Atatürk International Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: Turkey |
| Atatürk International Airport | |
| Location | Istanbul, Turkey |
| IATA code | IST |
| ICAO code | LTBA |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.ataturkairport.com/eng/ |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.1 121.8 |
| Ground | 121.8 121.9 |
| Clearance | 121.7 |
| Approach | 126.4 120.5 121.1 NORTH 120.5, SOUTH 121.1 |
| ATIS | 128.2 |
General Information
Taking photos of aircrafts are not forbidden, but most of people think it is a kind of crime. We have the same thinking in Turkey. On the background, In Turkey, civilian use airports are also under act of special security areas, these are all airports, ports, power plants, nav aids, etc. In these areas unauthorized entry is forbidden, at these areas the taking pictures of buildings are not allowed, but aircrafts are free to take pictures. So how we are spotting? Just stay away from the fences, or do not make yourself so clear to the security watch boxes around the airports. Better way is stay on the buildings, parks, forest etc surrounding airports. If you face a security staff, most possibly they do not aware of ‘photographing aircrafts are not forbidden’ listen them calmly, mostly they ask do not take photos, take a coffee break, if possible change location and continue in convenience.
Spotting at Istanbul LTBA / IST
Istanbul has three runways in open V style. If the wind is from north 80 percent of traffic uses runway 05 for landing and 35L/R for departures. In this configuration, private jets mostly lands runway 35L. (they vacate the runway at the end for general aviation area)
35L/R Take-Off, 05 Landing configuration. For this configuration there are two most popular spotting area. Sun is on the east side at morning hours so IBB Florya municipality park is the most convenient place. It’s located at the sea side of runway 05 approach. For afternoon ‘ Flyinn shopping centre ‘ is most convenient as comfortable place for spotting. On the second floor open terrace for smokers is very close and good for spotting to departing aircrafts and general airport traffic.
17L/R Take-off , 23 Landing configuration. When the wind is from south, Take-offs on runway 17L/R landings are on runway 23. Flyinn shopping centre is useful for take-offs, but for landings there is no good place. The APlus shopping centre and roads around at Atakoy might be useful for 23 landings.
Official Spotting Locations
Atatürk Airport has no official viewing areas.
Other Spotting Locations
IBB Florya
You can take 05 and 35 landings photo from here
Sample photos
Aerodrome Road
Near aerodrome road seaside, you can see aircraft on approach to runways 05 and 35.
Flyinn Shopping Mall
The apron is visible from Flyinn Shopping Mall. You can see runways 35L-35R and the apron.
Sample photos
Tarkim Flight Academy
You can get takeoff photos of runway 35R-35L and 17R from the Tarkim Flight Academy terrace.
Tarkim Flight Academy
All weekdays
08:00 - 18:00
Google Earth coordinates 40°58'26.72"N, 28°48'17.03"
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large - Tarkim Spotting Location
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large - Tarkim Spotting Location
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large - 05 Approach
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large - 05 Approach
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large - 05 Approach seaside
Locations to Avoid
Regular Traffic
Adria Airways
Aegean Airlines
Aeroflot
Aerosvit Airlines
Afriqiyah Airways
Air Algérie
Air Astana
Air France
Air Malta
Air Moldova
Air Transat
airBaltic
Alitalia
Ariana Afghan Airlines
Armavia
Asiana Airlines
Atlasjet
Austrian Airlines
Azerbaijan Airlines
Belavia
B&H Airlines
British Airways
Buraq Air
Caspian Airlines
China Southern Airlines
Condor Flugdienst Seasonal
Corendon Airlines
Croatia Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Donavia
Donbassaero
Dniproavia
EgyptAir
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Freebird Airlines Seasonal
Gulf Air
Iberia
Iran Air
Iraqi Airways
JAT Airways
Jet2.com Manchester [begins 16 March 2012]
KLM
Korean Air
Kuban Airlines
Kuwait Airways
Kyrgyzstan
Libyan Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
Mahan Air
Malaysia Airlines
Malév Hungarian Airlines
Middle East Airlines
Nouvelair
Olympic Air
Onur Air
Pakistan International Airlines
Pegasus Airlines operated by IZair
Qatar Airways
Red Wings Airlines
Rossiya
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Jordanian
Saudi Arabian Airlines
SCAT
Singapore Airlines
Sky Airlines
Somon Air
Swiss International Airlines
Tajik Air
TAROM
Tatarstan Airlines
Tunis Air
Turkish Airlines
Turkmenistan Airlines
Uzbekistan Airlines
Facilities and Transportation
To get IBB Florya park, from Ataturk airport, best and fastest way is take a taxi. Alternate way is from the some parts of city take train called Banliyö ( French originated word for suburb ) leave the train Florya, again taxi to the IBB park.
To get Flyinn shopping centre, take a taxi to Flyinn shopping centre at Florya, be careful about airport taxis, mostly they are not happy for short distance passengers. Alternately, from the some part of city, take train to the Florya and taxi to the Flyinn shopping centre.