Ponta Delgada Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: Portugal |
| Ponta Delgada Airport | |
| Location | Azores, Portugal |
| IATA code | PDL |
| ICAO code | LPPD |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.ana.pt/portal/page/portal/ANA/AEROPORTO_PDELGADA/ |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | |
Official Spotting Locations
None.
Other Spotting Locations
EN1-1A Road
The EN1-1A road runs along the entire length of the airport and given the hilly terrain is placed well above the terminal and also above the western part of the runway. Coming in the direction from the city, you can stop near the roundabout and get pretty good, unobstructed views of the runway and aprons, as well as the terminal from the north-eastern direction
You can also continue past the terminal on your left (actually below you) and there is a small free public parking lot with a view of the terminal and aprons from the north-western direction. Any lens is good here as you are really close to the airport. The downside of the spots along the EN1-1A road is that for most of the year you are facing the sun. There are three solutions to this: (1) Come early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is actually behind you (sample photo 1 - morning landing on RWY12). (2) Take photos of aircraft on the apron (sample photo 2 and sample photo 3). (3) If you come at the time of year (June) when days are longest, you should be fine (sample photo 4).
Arrivals/Departures and Terminal
There is no jetways in Ponta Delgada so you end up walking between the aircraft and terminal both upon arrival and departure, so that gives you some good views, naturally (sample photo 5). Also, from inside the terminal at departures you get a decent view of the apron (sample photo 6).
Relva Football Field
This is probably the best spot at PDL. At the western side of the airport in the village of Relva there is a football field (which I have never seen used) located at the oneway Travessa do Beco street (or "Tv. do beco"). There is a small free public parking lot right next to it. To get to the spot, you need to walk through the gate from the parking lot to the football field, walk straight for about 200 meters pass the field and a tennis court. You get to a fence directly at the western end of the airport at an elevated spot with excellent views of the apron and the runway.
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
Sata International - A310, A320
Sata Air Azores - ATP
Tap Air Portugal - A320, A310
Finnair - B757