Malta International Airport: Difference between revisions

[[Image: 11067_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Embraer 170 departing from runway 31]]The Spotters' Wall, as it is known, is really an elevated viewing platform. Built by the Malta Aviation Society some years ago, it offered unobstructed views of runway 13/31 and it was the place from which to shoot takeoffs in either direction. With any luck the aircraft would rotate right in front of you. It was easily the best spot for photography at MLA, its only drawback being its very popularity since it tended to get crowded when there was a particularly unusual movement.  

The above has been amended to the past tense because the Spotters' Wall is inaccessible as of August 2010 due to works in the area. 

 

A short distance down the airport perimeter road (now blocked to traffic), lies the Medavia aircraft maintenance complex. The complex is across the road from the airport perimeter. Aircraft transiting from the airport to the Medavia facilities and vice versa used to cross the perimeter road, offering an opportunity for interesting photos since those present could get within metres of the aircraft at the crossing. However, the above-mentioned works will incorporate the Medavia facilities within the airport perimeter and reroute the perimeter road. Road crossings at MLA will soon be a thing of the past, but hopefully at least access to the Spotters' Wall will be restored once the works are over.   

'''Directions:''' Starting from the airport terminal, go left as you leave the building and head for the airport McDonald’s restaurant. Pass it by and you will reach the road to Zurrieq. Turn left and follow the road through a tunnel (there is a roadside pavement for walkers). As you emerge from the other side of the tunnel you will reach a roundabout: go left again. You are now travelling south-east, parallel to the airport perimeter. The walk should take perhaps 20 minutes, but the road is blocked just short of the Spotters' Wall.

If driving, head for the airport but take the road to Zurrieq at the Gudja/airport/Luqa roundabout. Parking used to be available next to the spotting platform, but it is not clear what the situation will be once the works are complete and access is restored.