Lajes Airport / Air Base No 4 - Spotting Guide

Lajes Airport / Air Base No 4 – Spotting Guide

July 18, 2021 - last modified on November 21, 2023

Lajes Airport (TER/LPLA) currently serves as an US Armed Forces’ base, also called Base No 4, and as an civilian airport with regular pax flights. It started its operation in 1943 as a “aircraft carrier” in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean for the Royal Air Force. After the end of the Second World War, The United States of America requested to operate this airstrip. Since then, a base was built by them and they started employing locals, because there wasn’t enough americans to work inside that “Little America”. Lajes Field is curretly the home of more or less 140 americans, which once were 1500.

The airlines operating here are Sata Air Azores, that operates flights between the islands of the archipelago; Azores Airlines, that operates flights from and to Lisbon, Porto, Boston, Toronto and Oakland; TAP Air Portugal, that operates flights from and to Lisbon; Ryanair, that operates flights from and to Lisbon and Porto; TUI, that seasonally operates flights from and to Amsterdam. The military forces that operate here are mainly american and portuguese, but the airport normally receive planes from the major air forces arround the world.

Written by David Andrade, Nelson Sousa and Henry Reichert. Last Update: Summer 2022

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
15/33	3.314 m (10991ft) – Asphalt
Terminals
Terminal 1 Civil (Southwest)	Handling all civil flights
Terminal 1 Military (Northeast)	Handling all military operations
Spotting Information
Ladder	Yes, needed at spot 4 and 11.
Car/Public Transport	There is no public transport, but after arrival you can walk from the terminal to spots #1, #2 and #3. The other spots are too far away to be reached by foot, so you need to rent a car.
Drinks/Food	Nearby, Cockpit Bar & Kitchen is the thing to go. The owner is friendly and sometimes knows some information about movements. As long as you consume there, charging your equipment and using wifi will be guaranteed.
Hotels	If you came here only for spotting, Ermida dos Remédios will be your place of choice. Walking 5 minutes, you can get to one of the best spots here, #13.
Season	From April to September is the best time for spotters here. During the other months of the year, many movements are very likely to cancel or to come without any sort of light, due to the weather, that is quite unstable here in the Azores. It can change completely in a matter of minutes.
Security	At all spots but specially 4,10-13 you’ll be very likely to be visited by the air marshalls, that sometimes are patroling the runway and nearby areas. Take an ID with you and be polite.
Runway Usage
15/33	Used in both directions, depends on the wind.

Carpark North - 33 Movements + nearby aprons/taxiways

WHERE	Located on top of a wall that easily fits 2 spotters. To get there, you just leave the airport and go to Parking #1. You can park your car there, there’s no control of who parks or who doesn’t. After parking, look for a wall with some old stakes. It is easily climbable and from there you’ll get a great view.

WHAT	All the planes taxiing on the apron C/D, all arrivals and departures on runway 33 and planes lining up on taxiways A, B, C and D – movements on 33 as well as the nearby aprons and taxiways to say it simple.

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the afternoon to the sunset. You can take handheald night shots from there too.

MISC.	Police doesn’t usually come here. If they come and ask you to leave, just leave peacefuly. There is a small wall allowing one to shoot over the fence easily.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm B767 runway = 95mm

Carpark South - 33 Movements + Taxiway C

WHERE	Located in a parking spot in front of the Police station, southeast of the terminal. In the southernmost corner of the parking you can climb the wall from where you have a free sight of the action.

WHAT	Every landing on runway 33 and planes lining up on C.

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the afternoon to the sunset.

MISC.	Police doesn’t usually come here. If they come and ask you to leave, leave peacefuly. Parking is free. There is a small wall allowing one to shoot over the fence easily.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm C130 = 120mm / Bizzer Line-up = 300mm / AWACS = 80mm

Canada do Duarte - 33 Arrivals and Line-Ups + nearby apron

WHERE	From the terminal drive down on the street and turn left into the Canada do Duarte. You can basically park (for free) and spot everywhere in this street. Most spotters climb the wall. If you choose no to, go down as you can take pictures on the left side after entering the street, but try to avoid the light posts.

WHAT	All planes landing on runway 33, planes parked on apron A and planes lining up on runway 33 via C.

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the afternoon to the sunset. You can also come here in the morning to catch planes lining up.

MISC.	Police doesn’t usually come here. If they come and ask you to leave, just leave peacefuly. Try to avoid the dogs that are usually present on this spot.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm B738 = 110mm / C130 face to face = 265mm

Canada Mesquita - Final 33 + nearby apron

WHERE	The Canada Mesquita runs below the approach of runway 33 and you can pull over on the side of the road and take pictures from there – either the roadside or thru the fence (depends on your position).

WHAT	Planes landing on 33. On the other hand, this spot is great for catching planes parked on apron A, which is where the emergencies usually stop.

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the sunrise till early noon or in the afternoon to the sunset.

MISC.	A small ladder is needed for ground photos/as long as you are close to the fence and want to shoot to the back or tochdown zone. Police usually passes by here.

FOCAL LENGTH	10-70mm

Unluckily we cannot provide any pictures from here, but if you have some, we would highly appreciate if you could send them so we can include some examples here.

