Malta International Airport: Difference between revisions

Good for runway 32 touchdowns. However, this is an awkward spot as an old farmhouse on the right will restrict your view of incoming aircraft. To get a better view you can descend close to the fence but you would then need a stepladder to clear it. In summer 2006 this site was cleared of vegetation, apparently as a prelude to future works on the site, but so far it remains accessible.

'''Directions:''' As with the previous spot but follow the road up the hill. Near the top turn right to take an old country road leading to the village of Safi. Very soon 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 20 minutes to your journey from the terminal if you are on foot.

The Spotters' Wall, as it is known, is really an elevated viewing platform. 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 drawback is its very popularity: it can get crowded if there is a particularly unusual movement.

'''Time of day:''' Noon to evening (or from around 9 am on in winter).

The most important airline at MLA is obviously [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Air+Malta Air Malta,] which operates a  fleet of Airbus A319s and A320s plus two Boeing 737s (which will eventually be phased out). However it is not the only local operator. British Jet - a Maltese airline, name notwithstanding - operates a single [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=BritishJet.com MD-90] on flights to various UK destinations. Another company, European 2000 Airlines, operates a pair of [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?id=0948523,0919275 Fairchild Metros] which can often be seen in Park 3 when not in use. There are two flying schools which contribute to a fairly lively general aviation scene. Also based at MLA is the [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Malta+-+Air+Force Armed Forces of Malta Air Squadron] which operates a mix of  helicopters and light aircraft.  

Finally, MLA hosts two maintenance and repair facilities. The Lufthansa Technik Malta plant, located in the airport grounds close to park 3, carries out C checks on Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies and will also provide C and D checks on Airbus widebodies as from 2008 once a new hangar is built for the purpose. Next to the airport on the Safi side (across the road from the Spotters' Wall), the Medavia/NCA complex carries out maintenance work on smaller aircraft. [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Medavia Medavia] operates its own turboprops, mostly on ferry work to North Africa.

Foreign airlines which fly to Malta throughout the year include British Airways, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair, Tuninter, Thomas Cook and Thomsonfly. BA flights are operated by GB Airways flying in BA livery. In summer traffic increases considerably. Airlines which operate seasonal Malta routes constitute an ever-varying collection but normally include Austrian Airlines, SAS, Sterling, Finnair, Spanair, Atlant-Soyuz, My Travel and First Choice. As already mentioned, the best bet for the overseas visitor is to consult the flight schedules on the MLA website. Aircraft types used include Airbus narrowbodies, A330s (mostly Emirates), Boeing 737s and 757s, and ATR turboprops. In summer the list expands to include B767s, MD-80s, Tu-154s and even B777s. Occasional visitors, particularly in summer, can include anything from military aircraft in transit to chartered 747s.