Melbourne Tullamarine Airport

Continent: Oceania

Country: Australia

Region: Victoria

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
Location	Melbourne, Victoria
IATA code	MEL
ICAO code	YMML
Airport type	Commercial
Website	http://www.melair.com.au
Overview map	[ ]
Communications
Tower	120.5
Ground	121.7
Clearance	127.2
Approach	132
Departure	118.9, 129.4
ATIS	114.1, 132.7

Official Spotting Locations

THERE ARE MANY SPOTTING LOCATIONS AROUND MELBOURNE AIRPORT,AND ACCESS IS VERY SIMPLE PROVIDING YOU HAVE A VEHICLE. (THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORT AROUND AIRPORT PERIMITERS) GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY CAN BE ACHIEVED IN MOST LOCATIONS.

Other Spotting Locations

RUNWAY 34 THRESHOLD

RUNWAY 34 THRESHOLD LOCATED ON OPERATIONS ROAD (JUST PAST QANTAS MAINTENENCE) IS AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY,PARTICULARLY EARLY MORNING WHEN THE SUN IS AT YOUR BACK. THERE IS A LARGE GRASSED AREA WHERE YOU CAN PARK YOUR CAR OFF THE ROAD.AIRCRAFT CAN BE PHOTOGRAPHED FROM ALL ANGLES AND A 70-300MM LENS IS SUFFICIENT. ===RUNWAY 34 SPOTTERS CARPARK=== RWY 34 SPOTTERS CARPARK LOCATED FURTHER DOWN OPERATIONS ROAD IS AN IDEAL SPOT TO VIEW/PHOTOGRAPH AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS. EXCELLENT TAXIING/DEPARTURE SHOTS (RWY 34-TAXIWAY JULIET) CAN BE TAKEN FROM HERE,ALTHOUGH THE EARLY MORNING SUN CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT. ALSO, PROVIDES STUNNING SHOTS OF 16 DEPARTURES. 70-300MM LENS SUFFICIENT. ===27 VIA MANSFIELD RD=== LOCATED ON MANSFIELD ROAD VIA McNABBS ROAD,GOOD SHOTS OF RWY27 DEPARTURES AND ROLLOUTS/TAXIING CAN BE TAKEN FROM HERE,ALTHOUGH ONCE AGAIN THE EARLY MORNING SUN CAN BE TRICKY.AIRCRAFT TAXIING OFF RWY27 PASS WITHIN 50 METERS OF YOUR LOCATION MAKING FOR SOME STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY!. 300MM LENS FOR DEPARTURES (ALTHOUGH 500MM BETTER!) 70MM LENS FOR RWY 27 TAXIING SHOTS. ===RWY 16 THRESHOLD=== AIRCRAFT LANDING ON RWY 16 CAN EASILY BE PHOTOGRAPHED FROM UNITING LANE JUST OFF SUNBURY ROAD (NEXT TO UNITING CHURCH). GOOD SIDE ON SHOTS CAN BE HAD FROM HERE,THERE IS ALSO SOME SHADY TREES TO SIT UNDER ON A HOT DAY!,ALTERNITIVELY THE SPOTTERS CARPARK ON THE CORNER OF SUNBURY ROAD AND OAKLANDS ROAD SEES AIRCRAFT PASSING DIRECTLY OVER YOUR HEAD! (150 FEET). ===RWY 27 THRESHOLD=== RUNWAY 27 THRESHOLD JUST OFF SUNBURY ROAD (LOOK FOR THE FLIGHT MARKERS),IS ANOTHER GOOD SPOT TO PHOTOGRAPH AIRCRAFT LANDING ON RWY 27,ALTHOUGH CAN BE QUITE NOISY DUE TO TRAFFIC ON SUNBURY ROAD,ALSO THE AIRPORT ITSELF CAN'T BE SEEN FROM THIS LOCATION DUE TO A SMALL HILL BLOCKING THE VIEW.

Locations to Avoid

Regular Traffic

SOME OF MELBOURNE'S REGULAR TRAFFIC INCLUDES;QANTAS,SINGAPORE AIRLINES,CATHAY PACIFIC,JETSTAR,UNITED AIRLINES,AIR CHINA,CHINA SOUTHERN,CHINA EASTERN,EMIRATES,GARUDA INDONESIA,PHILLIPINES,KOREAN AIRLINES,AIR NEW ZEALAND,MALYSIA AIRLINES AND VIETNAM AIRLINES. PLEASE NOTE:WHILE NOT ESSENTIAL,A LADDER TO GET ABOVE THE FENCELINE TO PHOTOGRAPH AIRCRAFT IS AN ADVANTAGE, BUT PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP AT LEAST 3 METERS AWAY FROM THE FENCE DUE TO SAFETY AND SECURITY REASONS. HAPPY SNAPPING!