Tbilisi Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Tbilisi Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

October 1, 2022 - last modified on November 29, 2024

Tbilisi Intl. Airport (TBS/UGTB) is the main gateway to Georgia. It was built in 1952 roughly 15km out of Tbilisi city itself and handles 3,7 million passenger a year nowadays. Apart from local carriers such as Georgian Airlines or MyWay Airlines, you can also see some common operators like Turkish Airlines, but there are also rare movements here, thanks to local Asian carrier, for example Buta E190, Iran Aseman B734 or Uzbekistan A320. Additionally, TBS is also a great spot to get the GeoSky B742s during their stop enroute from Asia to Europe and back. Old soviet aircraft types are rare in the plane sector while you may see some old helicopters though.

Pictures and Information provided by Damian Verwey, Jakob Lienau, Andrew and Vakhtang “Vato” Mumladze (Follow him on Instagram). Last Update: October 2024 (Spot 4 – 6 added)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
13R/31L	3000m
13L/31R	2500m — CLOSED, used as taxiway
Terminals
T1	There is one terminal handling all operations.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not recommended at all, neither to hang at the fence.
Car/Public Transport	A car is very useful, but you can also get to the spots by bus/taxi, just getting back can be tricky then. Distances are okay though for walking by foot as well.
Drinks/Food	There are no shops/restaurants around spots 2/3. So rather bring everything you need with you in advance.
Hotels	No spotter hotels around.
Season	Summer is hot and hazy, winter has no perfect weather. Spring/Autumn are best.
Security	The situation of aviation, airport and plane photography in Georgia is highly disputed. Plane spotting is actually sort of prohibited in Tbilisi – in Batumi it is okay for example! This may be as it is especially forbidden to photograph military territory, which the airport of Tbilisi somehow is. Thus you might be send away by the police here as taking photos of airplanes is not really tolerated. Locals are working on a good relationship to the airport to become somehow authorized with permissions. But for now, we recommend to get in touch with local spotters like: for example Vakhtang “Vato” Mumladze (IG: Avia24_photovideo), he is very helpful when it comes to foreign visitors! Thanks again for his support who helped us setting up this guide! However you go: it is important and recommended to keep a low profile here. So don’t use a ladder and put your camera back into your bag immediately after taking the picture.
Runway Usage
General Info	The aircraft fly in from both directions, so be prepared for runway changes as traffic is also not that much. Especially the GeoSky 742s are free to use the direction of favour regarding their destination.

	Spot #1 – Parking lot – Apron + Taxiway + 13/31 Movements
WHERE	The spot is located on an elevated gully cover next to a parking lot. To get there you can take the bus line 37 from Tbilisi City Centre to the airport (costs around 0,5 Georgian Lari=0,17 Euro) and then walk about 250 meters from the bus stop in front of the terminal to the named parking lot.

WHAT	Good overview on movements on Taxiway C and on the stands 116-100. In the distance you can also spot movements on the runway and the outer stands 108-111.

TIME	Sunrise till early noon.

MISC.	It is important and recommended to keep a low profile here as you are easily visible. So don’t use a ladder and put your camera back into your bag immediately after taking the picture. The police pass by every 3 minutes next to the fence and even looks out at the parking area. I was caught by police after 1 hour!! Heat haze and foreground clutter may disturb your view.

FOCAL LENGTH	Stands 116-100: 50-90mm / Stands 108-111: 180-220mm Taxiway C: 70-120mm / Runway: 350-450mm

	Spot #2 – Hill – 13/31 Movements
WHERE	On a small hill next to a residental house southeast of the airport is the next spot located. Either take your own car here or get a taxi to this location. The ride from the terminal takes about 5 minutes. The hill cannot be missed, but that’s why stay down at the bottom till you really wanna photograph something and just go up then. Do not camp on the hill all the time as you are easy to see!

WHAT	Actually all runway movements: 31 arrivals and line-ups/backtracks plus also heavy 13 arrivals/roll outs and departures.

TIME	Depends on which movement, but best from sunrise till early noon.

MISC.	Haze is an issue due to the distance in summer. Literally no shadow around, take everything you need with you. Keep a low profile! Airport security otherwise may come, check your ID and send you away! Stay down at the bottom and only go up for the spotting itself!

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm

	Spot #3 – Besarion Keburia Settlement IV – 13R Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located off the northwestern end of the airfield on a small, dead end field road southwest of a settlement/residental area. Just head for the position marked on the map, maybe best to take the street (leading to some airport infrastructure facilities outside of the airportfence) down the fence out of the residental area. Recommended way to get here is by own car via Besarion Keburia Settlement IV Dead End or take the bus running thru the settlement with various stops.

WHAT	From here you can spot 13 arrivals.

TIME	Early noon till early evening as the sun will be more behind the aircraft during sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm

	Spot #4 – Hills – 31 movements
WHERE	The sept is a desolate dusty area with small hills where you can spot from! You can move along, parallel to the fence for your best angle but don’t go too close to the fence! Getting there is a bit complicated as there is no official roads and the dirt roads are in bad shape. Fastest way is from the terminal to spot 2 and from there continue on the dirt roads. You can get there by bus 330 from Isani metro station that goes to the Veli cemetery, from where you can walk to the spot in 15-20 minutes. Might be a bit adventurous.

WHAT	You can photograph landings and even take-offs on RWY 31L.

TIME	Early noon till early evening as the sun will be more behind the aircraft during sunset. In summer it gets very uncomfortable and there is a lot of heat haze.

MISC.	Absolutely nothing around! Bring your own food, especially water. Be caution for security staff or police as the area is known for drug dealings!! DO NOT GO NEAR THE FENCE AS POLICE WILL BE ALARMED!!

FOCAL LENGTH	150mm for B747 and 280mm for A321

	Spot #5 – Terminal – Ramp
WHERE	When you fly from TBS you can spot through the windows in the gate area once you have passed security checks. There are even windows to the west side, so to spot 1 and the B742 parking position.

WHAT	All ramp movements in front of the terminal.

TIME	Only in the early morning or in the night as nightshots.

MISC.	There are several restaurants and cafes inside the terminal aswell as toilets.

FOCAL LENGTH	738=80mm; A223=40mm

	Spot #6 – Hills – 13R arrivals, 31L departures
WHERE	Another hill where you can spot from. Getting there is a bit complicated as there is no official roads and the dirt roads are in bad shape. Fastest way is from the terminal to spot 3 and from there continue on the dirt roads and the factory. You can get there by bus 330 from Isani metro station that goes to the Veli cemetery, from where you can walk to the spot in 15-20 minutes. Might be a bit adventurous.

WHAT	13R Arrivals and 31L Departures

TIME	Early noon till early evening as the sun will be more behind the aircraft during sunset. In summer it gets very uncomfortable and there is a lot of heat haze.

MISC.	Absolutely nothing around! Bring your own food, especially water. Be caution for security staff or police as the area is known for drug dealings!! DO NOT GO NEAR THE FENCE AS POLICE WILL BE ALARMED!!

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm 733 ground = 180mm, A310 = 280mm