Manado Sam Ratulangi Airport - Spotting Guide

Manado Sam Ratulangi Airport – Spotting Guide

January 17, 2020 - last modified on November 5, 2022

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
WHERE	This spot is located inside the airport, offering great background of Mt. Klabat and surrounding mountains. It’s formerly a public Observation Deck, however it has been closed since several years ago and a executive lounge has been build nearby. Since it’s located after security checkpoint, you need to enter as a flying passenger. As per December 2019, you don’t have to enter via executive lounge and the area is open for every passenger for free. After entering 2nd floor, find a lift to Concordia Lounge. When exiting from lift, turn left and go through the coridor to the rooftop lounge. It’s always open at all times

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.

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