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Malta International Airport: Difference between revisions
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mapurl=| | mapurl=| | ||
mapsource=| | mapsource=| | ||
atctower= | atctower=118.90MHz| | ||
atcground=| | atcground=| | ||
atcclearance=| | atcclearance=| | ||
atcapproach=Primary | atcapproach=Primary 121.00MHz, Secondary 127.10MHz| | ||
atcdeparture=| | atcdeparture=| | ||
atcatis=127. | atcatis=127.40MHz| | ||
atcunicom=}} | atcunicom=}} | ||
MLA is the only airport for fixed-wing aircraft in Malta. It started out as RAF Luqa and it was one of the | MLA is the only airport for fixed-wing aircraft in Malta. It started out as RAF Luqa and it was one of the airfields from which the epic defence of Malta was conducted in 1941-42. After Malta's independence it was developed as a commercial airport with two runways. Runway 14/32, the longer one at 3.5 km, is normally used for commercial passenger traffic while Runway 06/24 (length 2.4 km) is used mainly by light aircraft. MLA is the venue of the Malta International Airshow, which is held in late September each year. | ||
MLA offers the spotter a variety of aircraft types and liveries, even though the volume of traffic is limited by comparison to major airports in large countries. Photographers who are planning 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. | MLA offers the spotter a variety of aircraft types and liveries, even though the volume of traffic is limited by comparison to major airports in large countries. Photographers who are planning 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. | ||
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===Airport Perimeter Near Taxiway C=== | ===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 exiting Runway 14 via | This spot is an excellent morning vantage-point for departing aircraft on their way to Runway 32. It is also good for aircraft exiting Runway 14 via Taxiways C or D. 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. | '''Time of day:''' Morning only. | ||
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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 across the road. | 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 across the road. | ||
{{ | {{anetlink|1068643}} (Yak-42 on Taxiway C - 70mm) | ||
{{anetlink|0833916}} (Boeing 747 on Taxiway C - 40mm) | {{anetlink|0833916}} (Boeing 747 on Taxiway C - 40mm) | ||
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'''Directions:''' As with the previous spot but follow the road up the hill. Near the top turn right to take an old country road to the village of Safi. Before you get anywhere near Safi you will come to a fork in the road. Keep right and you will soon reach the airport perimeter fence. This spot is really for drivers as it will add some 25 minutes to your journey from the terminal if you are on foot. | '''Directions:''' As with the previous spot but follow the road up the hill. Near the top turn right to take an old country road to the village of Safi. Before you get anywhere near Safi you will come to a fork in the road. Keep right and you will soon reach the airport perimeter fence. This spot is really for drivers as it will add some 25 minutes to your journey from the terminal if you are on foot. | ||
=== | ===The "Spotters' Wall" (Safi side)=== | ||
The Spotter's Wall, as it is known, is really an elevated viewing platform which was built by the Malta Aviation Society some years ago. It offers unobstructed views of Runway 14/32 and it is the place from which to shoot takeoffs in either direction. With any luck the aircraft will rotate right in front of you. It is easily the best spot for photography at MLA. Its only drawbacks are its unsuitability for morning photography, and its very popularity: it can get crowded if there is a particularly unusual movement. | |||
'''Time of day:''' Noon to evening. | '''Time of day:''' Noon to evening. | ||
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The most important airline at MLA is obviously Air Malta, but it is not the only local operator. British Jet - a Maltese airline, name notwithstanding - operates a single MD-90 on flights to various UK destinations. Another company, European 2000 Airlines, operates a pair of Fairchild Metros which can often be seen in Park 3 when not in use. There are also two flying schools which contribute to a fairly lively general aviation scene. Also worth mentioning is the Armed Forces of Malta Air Squadron, which operates a mix of helicopters and light aircraft. | The most important airline at MLA is obviously Air Malta, but it is not the only local operator. British Jet - a Maltese airline, name notwithstanding - operates a single MD-90 on flights to various UK destinations. Another company, European 2000 Airlines, operates a pair of Fairchild Metros which can often be seen in Park 3 when not in use. There are also two flying schools which contribute to a fairly lively general aviation scene. Also worth mentioning is the Armed Forces of Malta Air Squadron, which operates a mix of helicopters and light aircraft. | ||
Scheduled airlines which fly to Malta throughout the year include British Airways, Alitalia, Lufthansa and Emirates. BA flights are operated by GB Airways flying in BA livery. Other regular visitors include Austrian Airlines, SAS, Sterling, Finnair and Tuninter. Regular charter airlines include My Travel, First Choice, Thomas Cook and Thomsonfly. Some of these are seasonal: in summer traffic increases considerably. As already mentioned, the best bet for the overseas visitor is to consult the flight schedules on the MLA website. Aircraft types used include various turboprops, A319s/320s, A321s, A330s (mostly Emirates), MD-80s, | Scheduled airlines which fly to Malta throughout the year include British Airways, Alitalia, Lufthansa and Emirates. BA flights are operated by GB Airways flying in BA livery. Other regular visitors include Austrian Airlines, SAS, Sterling, Finnair and Tuninter. Regular charter airlines include My Travel, First Choice, Thomas Cook and Thomsonfly. Some of these are seasonal: in summer traffic increases considerably. As already mentioned, the best bet for the overseas visitor is to consult the flight schedules on the MLA website. Aircraft types used include various turboprops, A319s/320s, A321s, A330s (mostly Emirates), MD-80s, Boeing 737s, 757s and 767s, and (in summer) Tu-154s. Occasional visitors, particularly in summer, can include anything from military aircraft in transit to chartered 747s. | ||
==Facilities and Transportation== | ==Facilities and Transportation== | ||
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==Links== | ==Links== | ||
[http://www.maltats.com/ Malta Air Traffic Services] | |||
[http://www.aopa-malta.org/ Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Malta] | [http://www.aopa-malta.org/ Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Malta] | ||
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[http://www.mas.org.mt/ Malta Aviation Society] | [http://www.mas.org.mt/ Malta Aviation Society] | ||