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General
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At 22 kilometres Northeast of the centre of Paris resides Charles de Gaulle Airport, the former Roissy Airport. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in Europe and is number three on the list of top ten airports in Europe. The airport has three runways, 09-27 and 10-28, and the third runway, 10L-28R, opened in the first half of 1999. The runway 09-27 is beside Aérogare (terminal) 1. The other two runways are beside Aérogare 2. A fourth runway will also be constructed, the 09L-27R. Both new runways are meant to release the pressure on the existing two. Charles de Gaulle has three terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal T9. Terminal 1 and 2 are divided in several satellites. The use of these terminals is very simple, all carriers use Terminal 1, with exception of Air France, the airlines being handled by Air France and the charters. Air France and the airlines being handled by them use Terminal 2 and the charters use T9. This separation is also being used with the runways; only at peaktime things can change.
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Layout
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Aérogare 1
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De Gaulle does not have any terrace, but Terminal 1 has something like a footway outside the arrival hall. From this footway you have an excellent view on the movements at Terminal 1 and a minor view on runway 09-27. There are, however, some disadvantages. First of all, the footway is rather small. Second of all, there's a lot of traffic passing behind you. You must watch out that you do not get a side mirror of a bus smashed into your head... But, nevertheless, the footway is a good opportunity to spot the airplanes at Terminal 1. As earlier mentioned, Terminal (or Aérogare) 1 is used by all the scheduled airlines, which are no partners of Air France, or being handled by them. These are for instance Aeroflot, Air Dolomiti, Cameroon Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, Pulkovo Avia and Yemenia. These airlines are just a tip of the iceberg.
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Along the Taxiway beetween T1 and T2
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Also terminal 2 has no viewing facilities. But there is a possibility to photograph some Air France or partners when they taxi to runway 09-27 from terminal 2. Park your car in the garage at terminal 1 or 2 and take the free shuttlebus to the train station (not the TGV-station!). When you have reached the station, you see aircraft taxiing on the taxiway between terminal 1 and 2. Walk from the station towards this taxiway, through the grass and after a little walk, you reach some small hills in the grass. It is very easy to make some quality pictures from this hill. One big disadvantage of this spot is that the sun is getting in your face in the late afternoon. Nowadays it is unclear if this spot is still possible, due to construction works.
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Aérogare 2 West Side
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You can stand on the road here to see most of the traffic, this is by far the best place if you're only interested in writing numbers, as you can also see most of the traffic at Aérogare 1.
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Aérogare 2 East Side
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On top of the TGV station, you have a couple of spots where you can see the parked aircraft, not good for photos, due to a lot of construction work taking place.
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Around The Airport
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Runways 09 South Side
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It is also possible to spot near runway 09-27. Drive from Terminal 1 towards the motorway to Paris. At a certain point, you reach a Total gas station. Go on the terrain of the station. In the righthand corner of the site is an exit. Drive through this exit and turn left (you see aircraft parked on the buffer of terminal 1). Drive straight on, until you reach a T-junction. There are several points where you can get to the fence to take pictures, unfortunately the best spot, near the meteo has been closed. From the fence you have an view on aircraft on runway 09-27 and aircraft taxiing to and from it, as well as aircraft being towed to and from maintenance facilities. It is preferable that runway 09 is used for landings and take-offs.
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The North Side
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Along the new runway at the north side there are a couple of places where you can take some landing shots, but due to the light, it is only possible here during summer.
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The East Side
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Here you can stand in the landing of both the 27 runways. You don't have a view over the field because of the high embankments around it. But for landing shots, this is the preferable spot to stay. It is at the border of the village Le Mesnil-Amelot.
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The North Side of Aérogare 2
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This spot gives you a good view over the north side of Aérogare 2. It is close to the taxiway, so for photography it's not that good. But if you want to see what's on this side, you have to stop here. It can be reached by folowing the signs to Le Mesnil-Amelot and take the last right before crossing the taxiway. This road leads to a long term parking, just pass it and drive on until you're next to the fence.
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The South Side
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From this side, the embankment obstructs most of the views, but you can take some take-off shots when they are using the runways 08. Another disadvantage is the distance, only with a large lens it is possible to take good pictures.
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Getting There
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Charles de Gaulle has excellent TGV connections with the rest of France. A local train service connects the city with the airport. This train stops at the central train station (RER) and at Aérogare 2/TGV comming from Gare du Nord and central Paris. Free buses provide a interconnection between the three terminals and the central train station. A lot of local bus services are departing at the RER station also. The bus to Le Bourget and Gare du Nord (350) also departs from here. Air France buses are runing from both the terminals to the city and to Orly. Another way to get to Orly is to take the RER train to the city and change at Antony station for the OrlyVAL (a light, unmanned metro).
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Photo: Bernard Charles
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Photo: Bernard Charles
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Based
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A319
A320
A321
A330
A340
B737-300
B737-500
B747-200
B747-200F
B747-300
B747-400
B777-200
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A321
BAe146
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A300F
ATR72F
B737-200
B737-300
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A320
A330
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Neighbourhood Airports
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Paris-Le Bourget
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The famous bizjet airport |
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Paris-Orly
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The second airport of Paris |
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Paris-Héliport
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A small, but nice helicopter field in downtown Paris |
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Toussus-le-Noble
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A big general aviation field |
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Pontoise
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Small General Aviation field with some biz(prop) traffic. |
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More Info
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www.adp.fr
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The official site of all Paris airports |
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Kerozen
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The best site for CDG spotting information |
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Frequencies
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126.65
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Preflight
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121.725
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Ground
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121.8
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Ground
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121.975
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Ground
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119.25
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Tower
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120.65
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Tower
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120.9
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Tower
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125.325
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Tower
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118.1
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Traffic
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119.55
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Traffic
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123.6
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Traffic
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118.15
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Approach
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119.85
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Approach
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121.15
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Approach
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124.35
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Approach
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125.825
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Approach
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126.425
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Approach
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126.575
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Approach
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131.2
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Approach
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133.375
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Approach
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136.275
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Approach
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127.125
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ATIS
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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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