Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: Netherlands |
| Amsterdam Schiphol Airport | |
| Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| IATA code | AMS |
| ICAO code | EHAM |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | [www.schiphol.nl www.schiphol.nl] |
| Overview map | [ ] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.1, 119.225 |
| Ground | 121.95 |
| Clearance | 121.95 |
| Approach | 118.4 |
| ATIS | 132.925 |
Official Spotting Locations
Schiphol has three official viewing areas. The observation deck at Schiphol Plaza, the Mac Donalds overlooking 09/27 (Buitenveldertbaan), and a parking lot alongside 06/24 (Kaagbaan).
Observation Deck
The airport hosts a large outdoor observation deck with great views of the terminal. There is also Dakota's Café & Bar, just inside the observation deck with good view if the weather is bad. Unfortunately the platform faces the sun most of the day. For photography it is therefor not too great. If you want to catch registrations this is a great place though! Just don't forget to bring your binoculars!
opening hours:
summer 07:00 - 20:00
winter 09:00 - 17:00
For now access to the observation deck is free of charge, however there are plans to change this. The turnstiles have already been installed, so it is probably a matter of time only.
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=304279
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09/27 Buitenveldertbaan (Mac Donalds)
This spot is not that good. You will face the sun all day at this spot. On top of that, the Buitenveldertbaan is rarely used due to noise regulations. So this place is not really worth it.
Just in case you do want to go here, you can easily get here by busline 190, 191, 192, 193, 196, 198 or 199. Get of at busstop "Loevestijnse Dwarsweg", easily recognisable by the massive Mac Donalds sign.
06/24 Kaagbaan
This spot is really excellent, and quite possibly one of the best of the world. You are just a few hundred metres away from the Kaagbaan. This runway is used almost all day, and offers a view without fences. A levy is to keep you from entering the runway. along with video surveillance and regular driveby's by police.
To get a full frame side-on shot of a B747 you should need no more then 50mm. An F50 or ATR can be had at 200mm easily.
You can get here by bus by taking busline 191, 193 or 198 to busstop "Aalsmeerderweg". That's about a 15 minutes drive. From there another 15 minutes walk into the road on your left (yep, the Aalsmeerderweg) is all that is needed to get you at the spot.
By car you can also go here, and there is a lot space to park your car. When driving over the A4 motorway take exit the to Aalsmeer on the N201. At the end of the motorway exit, turn left towards Aalsmeer. At the first crossing you must go to the left, into the Aalsmeerderweg. At the end of this road is the parking lot.
You can either stay at the parking lot, or walk into the grass field adjacent to the parking area. Another option is to walk a bit further till the road makes a 90 degree turn. This is the closest you can get to cargo apron Gulf. Planes taxiing from Gulf to the runway pass by very closely. Mostly martinair MD11s and 747s, but also JAL Cargo 747. DAS Air Cargo DC-10 and most oversized charters.
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Unofficial Spotting Locations
Schiphol has a lot of unofficial spots, mostly around the Polderbaan, but every other runway has one or two spots as well.
06/24 Kaagbaan
You can get into the approach of the Kaagbaan, but you are not allowed to park here. You can easily park your car at the local Mac Donalds though, and walk the last 5 minutes. Just take the exit towards Hoofddorp/Aalsmeer on the A4 motorway. Park the car at the Mac Donalds across the intersection, and walk under the bridge towards the runway.
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=455907
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18C/36C Zwanenburgbaan
This runway is the back-up runway for the Polderbaan. So this runway is only used when it is very busy.
You can only get into the approach of this runway. In the past you could drive all along the runway, but recent construction works (most notably the Polderbaan and the A5 motorway) have made this impossible.
To get into the approach from motorway A4 (the motorway running through Schiphol) you must follow the signs towards Hoofddorp. This will get you on the N201. Once there take the exit towards Boesingheliede (N520). If you follow this road for a few minutes you will find yourself in the approach. There is not an official parking area, so please be carefull where you park. Do not hinder the traffic, as this might give the police a reason to send you off (or worse, give Schiphol a reason to close the spot!).
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=537582
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18R/36L Polderbaan
The Polderbaan (18R/36L) is the newest runway, located in the middle of nowhere (by Dutch standards anyway). Because of that few people are annoyed by the aircraft noise, so this runway is used as much as possible.
When the wind comes roughly from the southwest to the west this runway is used for landings. When the wind comes rouhgly from the northwest to the east this runway is used for take-offs.
This spot can not be reached by public transport, so a car or a bike will be required. When coming from the A4 motorway you must take the exit to Hoofddorp. At the exit go to the left and follow this road.
Now you got two options. You can take the exit onto the N520 towards Boesingheliede. At the end of this road you must go to the left (onto Schipholweg), and then at the first crossing again to the left (IJweg). At the end of this road you can park and look over the Polderbaan from the east.
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=443893
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Another option is to stay at the N201. After 5 minutes you will be at a large intersection with on your right a fire station. At this intersection you must go to the right. Then take the second road to the right and continue to the end of this road. Now you will be looking over the Polderbaan from the west.
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=299688
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The eastern side of the polderbaan is preferably in the morning and early afternoon. After that the western side is preferable.
The taxiway linking this runway to Schiphol is also accesible. However, this place is always very busy. Also, there is a fence so a step ladder will be required. To get here get onto the N520 as mentioned earlier. After a few minutes you will drive under a bridge, this bridge is the taxiway. You can park your car at the cemetary just in front of the bridge on the western side of the river. Of course you can also park your car at the crashgate as many others do, but I would ask you not to. This place has attracted a lot of attention from the local autorities for all the wrong reasons. A lot of people park their car here rather dangerously. If this goes on this spot might well be closed.
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=254316
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Schiphol Oost
Schiphol Oost is the maintenance and executive part of the airport. You can see a limited part of Oost. This includes the police air wing (Bo-105, C.172), the hangars of the Dutch Dakota Association and some Martinair hangars. The biz jet ramp can also be seen.
To get here you can easily take bus 190, 191, 196, 198 or 199. When you see the police air hangar on your right, you will know you are there! It is the second stop after the Mac Donalds adjacent to the Buitenveldertbaan.
By car you can go here by taking exit "Schiphol Oost" from the A9 motorway.
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Facilities and Transportation
Schiphol has all fascilities you can think of. Shops, casinos, hotels, restaurants. You will find it here.
Schiphol is connected to both local and regional buslines. The railways feature prominently too with local, national and international (Belgium, France and Germany) routes. The Nederlandse Spoorwegen claim that ANY station in the Netherlands can be reached with no more then two changes. Most mayor cities can be reached directly or with only one change.
Car rentals
http://www.avis.nl/
http://www.europcar.nl/
http://www.hertz.nl/
http://www.nationalcar-rental.com/
http://www.schipholtaxi.info/
Bus companies
http://www.connexxion.nl/
http://www.schipholsternet.com/
Train company
Links
Sorted alphabetically:
Spotters
http://www.aircolours.com/
http://www.ams-mov-info.nl/
http://www.schipholspotter.com/
http://www.schipholview.nl/
http://www.scramble.nl/
http://www.spottersunited.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dutch_Aviation_Photographer/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dutch-spotters/