Svolvær Helle Airport - Spotting Guide

Svolvær Helle Airport – Spotting Guide

August 6, 2018 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Svolvær Helle Airport (SVJ/ENSH) is a small airport on the Lofoten island group in Norway and located 5km east of Svolvær’s downtown, which means a ~10 minutes ride by car. Besides the general aviation traffic, the local carrier Widerøe, offers up to ten flights per day in the high-season to connect this quite isolated area to the mainland/world.

The airport was opened back in 1972 and handles a bit more than 80.000 passenger per year.

Written by Severin Hackenberger (Last visit: July 2018).

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
01/19	946m x 30m Asphalt
Terminals	There is only a little building, where all terminal operations are done.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Only necessary along the fence (spot #2).
Car/Public Transport	Car is not needed while spotting, but onliest possibility to get to the airport.
Restrooms	Some gas stations and supermarkets in the city. Restrooms should also be available inside the terminal buildings.
Drinks/Food	In the city are a few supermarkets and restaurants.
Hotels	There are just a few motels/hotels in the area.
Season	Depends on the shots you wanna have, but summer season will probably be better, because you’ll have better weather and more hours of sun.
Runway Usage
01/19	The runway is used in both directions. Direction of Usage is depending on a mix between destination and wind.

	Spot #1 – Fv850 – 19 movements
WHERE	This spot is located along “Fv850” street, which connects the “E10” highway and the airport/terminal facilities, or on the island next to the street – depending on the water between. Exit the “E10” to “Svolvær airport” and after some meter you’ll see kinda dirt parking bay on your left. It’s easier to park here by the roadside, but if the police should send you away, you can also park at/inside the offical airport parking. Up to 10 minutes it’s free of charge, but after this time it will cost. Some cameras will scan your license plate, once you enter and leave – you can see the signs with this information everywhere around the parking. Example pictures were taken from the small island left of the street, which can be reached with the help of some stones between – during peak ebb times this way of reaching the island might won’t work!

WHAT	All movements on runway 19: backtracks for departure plus arrivals.

TIME	This extremely depends on the season! Keep in mind, that the airport won’t have light till sunset, because of the high mountains in western direction! Runway: Generally we’d say from noon till a bit before sunset, which can change between 3.30pm in winter and 1am in summer (sun doesn’t sets from late May till early August). For turning aircraft those times might won’t fit during the turn!

MISC.	No ladder needed. Nothing here, everything you need is inside the city as food or restrooms. Heat haze might be a problem in summer months!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #2 – Perimeter fence – Apron
WHERE	This spot is no exact position, rather the are along the fence near the parking. You’ll probably come from the highway “E10”, so exit at the official “Svolvær airport” exit and drive into the “Fv850”. Then search your favorite spot along the fence, depending on the parking position, angle and moment you wanna spot. You can park your car by the roadside near spot #1 or at/inside the offical airport parking. Up to 10 minutes it’s free of charge, but after this time it will cost. Some cameras will scan your license plate, once you enter and leave – you can see the signs with this information everywhere around the parking.

WHAT	Parked aircraft on the apron infront of you as well as parts of the northern runway – mostly 19 arrivals and departures, which are even easier and better from spot #1.

TIME	This extremely depends on the season! Keep in mind, that the airport won’t have light till sunset, because of the high mountains in western direction! Runway: Generally we’d say from noon till a bit before sunset, which can change between 3.30pm in winter and 1am in summer (sun doesn’t sets from late May till early August). Apron: In winter all day, in summer from late morning till late afternoon.

MISC.	Ladder or similar higher object needed, to get over the quite low fence. Everything else you need is inside the city as food or restrooms. 67mm should still fit through the fence holes, but if you use wider lenses (than 67mm), your pictures will probably have dark corners! Heat haze might be a problem on the runway!

FOCAL LENGTH	30-300mm

Due to timeproblems, we weren’t able to take pictures here, so we can’t offer any example pictures yet. If you took some pictures from here, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

	Spot #3 – Towerhill – 19 movements
WHERE	This spot is located on an unnamed road, which leads its user up to the ATC tower. The position can be reached from the airport parking; therefore just walk to the southern end of the (already mentioned) parking, pass the gate and walk along the fence. Then you’ll pass some buildings on your left, but continue walking straight onto the hill. After some meter up, you’ll habe a bit space between some bushes on your left, from where you can spot the runway end. The spot can also be reached from/via another unnamed road, which comes from the highway. This street can be entered ~500m after passing the official exit to the airport on your left, if you’re coming from northern direction and heading to Svolvær centrum. You’ll see a little dirtroad on your left, but this one was quite bumby during our last visit, which may damage your (mostly rental) car! That’s why we recommend to avoid driving on this road, so it’s better to leave your car at spot #1 and walk through the parking and along the fence as described above – this option is safer, but takes more time as well! You can also park at/inside the offical airport parking. Up to 10 minutes it’s free of charge, but after this time it will cost. Some cameras will scan your license plate, once you enter and leave – you can see the signs with this information everywhere around the parking.

WHAT	All movements on runway 19: aircraft turning on the pad for departure plus arrivals.

TIME	This extremely depends on the season! Keep in mind, that the airport won’t have light till sunset, because of the high mountains in western direction! The times below might won’t fit for turning aircraft! Runway: Generally we’d say from noon till a bit before sunset, which can change between 3.30pm in winter and 1am in summer (sun doesn’t sets from late May till early August). Taxiway between runway and terminal: In winter all day, in summer from late morning till late afternoon.

MISC.	No ladder needed. Nothing here, everything you need inside the city as food or restrooms. Heat haze is a BIG problem in summer months!

FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm