Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Continent: Europe

Region: England

Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Location	Doncaster, South Yorkshire
IATA code	DSA
ICAO code	EGCN
Airport type	Commercial
Website	http://www.flydsa.co.uk
Overview map	[ ]
Communications
Tower	128.775
Ground	128.775
Clearance	128.775
Approach	126.225
Departure	126.225
ATIS	134.950

Please Note: Doncaster Sheffield Airport is now closed as of November 2022, please read the below section "Airport Closure" for further detail.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is situated to the South-East of Doncaster, and was formerly known as RAF Finningley. Doncaster Sheffield Airport was a Regional Airport that served scheduled Passenger flights, complemented by Business flights, Cargo flights and General Aviation until its closure in November 2022.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport was also home to numerous flying schools, including Yorkshire Aero Club and Doncaster Sheffield Flight Training (DSFT). 2 Excel Aviation also had a base here at Doncaster Sheffield, where they operate and maintain aircraft for the Oil Spill Response team, notably a fleet of 2 Boeing 727s and several Piper PA-31s. 2Excel also operated flights for HM Coastguard with a fleet of 3 Beechcraft King Air's.

More recently, Doncaster has been home to 4 Vulcanair P68's operated by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) out of their own purpose built Hangar at the Airport.

Airport Closure

In June 2022, Wizz Air UK announced its withdrawl from Doncaster Sheffield Airport, stating that the airport operators were "unable to guarantee the terms of its commercial agreement". As a result of this, TUI Airways became the sole based operator.

In July 2022, it was announced that "Aviation activities on the site may no longer be commercially viable". Peel Airports proceeded to launch a Consultation period to evaluate options which was originally due to last until late August. Peel stated the airport had "never achieved the critical mass required to become profitable". The closure proposal drew strong local reaction, with an on-line petition established by local spotter Yorkshire Plane Spotting that eventually collected over 100,000 signatures. As well as this, a Facebook group "SAVE Doncaster Sheffield Airport" was established with over 15,000 members at the time of writing.

In late August 2022, the consultation period was extended until 16 September, with the result of the consultation announced on 26 September. On 26 September, it was announced that aviation activities would be wound down from 31 October 2022, after 17 years of operation. The airport's sole based operator TUI operated its final flights on 4 November 2022.

Wizz Air had announced it would transfer its Doncaster Sheffield routes to Leeds Bradford Airport. They also operated the airport's final scheduled departure on 29 October 2022.

Following this, other based operators such as 2Excel, NPAS, Yorkshire Aero Club and Hummingbird Helicopters begun the process of vacating the site along with all aircraft.

The provision of Air Traffic Control Services was withdrawn as of 18:00 on the 30th November 2022, with the following days allowing for safely switching off all of the related equipment.

The CAA are currently working through an Airspace Change Procedure to remove the Doncaster Sheffield Airport airspace, following the withdrawl of Air Traffic services.

Negotiations are reportedly ongoing between an interested buyer and Peel Airports Group over the acquisition of the site, with Peel also proposing a leasehold of the site to Doncaster Council.

Official Spotting Locations

There are no official spotting locations at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

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

Runway 02

From this location, continue straight past the end of the runway and you will come to a roundabout. Take the first exit, onto the dirt road (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.

At the time of writing in May 2021, this dirt road is now used as an access road for the Quarry site, meaning that there will be large vehicles driving up and down regularly during working hours. parking is still possible closer to the roundabout as there is a large area for parking that still allows work traffic to pass through

Runway 20

The other side of Old Bawtry Road provides better views of aircraft landing and departing on runway 20 or runway 02, although parking can be fairly limited as the car park area has now been blocked off.

To access this location, go back to the roundabout previously mentioned and take the exit signposted Finningley. Once you are in the village, the road bends round to the left, keep following the road until you see the “The Harvey Arms” pub, and turn down the street to drive past it (also called Old Bawtry Road). Keep driving down this road and you will come to several gaps in the hedges where cars park up to the fence to watch the activity. A few lay-bys are also available for cars to park. You can then walk down the road, past the large concrete blocks blocking car park access, and further down the path you will come to a raised mound with some blocks to stand on, allowing you to be above the fence. At this location there is only space for 3 spotters so if something special or important is arriving or departing it is advised to arrive earlier to get a space, otherwise shooting through the fence is the only option.

Terminal side

Parking at this location is restricted in the airport zone. As a result of this, you may need to park in a nearby housing estate, as long as it doesn’t reside in the airport zone you will be fine.

On Fourth Avenue, you will find the 2excel and Cessna Citation hangars, where you may see the Boeing 727 Oil Spill Response parked up, or any other smaller aircraft owned by the company such as their fleet of Beechcraft King Air aircraft, or a number of Cessna light aircraft for the flight training schools.

You will also see stands 16 and 17 from this location, where cargo aircraft sometimes park up, although at the time of writing this (Winter 2020), a number of aircraft are parked here in storage.

You are unlikely to be moved on by security here.

For spotting on stands 16 and 17, it may be useful to have a zoom lens, although a 55-250mm will suffice.

Stand 5

This location is where the majority of cargo aircraft parks up, especially since stands 16 and 17 are presently occupied. From here you will be very close to the parked cargo aircraft such as the Astral 747. Night spotting is ideal here as you can set up a tripod and take a long exposure through the fence.

This location can be found by the left side of the main terminal building.

Security sometimes ask you to vacate this location, although this doesn’t happen very regularly.

A kit lens (or other suitably small lens) would be suitable and would be best for this location as you are very close to the aircraft.

Stands 1 and 2

This location is not needed most of the time as aircraft don’t usually park here unless it’s relatively busy and there is no other suitable option.

However when it is in use, this location can be found down the right side of the terminal building in the Meet and Greet car park.

Security may sometimes ask you to leave this location.

A 55-250mm lens may be useful at this location as there is a double fence for part of this, and you aren’t as close as you are at the stand 5 location, although you may be fine with a kit lens.

Locations to Avoid

Runway 20 approach mound

This location is situated opposite the Chinese takeaway in Finningley. To access this location, park outside the takeaway and look opposite for the gap in the bushes, climb through this gap and walk up and along the hill on the right or left side. This gives you a clear view of aircraft on approach for runway 20 as well as the Vulcan XH558 which you can see parked directly opposite.

As far as I know, spotting at this location is possible and many spotters use it. However I hear rumors that security and the airport staff are not particularly keen on people using it, and it was reported in May 2021 that the location is now inaccessible due to the airport owners installing fencing that blocks access.

High Common Lane Farmer's Fields

While it may seem tempting to venture into these fields and get close ups of aircrafts in the engine test bay or on the taxiway, this is trespassing and could lead to prosecution.

Regular Traffic

The airport goes through phases of being quite busy, interspersed 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.

Magma Aviation Boeing 747 freighter arrives into Doncaster on a Saturday, usually fairly early in the morning - flight number CC335.

Astral Aviation Boeing 747 Freighter arrives into Doncaster, usually on a Tuesday. Usually in the afternoon but sometimes in the early morning - flight number 8V2601

Facilities and Transportation

The Harvey Arms pub in Finningley is fairly close to the Old Bawtry Road spotting locations, with either a 10-15 minute walk or a very short drive from the location.

The 57C bus runs directly to the Airport Terminal Building.

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.