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Malta International Airport: Difference between revisions
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MLA is the only airport for fixed-wing aircraft in Malta. It has two runways. Runway 14/32, the longer one at 3.5 km, is normally used for commercial passenger traffic while 06/24 (length 2.4 km) | MLA is the only airport for fixed-wing aircraft in Malta. It has two runways. Runway 14/32, the longer one at 3.5 km, is normally used for commercial passenger traffic while 06/24 (length 2.4 km) is used mainly by light aircraft. | ||
MLA offers a variety of aircraft types and liveries | MLA offers the spotter a variety of aircraft types and liveries, even though the volume of traffic is limited. Photographers who are considering a trip to Malta should consult the flight schedules in the airport's official website, which are available two weeks in advance, to ensure that their visit to the airport coincides with the active periods during the day. | ||
That said, MLA is a very spotter-friendly airport both in terms of the availability of good vantage-points for photography and in the sense that photography is officially tolerated. | That said, MLA is a very spotter-friendly airport, both in terms of the availability of good vantage-points for photography and in the sense that photography is officially tolerated. | ||
==Official Spotting Locations== | ==Official Spotting Locations== | ||
===Terminal | ===Terminal Viewing Gallery=== | ||
Offers an excellent view of Park 9 (the main apron for passenger aircraft) but is behind glass and reflections are an obstacle. | Offers an excellent view of Park 9 (the main apron for passenger aircraft) but is behind glass and reflections are an obstacle. There is no other vantage-point suitable for photography within the airport, even airside. | ||
'''Time of day:''' Morning only as in most positions on the ramp aircraft will be backlit in the afternoon. | '''Time of day:''' Morning only as in most positions on the ramp aircraft will be backlit in the afternoon. | ||
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A note about sample photos: indicative focal lengths refer to 35mm format and you need to apply the crop factor appropriate to your camera, e.g. divide by 1.6 for a Canon 350D or 20D. | A note about sample photos: indicative focal lengths refer to 35mm format and you need to apply the crop factor appropriate to your camera, e.g. divide by 1.6 for a Canon 350D or 20D. | ||
{{anetlink|0808856}} (Airbus A320 on ramp - | {{anetlink|0808856}} (Airbus A320 on ramp - 50mm) | ||
{{anetlink|0828813}} (Bombardier Global Express taxiing - 100mm) | {{anetlink|0828813}} (Bombardier Global Express taxiing - 100mm) | ||
==Other Spotting Locations== | ==Other Spotting Locations== | ||
=== | ===Airport Perimeter Near Taxiway C=== | ||
This spot is an excellent morning vantage-point for departing aircraft on their way to Runway 32. It is also good for aircraft entering Park 9 after landing on Runway 14. Aircraft in the nearer parking bays in Park 9 are also reachable. Runway 32 takeoffs can be photographed with a moderately long lens. There are portholes for photographers at intervals in the fence so a stepladder is not necessary, though shooting takeoffs through the portholes is difficult. | |||
'''Time of day:''' Morning only. | |||
'''Directions:''' Leave the terminal building and cross the carpark to get to the main road. Turn right and follow the road as it curves to the right. As soon as you are past the VIP entry gate and the crash gate you can pick your spot. | |||
If you’re travelling by car, head for the airport but when you reach the Gudja/airport/Luqa roundabout take the road to Hal Far (it runs parallel to the airport access road but does not descend). Watch for the above-mentioned VIP and crash gates. Parking is possible to one side of the crash gate and on the opposite side of the road. | |||
{{anetlink|0833916}} (Boeing 747 on Taxiway C - 40mm) | |||
Additional locations to be inputted. | Additional locations to be inputted. | ||