Doncaster Sheffield Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: United Kingdom | Region: England |
| Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood | |
| Location | Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
| IATA code | DSA |
| ICAO code | EGCN |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.robinhoodairport.com |
| Overview map | [ ] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 128.775 |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | 126.225 |
| Departure | 126.225 |
| ATIS | 134.95 |
Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport is situated south of Doncaster. It is the newest airport to open in the UK, formerly RAF Finningley. Due to still being relatively new, it is very quiet in terms of movements. This has picked up for summer 2009, with a few new operators commencing flights, however it's not the sort of place you would want to spend an entire day at though, unless you take a good book! Well worth stopping by if you're in the area though, and the authorities are very friendly to spotters.
Official Spotting Locations
There are no official spotting locations as yet.
Other Spotting Locations
Runway 02 end
From the airport turn left, and head for the A638. Turn left to head south on this road. Take the first road on the left (High Common Lane). This road runs between the A638 and A614. There is a layby on the northern side offering good views and photography of aircraft landing and departing on runway 02.
Map of this location: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=465625&Y=396545&A=Y&Z=3
Alongside the runway
From this location, continue straight past the end of the runway and you will come to a roundabout. Take the first exit, onto the Old Bawtry Road. This road comes closer to the runway and then runs parallel to the runway for most of its length. This offers good views of all traffic landing and departing on both runways, and there is parking for the entire length in a layby that seemingly stretches the length of the runway. You are at the same level as the runway and about 40-100ft from the side of the runway. A 300mm lens is plenty for most traffic.
This spot is good for photography until about 13:00-14:00 before shots start appearing backlit, and is better when 20 is in use for touchdown/rotation shots depending on how far along you go. The location is also popular with the locals and on a sunny afternoon there will be dozens of cars parked watching the planes.
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
The airport goes through phases of being quite busy, interspursed with hours of nothing. Unfortunately much of the movement occurs before 9.30am and after 7pm, with only 2-3 movements in between. Most days there is no activity at all between 8am and 1pm.
Consult the schedule before setting off to avoid hours of nothing.
External Links
Doncaster Airport Forum Dedicated aviation forum for spotters and aviation enthusiasts as well as aviation professionals. This forum is also home to a number of other airport forums for airports around the UK.