Florence/Firenze-Amerigo Vespucci (FLR/LIRQ), also called by locals “Peretola airport” due to its proximity to the district of Peretola (part of Florence Town), has been opened back in 1931. During the war, the aiport was used by both, the RAF and the USAF. In 2019 it totalized almost 2,9 milllion passengers and 36.000 movements.

Due to the position and shortness of the runway, single 1700×45 asphalt strip, it is considered a “not easy” airport. The runway is 05/23 (047°/227°), prevailing winds are either from 050° or 230°. The heading is perfect and was chosen at the end of WW2 when a grass strip was built. Right at the end of runway 05 a mountain (Monte Morello) is present with the top at 3500ft, about 3 nautical miles from runway end. This makes take-offs from ruway 05 impossible unless strong wind from north and good weather are present. Take-off are generally from runway 23. The runway is asymetric, with landing distance avaiable for runway 05 at over 1400 meters, but runway 23 only at less than 1000 meters. This is due to the long displaced threshold before the runway 23, making the runway 23 very short and only be able to land very light airplanes, but allows sufficient room for take offs.

Today’s traffic is quite standard with few flights of major European airlines, connections to all bigger hubs in Europe. Vueling is the only carrier operating a base here. In addition, there is some GA traffic, little military traffic and almost no cargo traffic.

Written by Alessandro Razzolini, Anna Zvereva, Lorenzo Bottaro and Xiang Pan. Last Update: 2022

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
05/23	1600×45 m; asphalt
Terminals
Concourse A	Apart a small VIP Terminal/GAT, there is one PAX terminal handling all flights
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed.
Car/Public Transport	Not really needed as all spots are close to the terminal if you start there except #5, which needs a car to get there.
Drinks/Food	The terminal is very close to all spots supporting all goods.
Hotels	There are are a few bigger hotels southeast of the terminal building but none for spotting.
Season	Winters in FLR are mediterrenean and traffic consist of the common airlines only. Summer therefore brings quite few bizjets, but also lots of heat distortion especially at spot 4 as the sun normally shines all the day, so expect 35-40°C in July/August.
Security	No reported issues and all spots around FLR are quite safe.
Runway Usage
General Info	Landing distance available for Rwy05 1455m, for Rwy23 977m; Take off distance the same for both at 1600m; Landing 23 not allowed for IFR; take-off 05 allowed only when head wind is more than 10 kts (depending on airlines policy) Thus: 05 mainly used for arrivals, 23 mainly for departures.

	Spot #1 – Via Arturo Chiari – 05 Arrivals
WHERE	Spot can be found on Via Arturo Chiari just before it ends up in Via della Cupola at a T-junction. Parking is available by the roadside. It is suggested to come here by car as there is no public transport, plus it is good for shadow and to keep a low profile. But it is also in walking distance to the terminal. Once there move along the road depending on your focal and airplane size.
WHAT	Landings on 05, take-offs from 23 are quite high.
TIME	From early morning to noon.
MISC.	It is placed close to car sellers, road is not too trafficated though. Southwest of the spot you will find some facilities a bit away. Place is safe both during weekdays and weekends, but stow your expensive equipment, do not show off. You are in an industrial area.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm depending on where exactly you stand

FLR-Spot1

FLR-Spot1

FLR-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Via della Cupola – 05 Arrivals
WHERE	Not far form the previous spot, along Via della Cupola roughly at the corner of the field with the buildings where you have a free view. On the side of the highway A11 there is some elevated soil that allow a bit better view of landings. Park you car along the roadside on the grass strip.
WHAT	Landings on 05 are just a few meter above the road here, take-offs from 23 are quite high though. You can partly also see the apron behind fence, passing cars and airport infrastrcure.
TIME	Noon till sunset.
MISC.	Southwest of the spot you will find some facilities a bit away. Place is safe both during weekdays and weekends, but stow your expensive equipment, do not show off.
FOCAL LENGTH	At least 200mm even for the bigger airplanes; you may want to move along the road to be closer but you’ll be more and more underneath them

FLR-Spot2

FLR-Spot2

FLR-Spot2

	Spot #3 – Terminal airside – Apron + All runway movements
WHERE	This spot is located airside in the terminal, and can be found after the security. Once you pass the tax free shop there is a window on your right which gives a good view of the Apron. You can also continue walking down the terminal until you reach the end then turn right, you will then reach the area just above the immegration control. There is another set of windows on your right facing east and can be used in the afternoon.
WHAT	Most of the Apron movement can be seen from here. Approach on 05 can also be seen from here but heathaze can be an issue in summer months
TIME	Depends on the angle of the aircraft, can be good all day.
MISC.	All facilities you need can be found at the terminal. This spot can only be reached with a valid boarding pass and is located after the security check. There is a slight tint to the window but it is fine to take photos. Some photos may be a bit squeezed though.
FOCAL LENGTH	Apron movement around 200mm. 400mm for approach.

FLR-Spot3

FLR-Spot3

FLR-Spot3

	Spot #4 – Staff Car Park – Runway 05/23
WHERE	Get out of the terminal, turn left and walk towards the tram station. Follow the road Via del Termine and you will enter the staff car park. Walk all the way towards the end of the road. Roughly about 5-10mins from the terminal.
WHAT	All movement from 05/23. Arrivals at 05 touch down right in front of this spot. After touching down the plane will turn around at the end of the runway and back track to the terminal on the runway so you will have another oppotunity to take a photo on a different angle. Similarly, departures from 23 will taxi on the runway to the end of 23 then turn around for the take off so you will have 2 oppotunities to take photos on each side of the plane.
TIME	From sunrise to early afternoon (3pm)
MISC.	All facilities you need can be found at the terminal. There are fences here but not sure if using a ladder here would be a good idea. It is possible to shoot through the fence though and the example shots were through the fence.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm A319 = 100mm

FLR-Spot4

FLR-Spot4

FLR-Spot4

FLR-Spot4

FLR-Spot4

FLR-Spot4

	Spot #5 – Via dei Cipressi – All 05/23 Movements
WHERE	This spot can be found in the northeast along Via dei Cipressi at the fence directly or on the surrounding fields – depending on what you wanna shoot. Parking is tricky as some fields are fenced, but there are a few dirt roads where you can stop in.
WHAT	Here you can spot all 23 movements plus 05 arrivals while turning/backtrack as well as low 05 departures.
TIME	Sunrise till late noon is best.
MISC.	Nothing around here, ladder useful for backtracks prior 23 departure or upon 05 rollout. Otherwise try to keep away from the fence a bit.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm

Pictures will be added soon.