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Malta International Airport: Difference between revisions
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Malta International Airport (view source)
Revision as of 09:06, 11 September 2011
, 11 September 2011→The Spotters' Wall (Safi side)
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aptype=Mixed-Use Commercial| | aptype=Mixed-Use Commercial| | ||
website=http://www.maltairport.com/| | website=http://www.maltairport.com/| | ||
mapurl=http:// | mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=malta&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=59.597077,66.269531&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Malta&ll=35.847735,14.479723&spn=0.060528,0.064716&t=h&z=14| | ||
mapsource=| | mapsource=Google Maps| | ||
atctower=135.100MHz| | atctower=135.100MHz| | ||
atcground=121.825MHz| | atcground=121.825MHz| | ||
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===The Spotters' Wall (Safi side)=== | ===The Spotters' Wall (Safi side)=== | ||
[[Image: 11067_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Embraer 170 departing from runway 31]]The Spotters' Wall, as it is known, is really an elevated viewing platform. Built by the Malta Aviation Society some years ago, it offers unobstructed views of runway 13/31 and it is the place from which to shoot takeoffs in either direction. With any luck the aircraft will rotate right in front of you. It is easily the best spot for photography at MLA | [[Image: 11067_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Embraer 170 departing from runway 31]]The Spotters' Wall, as it is known, is really an elevated viewing platform. Built by the Malta Aviation Society some years ago, it offers unobstructed views of runway 13/31 and it is the place from which to shoot takeoffs in either direction. With any luck the aircraft will rotate right in front of you. It is easily the best spot for photography at MLA, its only drawback being its very popularity since it tends to get crowded when there is a particularly unusual movement. | ||
The area around the Spotters' Wall has been embellished and turned into an attractive little recreational area, complete with picnic benches and an old aero engine with propeller. | |||
A short distance down the airport perimeter road lies the Medavia aircraft maintenance complex. The complex is across the road from the airport perimeter. Aircraft transiting from the airport to the Medavia facilities and vice versa used to cross the perimeter road, offering an opportunity for interesting photos since those present could get within metres of the aircraft at the crossing. In 2010, however, the Medavia complex was been developed as an aviation-related industrial park and incorporated within the airport perimeter. The airport perimeter road now leads to the Spotters' Wall but no further. | |||
'''Time of day:''' Noon to evening or from around 9 am on in winter for take-offs and landings. | '''Time of day:''' Noon to evening or from around 9 am on in winter for take-offs and landings. | ||
'''Directions:''' Starting from the airport terminal, go left as you leave the building and head for the airport McDonald’s restaurant. Pass it by and you will reach the road to Zurrieq. Turn left and follow the road through a tunnel (there is a roadside pavement for walkers). As you emerge from the other side of the tunnel you will reach a roundabout: go left again | '''Directions:''' Starting from the airport terminal, go left as you leave the building and head for the airport McDonald’s restaurant. Pass it by and you will reach the road to Zurrieq. Turn left and follow the road through a tunnel (there is a roadside pavement for walkers). As you emerge from the other side of the tunnel you will reach a roundabout: go left again. You are now travelling south-east, parallel to the airport perimeter. The walk should take perhaps 20 minutes, but the road is blocked just short of the Spotters' Wall. | ||
If arriving by bus, there is a bus stop just past the end of the tunnel which is served by all the buses mentioned below under facilities and transportation, except the airport bus proper. Get off here then follow the above directions. | If arriving by bus, there is a bus stop just past the end of the tunnel which is served by all the buses mentioned below under facilities and transportation, except the airport bus proper. Get off here then follow the above directions. | ||
If driving, head for the airport but take the road to Zurrieq at the Gudja/airport/Luqa roundabout. Parking | If driving, head for the airport but take the road to Zurrieq at the Gudja/airport/Luqa roundabout. Parking used to be available next to the spotting platform, but it is not clear what the situation will be once the works are complete and access is restored. | ||
{{jplink| | {{jplink|6981598}} (the Spotters' Wall) | ||