Miradouro Humberto Delgado - 33 Arrivals + Line-Ups + nearby apron

WHERE	Next to the military side of the airport there is some kind of belvedere. It can be reached from the Caminho do Facho and is next to a radar station. There are some parking spots directly at the spot in the turning pad. Just leave your car there for free and go to the belvedere. As it is on a hill you have a fantastic view of the whole airport.

WHAT	Planes landing on 33. On the other hand, this spot is great for catching planes parked on apron A, which is where the emergencies stop usually. You can basically see most parts of the airport from here nicely.

TIME	During the morning and night.

MISC.	Police doesn’t usually come here, but you also need to be careful, this belvedre is close to a neighbourhood so you might be threatned or see someone drunk.

FOCAL LENGTH	200-600mm Dash 8-200 = 500mm / C130 = 375mm / Fighter = 600mm / C17 = 250mm

360 degree view of the location

Serra de Santiago South - Apron F/G

WHERE	Get on the Serra de Santiago and drive to the northeastern corner of the airport. Pull over on the side of the road next to a purification plant. After that, you’ll need to pass by three pastures and once you’re close to the fence it’s done.

WHAT	Planes parked on aprons F and G.

TIME	Morning and late night

MISC.	The only thing you’ll see passing by here are farmers. Alltough it is a quiet place, you’ll always need to be careful. Police is not a problem here.

FOCAL LENGTH	150-300mm

Unluckily we cannot provide any pictures from here, but if you have some, we would highly appreciate if you could send them so we can include some examples here.

Serra de Santiago North - Apron G

WHERE	From the previos spot continue northwards on the Serra de Santiago until the taxiway/line up postion of runway 15. Pull over on the side of the road and climb a bit on a dirt terrain and you’ll be all set.

WHAT	Planes parked on apron G. In the background you can also spot 15 movements.

TIME	Morning and late evening.

MISC.	Peaceful. You have to go up the little hill a bit to stay above the fence or take a ladder and shoot from the fence directly.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm Ramp overview = 50mm / AWACS = 215mm

Mountain Northeast - 15 Departures + 33 Arrivals

WHERE	The spot is on the top of a hill next to a radar station. The dirt road up the hill can be reached from the Serra de Santiago. Drive till the end until the radar station and take pictures from there.

WHAT	Planes landing on 15 as well as 33 climbouts.

TIME	Sunrise till early noon.

MISC.	Police is not a problem here. The only problem might be locals passing by, just mind your own business and avoid them.

FOCAL LENGTH	200-500mm Dash 8-400 = 310mm / Gulfstream 150 = 485mm / C17 = 250mm

Final North - 15 Arrivals

WHERE	From spot 7 continue on the Serra de Santiago northwards and take the next left into a small farm road. Once you have reached the runway 15 end, pull over on the side of the road and take the pictures from there.

WHAT	Planes landing on 15.

TIME	Basically everyday as you can photograph from both sides of the approach path.

MISC.	Be careful with the farmers that pass by here. Try to always be visible and don`t block their road..

FOCAL LENGTH	10-50mm

Unluckily we cannot provide any pictures from here, but if you have some, we would highly appreciate if you could send them so we can include some examples here.

Fig Tree Canada da Quinta - 15 Movements

WHERE	Follow the signs to Lajes and get on the Caminho da Doca which runs parallel to the runway. Drive to the northermost corner, next to the runway 15 threshold. Pull over on the side (you can park here all over the place for free) of the road and after that, climb up a wall next to a big tree and you’ll be ready.

WHAT	Panes landing on 15 as well as Line-Ups onto 15.

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the afternoon to sunset.

MISC.	Police usually passes by here, so do not stand by the fence all the time. You have to climb up a little wall to clear the fence if you wanna avoid bringing a ladder here.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-150mm Dash 8-400 = 105mm

Caminho da Doca - 15/33 Movements + nearby apron/taxiways

WHERE	Almost the same spot as the previous one but a bit southwards, next to the touch down zone. Pull over on the side of the road and take pictures from there, through the fence or climb up on the roof (7ft) on an unused house in Casa da Luz with a ladder.

WHAT	You can see planes entering the runway via taxiway H and planes parked on the northen approns plus basically all activity that takes place on the runway.

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the afternoon to the sunset.

MISC.	Police usually passes by here.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-350mm C130 = 330mm

Wall Rua da Moinho - 15/33 Movements + nearby apron/taxiways

WHERE	Get to the junction of Caminho da Doca and Rua do Moinho next to the runway. Park there on the side of the road and after that, climb up a wall: now you need a little 1-step/box to clear the runway from the fence completely.

WHAT	You can all activity taking place on the runway and see gloriously the landings on runway 15

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the afternoon to the sunset.

MISC.	Police usually passes by here.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-350mm C130 ramp = 250mm / P8 ramp = 190mm

Wall Rua António Homem - 15/33 Movements + nearby apron/taxiways

WHERE	This is one of the best spots as you can get all runway movements from here. Get to the village of Lajes and drive till the Hotel Residencial Ermida dos Remédios (marked on the map). Turn into the Rua António Homem and drive the curve at the runway. Park on the side of the road and climb up a wall to be above the runway.

WHAT	You can see all activity that are taking place on the runway

TIME	The best time of the day to spot here is from the afternoon to the sunset.

MISC.	Police usually passes by here.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-350mm Dash 8-200 runway = 100mm / Gulfstream ramp = 300mm / C17 = 60mm