MDC
Santa Barbara Airport – Spotting Guide
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January 18, 2020Manado Sam Ratulangi Airport – Spotting Guide
Sam Ratulangi International Airport (MDC/WAMM), originally named Mapanget Airfield is the airport serving city of Manado and adjacent areas in North Sulawesi. It’s one of the busiest airport in Sulawesi. The airport built by Japanese in 1942 and later named after the Minahasan educator and revolutionary. Current terminal building officially opened in 2001. The destination served from here mainly in Indonesia except few flights to Singapore, Davao in Philippines and several cities in China as chartered flight. In addition, there is a small Naval Air Arm and Air Force base here so sometimes you may able to spot Indonesia Air Force or Indonesia Naval Air Arm flights on this airport, which includes 737-200 Surveiller which Indonesia is the only user of this variant.
General Information | |
Terminal | There is one terminal |
Runway | The airport has one runway 18/36 |
Terminal Lounge – All Movements | |
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WHERE | This spot is located inside the airport, offering great background of Mt. Klabat and surrounding mountains. It’s formerly a public Observation Deck located on the second floor of the airport, however it has been closed to the public since several years ago. It appears to be part of an “overflow” facility for the Corcordia Lounge (which is located on the main floor of the airport). When we visited, the entire second floor of the airport was not open to the public due to construction (January 2025) but the workers were fine with us going to the outdoor areas to watch planes. Since it’s located after security checkpoint, you need to enter as a flying passenger. Once past security, look for a set of escalators along the backside of the terminal and use them to access the second floor. At that point you will either see the access to the observation deck ahead or need to inquire with staff if it is still under construction. |
WHAT | Both taxiing, takeoff and landing in the runway and taxiway. Touch down moment can be spotted here. |
TIME | The terminal is facing east so movement on the runway will be backlight in the morning. Heat wave may occur in the afternoon. |
MISC. | All you need is inside the airport. Since the glass is angled, reflection and distortion is a real problem here, thus limiting your spotting angle freedom. There is no tint in the glass and clear enough. |
FOCAL LENGTH | On Apron : <55mm for all aircrafts if you want to show Mount Klabat and surrounding mountains as a background. On Runway : <150mm for A330, <200mm for 737 / A320, and ~250mm for ATR. |