{{anetlink|1024885}} (aircraft crossing the road - photo taken from the Spotters' Wall) | {{anetlink|1024885}} (aircraft crossing the road - photo taken from the Spotters' Wall) | ||
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===Runway 13 Threshold=== | ===Runway 13 Threshold=== | ||
[[Image: 10833_wm.jpg |left|thumb|200 px|A320 approaching runway 13]][[Image: | [[Image: 10833_wm.jpg |left|thumb|200 px|A320 approaching runway 13]][[Image: 10699_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Piaggio P166 in park 3]]This is a good spot for aircraft on approach to runway 13. Unlike runway 31 the road here is at the same level as the runway, but the runway threshold is impossibly far from the perimeter fence. From here you can also see park 3 where the occasional executive jet, light plane or small turboprop may be parked. Beware of heat distortion on hot days however. | ||
'''Time of day:''' The runway 13 approach is viable for morning photography if you are prepared to take head-on shots from directly beneath the flight path, but this location really comes into its own in the afternoon. For aircraft in park 3 you need to wait for the late afternoon. | '''Time of day:''' The runway 13 approach is viable for morning photography if you are prepared to take head-on shots from directly beneath the flight path, but this location really comes into its own in the afternoon. For aircraft in park 3 you need to wait for the late afternoon. | ||
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===Park 4=== | ===Park 4=== | ||
[[Image: 10279_wm.jpg | [[Image: 10279_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|C-130 in park 4]]The occasional executive jet, civil or military transport or light plane may be parked here, though light aircraft tend to be parked far from the fence at a point where the ground dips, making them hard to photograph. There are cutouts for photography at intervals in the fence. Unless your subject is close to the fence you'll have to watch out for heat distortion and you may have to wait for the sun to start descending. Nightshots are also possible in this location. | ||
'''Time of day:''' Late afternoons, evenings and nights. | '''Time of day:''' Late afternoons, evenings and nights. | ||
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The most important operator at MLA is obviously [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Air+Malta Air Malta,] which operates a fleet of Airbus A319s and A320s. Other local airlines have come and gone: BritishJet, European 2000 Airlines and most recently Efly were all local start-ups which have ceased operations. There are three flying schools which contribute to a fairly lively general aviation scene. Also based at MLA is the [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Malta+-+Air+Force Air Wing] of the Armed Forces of Malta, which operates a mix of helicopters and light aircraft. | The most important operator at MLA is obviously [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Air+Malta Air Malta,] which operates a fleet of Airbus A319s and A320s. Other local airlines have come and gone: BritishJet, European 2000 Airlines and most recently Efly were all local start-ups which have ceased operations. There are three flying schools which contribute to a fairly lively general aviation scene. Also based at MLA is the [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Malta+-+Air+Force Air Wing] of the Armed Forces of Malta, which operates a mix of helicopters and light aircraft. | ||
MLA hosts two maintenance and repair facilities. Lufthansa Technik Malta carries out maintenance on Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies and Airbus widebodies in a recently-built complex by the airport perimeter next to park 4. Next to the airport on the Safi side (across the road from the Spotters' Wall), the Medavia | MLA hosts two maintenance and repair facilities. Lufthansa Technik Malta carries out maintenance on Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies and Airbus widebodies in a recently-built complex by the airport perimeter next to park 4. Next to the airport on the Safi side (across the road from the Spotters' Wall), the Medavia complex carries out maintenance work on smaller aircraft. A third maintenance provider, SR Technics, is also to start operating from Malta, where it will perform servicing on easyJet aircraft. | ||
[http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Medavia Medavia] operates its own small fleet of turboprops, mostly on ferry flights to and from North Africa. | |||
Other airlines which fly to Malta throughout the year include Alitalia, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair, Sevenair of Tunisia, Libyan Airlines, EgyptAir Express, Thomas Cook, Thomsonfly and Easyjet. | Other airlines which fly to Malta throughout the year include Alitalia, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair, Sevenair of Tunisia, Libyan Airlines, EgyptAir Express, Thomas Cook, Thomsonfly and Easyjet. | ||