Blackpool International Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: United Kingdom | Region: England |
Blackpool is one of the oldest airports in the UK, opening in its earliest form in 1909. Today it is a small commercial airport, with a variety of traffic.
| Blackpool International Airport | |
| Location | Blackpool, England |
| IATA code | BLK |
| ICAO code | EGNH |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.blackpoolinternational.com/ |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.4 |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | 127.2 |
Official Spotting Locations
Official Viewing Area
A small area directly to the left of the passenger terminal.
The whole of the resident aircraft parking area can be seen at a 'nose' or 'tail on' angle with Emerald Airways engineering directly in front plus aircraft on the move along taxiway Alpha, and runway 07/25, 10/28 arrivals and departures. Runway 13/31 activity, if there is any, cannot be viewed from here with the terminal in the way.
CHC Scotia offshore rig helicopter operations can be seen night and day and resident aircraft can be photographed with a camera with up to 300mm/10x optical zoom lense, although at an unfavourable angle. Best in the afternoon due to the position of sunlight.
This spot is a designated airport viewing area but do not be tempted to park on the slip road alongside, blocking the crash gate.
Other Spotting Locations
Morrisons
Exit the Airport and turn right onto Squires Gate Lane. After approximately a two minute drive (five minutes walk) Morrisons Supermarket will appear on the right. At the first set of traffic lights turn right into Blackpool Business Park, along Amy Johnson Way and at the roundabout take the third exit into Morrisons car park (carry straight on to get to the J-MAX hangar), past the McDonalds Restaurant. At the roundabout within the car park carry straight on and take a right, past the store itself, and then a left turn. Follow the road to the top and find a space. Various hangars and aircraft will become visible on the left. Now at the side of the store, follow the path around the side of the Morrisons building until the rest of the airport including all runways and the main terminal itself appears.
The whole of the resident aircraft parking area and most of the airport hangars can be seen. The offshore-helicopter and passenger terminals can be seen from here but aircraft parked on the terminal and main apron visitors are parked 'back-on'. Arrivals on all runways can be viewed, with Runway 10 facing this spot and taxiway Alpha is adjacent to the residents apron.
Resident aircraft on the apron and outside of hangars can be photographed with a camera with up to 300mm/10x optical zoom lense although when the sun decides to shine it can hinder photo opportunities after midday, especially in winter months.
This spot is not a designated airport viewing area so are no official facilities provided but there is the consolation of one of the biggest supermarkets in Blackpool and one a major fast-food restaurant chain in McDonalds close by!
Locations to Avoid
Regular Traffic
A number of interesting airlines fly within the UK and Europe from Blackpool. In order of most flights to least:
Jet2 - B737-300 - They have a small base here operating regularly to the Mediterannean.
Manx2 - LET-410 - They operate several times a day out to the Isle of Man.
FlyBE - SAAB 340 - Operate a daily flight to Belfast via the Isle of Man.
Aer Arran - ATR72 - A daily flight over to Dublin.
There is also a relatively large executive jet/prop operation from Blackpool, and Isle of Man (M- registrations) are a common sight. There is a large helicopter operation, and many light aircraft based from here.
Facilities and Transportation
Rail - Squires Gate railway station. Direct Northern Rail Pacer and Sprinter trains to Blackpool South, Preston and Colne (East Lancashire). Bus - Blackpool Transport bus services 1, 7, 11, 16 and Stagecoach services 68 and X61 stop near the airport with routes to Blackpool and as far as Fleetwood (northbound) and Lytham St Annes, Preston and Manchester (southbound). Tram Blackpool Transport tram services are available from Starr Gate terminus on the Blackpool tramway, running along the promenade, along the Golden Mile northward to Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood. Taxis - free telephone located inside the terminal building.
For an overnight stay at the airport, accommodation is available at the Premier Travel Inn, which gives partial views of the apron, terminal and runway 10 threshold. Rooms facing south give very limited views of the airfield, since blocked by terminal expansion in 2006.
Premier Travel Inn Blackpool Airport Squires Gate Lane Blackpool FY4 2QS Tel: 08701 977034
Fax: 01253 362413
External Links
Forum for Blackpool Airport For BLK spotters and aviation enthusiasts as well as aviation professionals.