways, and there is parking for the entire length in a layby that seemingly stretches the length of the runway. You are at the same level as the runway and about 40-100ft from the side of the runway. A 300mm lens is plenty for most traffic.
This spot is good for photography until about 13:00-14:00 before shots start appearing backlit, and is better when 20 is in use for touchdown/rotation shots depending on how far along you go. The location is also popular with the locals and on a sunny afternoon there will be dozens of cars parked watching the planes.
The other side of Old Bawtry Road provides better views of aircraft landing and departing on runway 20, although parking can be fairly limited as the car park area has now been blocked off.
To access this location, go back to the roundabout previously mentioned and take the exit signposted Finningley. Once you are in the village, the road bends round to the left, keep following the road until you see the “The Harvey Arms” pub, and turn down the street to drive past it(also called Old Bawtry Road). Keep driving down this road and you will come to several gaps in the hedges where cars park up to the fence to watch the activity. A few lay-bys are also available for cars to park. You can then walk down the road, past the large blocks and further down the path you will come to a raised mound with some blocks to stand on, allowing you to be above the fence.
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
The airport goes through phases of being quite busy, interspursed with hours of nothing. Unfortunately much of the movement occurs before 9.30am and after 7pm, with only 2-3 movements in between. Most days there is no activity at all between 8am and 1pm.
Consult the schedule before setting off to avoid hours of nothing.
Magma Aviation Boeing 747 freighter arrives into Doncaster on a Saturday, usually fairly early in the morning - flight number CC335
Astral Aviation Boeing 747 Freighter arrives into Doncaster usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Sometimes Friday and Sunday too. Usually in the afternoon but sometimes in the early morning - flight number 8V2601/8V2602/8V2604 and 8V2606 are all previously used flight numbers
External Links
Doncaster Airport Forum Dedicated aviation forum for spotters and aviation enthusiasts as well as aviation professionals. This forum is also home to a number of other airport forums for airports around the UK.