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General
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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of Europe's busiest airports with a lot of Intercontinental and European flights. As it is the main base for most of the Dutch airlines, a lot of their planes can be seen during the day. As are the widebodies of KLM's partner Northwest. Up to 9 or 10 times a day they can be seen. A lot of commuter traffic is happening all day, especially by KLM uk, Eurowings, Air Alps and swisswings. Not to forget all the cheap flights of low-cost carrier easyJet.
Also the airport is playing a mayor role on the European cargo scene, so plenty of cargo planes from all over the world can be seen here.
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Layout
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The terminal area
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You can to see the aircraft from the roof terrace. In fact there are two terraces, but as they are connected to each other, it looks like one. The terrace on the old terminal faces the C-, D- and one side of the E-pier. This means that you have the sun right in your face in the morning, as it faces south. The other terrace faces the other side of the E-pier and one side of the F-pier. This terrace is perfect, because the sun is at your back the whole day. From both terraces some movements on the runways can be seen, but too far away for a picture. Airplanes taxiing and parked at the gate can be photographed with a 75-300 mm lens.
If you walk outside the terminal some spots can be found to get a glimpse of the aircraft parked at the various aprons. Further to the south, a nice spot exists at the very end of the Romeo Cargo apron, overlooking this apron and the threshold of runway 06.
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Around The Airport
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The 06/24 spotting area
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The first spot to check out is at the "Kaagbaan", or officially the 06-24. This runway has it's own viewing place. You can reach the facility by driving from the terminal to Schiphol-Zuid. Drive along Schiphol-Zuid, until you reach a T-junction, where you turn left. Drive straight ahead, and the road will lead you directly under the approach of the runway. Unfortunately there is no parking place here, so you will have to drive on. Take the first on your left and drive straight on again. The runway is now on your left hand. You will find the viewing spot on your left. Although the facility is not more than an ordinary parking place for cars, it attracts many people for there lunch break. Also a snack car is present at the spot during weekends and holidays. Until about three o'clock the sun is situated perfectly. For the photographers among us, a 75-300 mm lens is the most common, as you can photograph everything with this lens, including the commuters.
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The road along 18C/36C
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To reach this road, drive (seen from the terminal) in the same direction as to runway 06-24. Drive past the cargo-area until you reach the T-junction, mentioned in the story for runway 06-24. Instead of going to the left here, turn right, drive on and take the first on your right again. Follow this road completely (it will lead you past the NH Hotel, many companies, under a busroad and railroad bridge) and it will eventually bring you to the parallel road next to the runway, but this road is now closed due to construction work. The light is perfect here in the late (about three o'clock) afternoon and the lens you need here is again one of 75-300 mm.
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Landing Runway 18C
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At the small road leading through the approach lights of the 18C, some spots can be found to take nice landing shots. But beware, parking is not allowed here, so take caution and stay with you car.
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McDonalds along Runway 27
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Before the viewing facility was built, this was nothing more than a piece of muddy land. But now that is changed. At the viewing facility there's even a McDonald's restaurant for your appetite. To reach the spot, just follow the signs from the terminal which say Schiphol-Oost and it will lead you directly to the McDonald's (you can see the big "M" from a great distance). At this spot almost all the movements can be logged with a big monocular. You can see Schiphol-Oost and it's maintenance bases as well. Photographers won't be that happy with the spot because it faces south. But when it is a cloudy day, some good pictures of landing planes can be made. The lens to use here is again a 75-300 mm lens.
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Schiphol East
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This is next to the General Aviation platform and to the hangars of Martinair, KLPD (police), DDA, NLS and Excellent Air. During morning, some nice shots of the parked bizjets can be taken with the sun at you back. The windows of the hangars along the road are nowadays, so peeking inside is not possible anymore.
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Landing 36R
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This spot is at the industrial estate next to the threshold of 36R, just follow the road from Schiphol-East to the south and turn to the right at the gas station. Especially during weekends there is plenty of parking space. This spot is particularly useful in the morning when they're landing on 36R.
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Landing 36R
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This is at the other side of the landing of 01R, just follow the road and after passing the approach lights, turn the second to the right. This spot is good for the afternoon as the sun is then behind you.
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Runway 18R/36L
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The new runway is in use since late February 2003, starting at the 18R side, a bike lane runs along the first half of the runway. Halfway there are two spots you can reach by car.
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Getting There
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 Public Transport Info
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As this is a really big airport, there are numerous public transport connections. A lot of trains to the whole country are departing from the station and also a lot of bus connections to the neighbouring towns from the bus station. On the airport, a local bus network connects the main bus station with every corner of the field and non-airport personnel can also use these buses as they are part of the national bus system (so you have to buy a ticket).
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Photo: Frank Noort
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Photo: Frank Noort
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Based
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B737-300
B737-400
B737-800
B737-900
B747-300
B747-400
B747-400ERF
B767-300
B777-200
MD-11
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Fokker 100
Fokker 50
Fokker 70
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A320-200
B747-200C
B747-300SF
B767-300
MD-11CF
MD-11F
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B737-700
B737-800
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B767-300
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A320-200
B757-200
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DC-3
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BN-2T
Bo105
Ce182
MD900
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Neighbourhood Airports
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Valkenburg
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Dutch Navy Orion base |
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Lelystad
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A busy civil airport in the Flevopolder |
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Rotterdam
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The second busiest field in the country |
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Hilversum
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A small civil field |
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Soesterberg
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A military Helicopterbase in the center of Holland |
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More Info
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www.schiphol.nl
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The official site of Schiphol Airport, with arrival and departure info, including aircraft types and registrations |
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Schiphol Aviation Group
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The spotters group of Schiphol |
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Scramble timetable
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A Schiphol Timetable for spotters |
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Teletekst
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A Scramble link page to the Dutch Teletekst |
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Aviodome
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Until they're moving in 2003 to Lelystad, this museum is still here |
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Preserved
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210
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This SP-2H Neptune is in full KLM colours and momentarely parked in the old Fokker hangar
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Various
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The former Fokker hangar is in use as a storage for the Aviodrome museum, everything should move to Lelystad soon
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Frequencies
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121.7
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Ground - west
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121.8
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Ground - east
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121.875
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Ground - apron
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121.9
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Ground - apron
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121.975
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Delivery
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118.1
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Tower
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118.275
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Tower
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118.95
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Tower West, runway 18R/36L
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119.225
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Tower
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118.4
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Approach - arrival main runway
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118.8
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Approach - arrival SUGOL
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120.550
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Approach - arrival ARTIP
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121.2
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Approach
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123.85
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Approach
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130.95
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Approach - arrival RIVER
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131.15
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Approach
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119.05
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Departure
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122.2
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ATIS - departure
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126.2
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MET broadcast
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132.975
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ATIS - arrival
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Send Updates !
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Do you have updates ? Or is something not listed correctly ? Please let us know ! Fill in the form and send back to us. We appreciate your help very much. Only thanks to your input we can maintain an up to date information. And you can help other spotters with your information as well !
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