Taipei Songshan Airport
| Continent: Asia | Country: Taiwan |
| Taipei Songshan Airport | |
| Location | Taipei, Taiwan |
| IATA code | TSA |
| ICAO code | RCSS |
| Airport type | Mixed-Use |
| Website | http://www.tsa.gov.tw |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.1 |
| Ground | 121.9 |
| Clearance | 121.9 |
| Approach | 119.7 |
| Departure | 119.7, 128.5 |
| ATIS | 127.4 |
Songshan (or Sung Shan) Airport is Taipei's downtown airport. The airport offers an excellent mix of Taiwanese and Mainland Chinese airlines, other airlines throughout Asia, as well as military and business traffic.
Official Spotting Locations
Observation Deck
Labeled as "Observatory" on airport signage, the entrance to the rooftop deck is located between Terminal 1 and 2, next to the post office. With a huge aviation themed mural marking the entrance, you cannot miss it! There is also an aviation shop (CAirshop) across from the entrance.
"Observatory" Entrance
CAirshop
Take the elevator or stairs to the third floor. The deck itself sits above Terminal 2, the domestic terminal. Here you can spot all aircraft taxiing to and from their gates, as well as arrivals and departures from the single runway.
While viewing is excellent, unfortunately, photography is through tinted windows only. With shielding from glare and color temperature adjustments in post-processing, quality photos can still be had.
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
There are benches all around the deck, with some shaded by the building, making it a comfortable place for spotting. Expect to see school groups on field trips there throughout the day.
Observation Deck Overview
One of two pop-out "fingers" for gate side view
Lighting is good from morning through early-afternoon.
About 70 mm is required for an A330 side view, 100 mm for MD-80 side view, and 200 mm for ATR side view.
Opening hours are 9 am to 9 pm. Entrance is free.
Link to the official airport Observation Deck page
Other Spotting Locations
Lane 180, Binjiang Street
Another very famous spotting location, known to the locals, is Lane 180, Binjiang Street (Chinese: 濱江街180巷). It is located right at the end of the runway, making it an ideal place to do some plane spotting.
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
You will see a variety of airliners ranging from domestic ATRs to international 767s and A330s. You will also see RoCAF's transports.
Facilities and Transportation
There are restrooms conveniently located at the Observation Deck.
There is a small cafe at the Observation Deck. On the level below the Observation Deck (second level), there is a MOS Burger. Inside the terminal, there are other restaurants, including a Subway sandwich shop in Terminal 1. There is also a convenience store on the ground floor at Terminal 2, perfect for grabbing a cheap and quick to-go lunch and drink.
Being a downtown airport, Songshan is easily accessible via Metro Taipei on the Wenhu (Brown) Line. The metro station (BR13 - Songshan Airport) is located right at the airport.