Kiev Zhuliany Airport - Spotting Guide

Kiev Zhuliany Airport – Spotting Guide

August 27, 2018 - last modified on November 20, 2023

Kyiv Zhuliany Airport (IEV/UKKK) is the smaller International airport in Kiev after Boryspol International Airport. It lies in the city perimeter south of Kiev. It is mainly a gateway for budget carriers like Wizzair and for local charter and business aviation. Maybe the most known airline operating in and out of IEV Airport is Motorsich with their fleet of AN24, YAK40, AN140 and AN72. Also, the Anda Air and Bravo Air Fleet of MD82/83 are always a welcoming sight as they struggle to depart of the rather short runway to their holiday destinations. Other local Airlines are SkyUp with B738 and Dart Airlines with A320. If you are lucky you can witness all different kinds of AN24, AN26, AN30 and AN32 of the Ukrainian National Guard and the Ukraine Military and even from India or Bangladesh which visit the local maintenance, repair and overhaul company.

In front of the International Terminal you find an AN24 which you can photograph best in the morning hours. The Ukraine State Aviation museum is one of the largest aviation museums displaying soviet aircraft and is located east of the airports perimeter.

Written by Tommy Pfeiffer (regular visitor).

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08/26	2.310 meter/ 7.579 feet Concrete
Terminals	Splitted between domestic and international terminal
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed.
Car/Public Transport	Except for spot 1 a car is highly recommended! Public transport is not an option to get to the south side of the airport!
Restrooms	Available at all publicly accessible buildings like restaurants or inside the terminal building.
Drinks/Food	There are supermarkets nearby the airport and food is available inside the airport’s terminal.
Hotels	The Royal Congress Hotel north of the Terminal is a good 4 Star Hotel in close proximity to the airport.
Season	The flight schedule is quite the same during all season.
Security	Please only use the given locations for spotting at this airport and keep away from the red marked areas displayed on the map. Those are military areas and can cause you a lot of trouble!
Runway Usage
08/26	Nothing special and used in all directions.

	Spot #1 – Ukraine State Aviation museum
WHERE	This spot is located inside the museum and you can take pictures threw two gates onto the taxiway and runway (1 step is useful). The photos show below were taken from the gate south of the IL76. The museum is within walking distance from the terminal.

WHAT	There is a huge outside area with many different soviet aircraft on display. Furthermore you can photograph all operations at the airport.

TIME	As this spot is inside the museum you must keep the opening times in mind. In general the morning and the evening hours are the best.

MISC.	Visiting the museum costs about 3€. Have a look at the official website for more infos. Monday closed! Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00-19:00 (Tuesday – without access to cabins)

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm

	Spot #2 – Sovky Perimeter Container North
WHERE	On the east side of the airport perimeter you find a container close to the airport perimeter wall where you can easily look over from. Park your car on the road Vulytsya Rizdvyana and walk the field way along the airport perimeter across the approach path to reach the container.

WHAT	Departing traffic taxing for runway 26 and arrivals on runway 26.

TIME	In the morning hours for departing traffic on runway 26 or landing traffic on runway 08 when they vacating the runway. Only in summer for runway 26 arrivals in the evening.

MISC.	Do not stay too long in the area. There are military checkpoints and a field nearby and people might get suspicious when they see foreigners in the area. Heat haze is a problem.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

	Spot #3 – Sovky Perimeter Hill South
WHERE	On the east side of the airport perimeter. Park your car on the road Vulytsya Rizdvyana (same as for #2) and walk to the point given on the map.

WHAT	Landing traffic on runway 26 only.

TIME	Best light conditions are from sunrise until sunset in winter months, and from morning to afternoon in summer.

MISC.	Do not stay too long in the area. There are military checkpoints and a field nearby and people might get suspicious when they see foreigners in the area.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

	Spot #4 – South Hill East
WHERE	South of the airport is another hill where you can easily look over the wall and take pictures. Just drive from #3 westwards for a few hundred meters and then park your car on the marked position on the map. Walk to the point on the small dirt track.

WHAT	All activities on runway 08/26.

TIME	Best light conditions are from sunrise until sunset in winter months, and from morning to afternoon in summer.

MISC.	Only go up the hill when there are plane movments. There are military checkpoints and quiet some constructions nearby in the residential area and people might get suspicious when they see foreigners. Heat haze can be a problem.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #5 – South Hill West
WHERE	South of the airport is another hill where you can easily look over the wall and take pictures. There is a dirt road that runs parallel to the perimeter wall and you can access it from Karla Marksa Street. Park your car on the marked position on the map and climb up the hill.

WHAT	All activities on runway 08/26.

TIME	Best light conditions are from sunrise until sunset in winter months, and from morning to afternoon in summer.

MISC.	Do not stay too long in the area. There are military checkpoints and a field nearby people might get suspicious when they see foreigners.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-100mm