Braunschweig Airport Spotting Guide

Braunschweig Airport Spotting Guide

November 11, 2019 - last modified on November 17, 2023

Braunschweig Airport (BWE/EDVE) is located 10 km north of the Braunschweig city centre in Waggum. It can be easily reached by car from motorway A2 exit Braunschweig-Flughafen (exit 56) or by bus from the main station. In 2018 6 million passengers were handled. The airport was opened in 1936 during the Nazi times which still can be seen on the terminal buildings as they look quite typical. Back in WW2 the airport, which was originally opened for civil traffic, was used by the German air force, of course till the Americans took over the control in April 1945. The main runway (09L/27R) was opened in 1966 (when replacing the previous one) and reached the today’s length in 1990. The current terminals A and B were opened in 1973, terminal C in 1998. The airport is open 24 hours, so some traffic is shifted to the night. TUIfly is based in HAJ and operates also a maintenance station here.

Although the airport doesn’t have any regular connections, there are still some nice visitors time to time: Rusline/Gazpromavia (flying workers for VW to Kaluga), AlsieExpress ATR72/GAA CRJ200 (footballcharters for local clubs) or some cargo charters. In addition BWE also serves as hub for the DLR (A320/Do228), Private Wings Charter (Do328/B1900 flying for Volkswagen two shuttle flights each in the morning and evening to “Manching/AUDI” ) and the LBA (German National air authority). EDVE is even being used as home of the Flight Calibration services’ Be300 Super King Air 350. Generally this airfield serves as home for several companies, institutes, authorities and also – worth to mention – a lot of General aviation and sport flights – you’ll also find a gliding school based at the field.

The airport serves roughly 160.000 passengers per year, parallely to few tons of freight ending up in ~27.000 movements per year.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with local spotters. Last update: November 2019

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08/26	2300 m × 45 m Asphalt
Terminals	Officially there is one terminal, but actually it’s just a big hall serving all normal passengers (football teams, VW workers,…) and of course there are seperate entrances/”terminals” for VIP guests like the VW heads or science groups (such as DLR).
Spotting Information
Ladder	Needed along the fence sometimes and it’s recommendable to take one with you as if the terrace is closed due to extreme weather or whatever a ladder might be needed.
Car/Public Transport	Car is definitely easier to use as public transport is not that good around here.
Drinks/Food	Close to the terminal you’ll find a restaurant and nearby to the spots #1 and #2 you’ll find some shops/backeries in the village.
Hotels	Not really, rather inside the city.
Season	Depending on what you want, but both – summer and winter – can be good. But summer is mostly better depending weather…
Runway Usage
General Information	26 is the prefered direction as long as wind allows this usage.

	Spot #1 – L635
WHERE	This spot is no exact position, rather the area and grassstrip along the fence north of the runway. Just search your favourite position along the fence depending whether you wanna shoot 08 or 26 activities or even the apron. Feel free to vary along L635, where you can mostly stop easily by the roadside (as mostly you don’t stay too long) or at least park next to the dirtmound in the curve a bit east, where L635 ends up in Gasseler Strasse; exactly next position of spot #2…

WHAT	Runway 08/26 activities as well as the main apron in fornt of the terminal.

TIME	In early summer mornings or late summer evenings.

MISC.	Ladder needed, nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm Sukhoi 100 = 330mm

	Spot #2 – Hill
WHERE	Very easy to find is this spot, which is basically a grassy dirt hill by the roadside of L635, where this road ends up in a curve in Gasseler Strasse. Right where those streets collide, you’ll be able to see the mound next to the street. You can leave your car easily by the roadside or on the grassy area surronding this mound and then just “climb” this obstacle, which helps you to shoot over the fence directly without any problems. This spot is very hard to miss and a bit east of the main apron, which makes shooting this from here harder – rather take spot #1 therefore…

WHAT	Only runway 08/26 activities.

TIME	In early summer mornings or late summer evenings. Otherwise on all grey days of course nicely useable all day as nice location.

MISC.	No ladder needed, but nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm A319 on taxiway = 195mm / A319 on runway = 100mm

Spot itsself looks like THIS.

	Spot #3 – Fence
WHERE	This spot is located east of the terminal and main apron area along the fence; no exact position, rather the area along the fence as you can stand everywhere, depending on what you want to shoot and when. But to reach this area, take “Grasseler Strasse” towards northern direction till its end, which is suppossed to be the fence as it ends up there in a turning circle. Leave your car there and search your favourite position along the fence: in the evening you might stay on the western side, in the morning it may be better to go more towards the eastern direction – feel free to choose…

WHAT	Line-ups runway 26 as well as aircraft taxiing towards threshold or the ones vacating/coming late from runway 08 after landing. So runway and taxiway right in front.

TIME	In summer IF you vary your position along the fence (and go with the sun) this spot is useable all day. In winter anyway all day.

MISC.	Ladder needed, nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm CRJ200 = 220mm

	Spot #4 – GAT Fence
WHERE	Located right at the fence, this spot is also very easy to find and to vary. Just get directly to the fence itsself and then search your favourite position along it depending on some (maybe) distrubing light poles or ground staff. This spot can only be reached if the entrance is opened, which also leads to the terrace (see spot 5 below), which mostly happens during the normal opening times as long as the weather is not too extreme.

WHAT	Rather only the apron/taxiway in front, runway a bit harder than from the terrace (spot #5). This spot is normally nice to avoid fence on your picture’s bottom when shooting the close apron from the terrace behind (spot #5).

TIME	In summer normal parking/taxiing aircraft from late morning till afternoon – only earlier/later possible IF they turn and you stand right (ATR42 and SA227 Metro examples were taken in the late evening for example). In winter anyway all day.

MISC.	Ladder needed, most important facilities are nearby in the terminal. Parking is free of charge at the terminal for 15 minutes, thereafter 2,20 EUR/h. Parking Garage is 1,20 EUR/h.

FOCAL LENGTH	10-55mm CRJ200 infront on apron = 17mm

	Spot #5 – Terrace
WHERE	This spot is very easy to find as it is literally in front of the main parking area left of the big terminal hall. Just get rid of your car and head towards the grey/white building on your left with a “flat top”. Take the exit, which also leads you to the restaurant “Ristorante IL Terrazzo” and once passing the little “tunnel” towards restaurant take either the staircase on your left or right up to the top, which serves as terrace. The mentioned staircases/entrances can already be seen easily on the Gmaps satelite shots – once up on the deck you can choose your position freely along the front.

WHAT	All runway activities as well as the apron/taxiways in front, this spot almost covers whole BWE – except some small aprons on the side. The private VW apron is partially spotable from here.

TIME	In summer normal parking/taxiing aircraft from late morning till afternoon – only earlier/later possible IF they turn and you stand right (ATR42 and SA227 Metro examples were taken in the late evening for example). In winter anyway all day. Night shots also very nice from here.

MISC.	No ladder needed of course. All you need is close in the terminal facilities in general. Parking is free of charge at the terminal for 15 minutes, thereafter 2,20 EUR/h. Parking Garage is 1,20 EUR/h. Terrace is suppossed to be normally opened from 0900 till 1700 o’clock local time. Might be closed during extreme weather situations (snow, storms,…). If you are unsure if the terrace is going to be opened, please contact the airport before you go there. Contact information can be found HERE.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm CRJ200 infront on apron = 30mm / A320 on runway = 160mm / ATR72 = 215mm