Cascavel Airport - Spotting Guide

Cascavel Airport – Spotting Guide

September 24, 2019 - last modified on December 6, 2023

Cascavel is a city of 300,000 inhabitants located in southern Brazil, with an important agricultural and industrial center. At the moment it has a small airport, named Adalberto Mendes da Silva (IATA: CAC, ICAO: SBCA), compared to the dynamism of the city. However a large new terminal is being built which will culminate in an increase of commercial flights in the city that is currently served by the airlines GOL and AZUL, having as destination São Paulo (GRU) Campinas (VCP) and Curitiba (CWB). However, as the city is a major agricultural center, numerous private flights take place at all times at the airport, as well it host aviation schools. The airport is located in the south of the city with easy access via the BR277 highway. The airport has a single runway of 1780 meters.

This guide is written with data and photos by JOÃO CARLOS RIBEIRO, local spotter.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
15/33	1.780 m (5.580 ft)
Terminals	A small terminal receives all flights, a large terminal is under construction.
Spotting Information
Ladder	The entire airport is fenced in but the fence is low so no ladder is needed unless you want to use it.
Car/Public Transport	A car here is absolutely necessary, no urban transport around the airport. There is a bus line that connects the airport to the bus station located near the city center.
Restrooms	There are no toilets in these places.
Drinks/Food	The only places to buy water and food are at nearby gas stations or at the airport terminal.
Hotels	Nothing around. Only in the city.
Season	Nothing special as the climate is almost the same throughout the year.
Security	Photography locations here are quiet, and airport security doesn’t care about spotters.
Runway Usage
15/33	The use of the runways depends on the direction of the winds that can change at any given time.

	Spot #1 – Airport Road (runway 15)
WHERE	The location is perpendicular to runway 15 and goes till the middle of the track. It is easy to find as it runs parallel to the airport access road. It is a large area of grass and you can walk hundreds of meters here until you find the best place to shoot. Park your car just somewhere along the side of the road or walk from the terminal to this location.

WHAT	Takeoffs, landings and taxiing can be done from this location.

TIME	Depends on the time of year, but perfect from afternoon/late afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	It does not need a ladder as the fence is with linear wires, being possible to put the lens between. There is no shade but the terminal facilities are not far away from this location.

FOCAL LENGTH	140 – 170 mm (Boeing 737, Embraer 190) 200 – 300 mm ( Learjet, King Air, Cessna 150)

	Spot #2 – Airport Road (lawn runway 33)
WHERE	This point is on the other side, at runway 33 on a huge empty field. To get here continue by the highway that surrounds the airport and park somewhere near the terminal or drive on the dirt road to the lawn. On weekends many spotters gather to photograph and get together.

WHAT	Great for taking pictures of approach and touchdowns when the 33 is in operation. You can walk around the runway to the head and take approaching straight-ahead and take-off photos capturing the plane off the runway or touching it, in which case a ladder would be interesting.

TIME	Depends on the time of year, but perfect from afternoon/late afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	It does not need a ladder as the fence is with linear wires, being possible to put the lens between. There is no shade but the terminal facilities are not far away from this location.

FOCAL LENGTH	This location is very close to the track. 50-120 mm (737, Embraer 190) 150-200mm ( king Air, Cessnas)

	Spot #3 – Airport Road ( runway 33)
WHERE	This location is just across runway 33 and can be reached by taking the highway around the airport (continue on the dirt road from spot 2) or walk from this point.

WHAT	The view here is a little bit different because the terrain is steeper and not as good as spot 02. Landings (33) and takeoffs (15) can be made from this point.

TIME	This place is favorable from sunrise until noon.

MISC.	No stairs, no toilets and you need to bring food, sunscreen and water, there’s nothing close.

FOCAL LENGTH	85mm – 200mm (Boeing 737-Embraer) 150 mm – 300mm ( small and medium aircraft)

	Spot #4 – Marginal avenue, highway BR277
WHERE	This point is close to a gas station at the banks of a busy road. Not very popular with spotters but it allows good angles in the morning. You can walk across the street and go the other way, no problem.

WHAT	Ideal for landings on 15 but keep in mind that there are too many wires that can mess up your photos a bit.

TIME	This place is favorable from sunrise until noon.

MISC.	There is a gas station and snack bars nearby where you can also use the restrooms, but there is no shade here.

FOCAL LENGTH	85mm – 200mm (Boeing 737-Embraer) 150 mm – 300mm (small and medium aircraft)