Ostend-Bruges is the main international airport for West-Flanders. Although it used to be a mainly cargo airport it is seeing growing numbers of passengers, with nearly 400 000 passengers and 25 000 tonnes of freight. Tui Belgium has a base at the airport and is actually the only regular scheduled passenger airline. Regular cargo airlines are Egyptair Cargo with it’s A300F and A330P2F aircraft and Qatar Cargo with 777F.

Aerotranscargo is also not an uncommon visitor with B747F aircraft. Apart from this, the airport now and then receives special types, often Russian/Soviet aircraft such as Antonov 12, 22, 124, … ,which can make the trip to this rather small airport quite interesting.

Written by Tjorn Decroos (local spotter)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08/26	3200m (asphalt)
Aprons
One (east)	All class F aircraft (B748, AN124)
Two (main) + Terminal	All airliners, cargo aircraft and business jets.
3 (GA)	General Aviation and possibly small business jets.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Handy at some spots, but not necessary, especially with smaller lens. Better to not have the ladder standing near the fence for a longer time.
Car/Public Transport	Not necessary but recommended and for #1 or #2 in fact necessary if you don’t like long walks. You can leave your car at all spots, but be careful that you don’t block gates or roads.
Restrooms	In the terminal but nothing at the spots available.
Drinks/Food	There are some shops on the East and West side of the airport, and a restaurant near and in the terminal (see spot #5).
Hotels	There is not really an airport hotel. Best choice is the city which is very close.
Season	In the end of the year you always have an increase in cargo traffic which sometimes results in nice visitors. Although in the summer you have more vacation flights from Tui Belgium.
Runway Usage
08/26	Runway 26 is mostly used, but 08 is no exception. Almost all aircraft (except GA) backtrack the runway for departure from 26.

	Spot #1 – Legeweg – All movements
WHERE	At the end of the ‘Legeweg’ which is a small road next to some farms. There are plenty of opportunities so please use a GPS but easily reachable with a car. You can park in the grass along the road. Nearest bus stop is 30+ min away.
WHAT	There is a small dirt hill here which gives you an overview of the whole airport and the runway. Virtually all movements can be seen here. If you go all the way to the end you have a gate where you can see landings on runway 26 through or above (with ladder) the gate.
TIME	Almost all day. In summer it might be better to move in the evening.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. Hard to reach with public transport.
FOCAL LENGTH	Around 50-300mm (depending on the angle and distance)

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	Spot #2 – NHV – RWY 08
WHERE	Coming from the coast, just past the NHV building there is a small street on the left, if you drive this till the end you have a fence and gate with view on the threshold of rwy 08 and the NHV helipad. Enough open space to park, but don’t obstruct the road or gate.
WHAT	Line-up of runway 08, heli pad NHV & backtrack runway 26 (An-124 always does this). Possibly also runway 26 departures and 08 arrivals if you walk a bit back.
TIME	Almost all day. In summer it might be better to move in the evening.
MISC.	Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	35mm for An-124; 150mm for H145

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	Spot #3 – Meteo
WHERE	On the ‘Nieuwpoortsesteenweg’, just opposite a bus stop and ‘domain Raversyde’. It was the old meteo building and there is a concrete space to park.
WHAT	(Heavy) departures from runway 26 and taxi for departure runway 08. Good view of 08 arrivals in the summer evenings but bit high for pictures. There is again a gate to take pictures through, or above the fence with a ladder.
TIME	In the (summer) evening.
MISC.	Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	500mm for a rotating An-124, 120mm when in the air or around 40mm for B737 taxi.

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	Spot #4 – P3 – Taxi
WHERE	On the P3 parking of the airport, although this one is not always open (mainly in summer season). Be aware, this is a paid parking and it’s not cheap (no info on prices atm), but first 30 min is free, perfect for a quick shot.
WHAT	Taxiing aircraft on taxiway E2 & K6 mainly, but also landings 08/26.
TIME	In the (summer) evening.
MISC.	Ladder required, but don’t place it near the fence too long. Also, as it is a parking, cars may be standing against the fence when busy, be careful when so.
FOCAL LENGTH	75-300mm

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	Spot #5 – Belair
WHERE	This is a restaurant inside the terminal, on the right up the stairs on the left side.
WHAT	You can sit next to the window which will give you a nice view on the apron, not ideal for pictures as the windows are quite dirty.
TIME	In fact never ideal for pictures, but you sit nice and warm.
MISC.	If you go just before or after a passenger flight it might be busy, especially in the summer season, and you won’t have a place near the window.
FOCAL LENGTH	28-300mm

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	Spot #6 – Kruishofstraat
WHERE	‘Kruishofstraat’ is the name of the small road, from there you will see yourself. It’s only a small road, you better park on the bigger street and walk the remaining 100m.
WHAT	View on apron 2 (main), but with some distance and fence, an alternative is spot #6
TIME	Till early noon.
MISC.	Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-300mm

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	Spot #7 – Backtrack for 26
WHERE	Along the ‘Duinkerkseweg’ where you can park along the road. For taxi shots you can look for the highest spot, but this can still be too low to avoid the fence, for that you can try to cross the small canal and stand against the fence, but don’t do this for too long. Another option is using a ladder (but not against the fence).
WHAT	Departures runway 26 that require full runway length or landings runway 08.
TIME	For taxi: morning and evening. For landing: late (summer) evening.
MISC.	It’s a big road and there is also a bicycle path, so be aware.
FOCAL LENGTH	40mm for both An-22 and An-124.

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	Spot #8 – Apron 1 front
WHERE	In the ‘Rolbaanstraat’, drive north and you have a view of the apron. Parking is possible, but not recommend for a long time as it will be partly on the road.
WHAT	View on apron 2. The fence can be of a problem for bigger lenses, haven’t tried a ladder here yet, but seems possible as the fence is just next to the road (with small grass strip in between). . Also, there is high grass that can be so high that it gets in the way for a picture (see example).
TIME	All day, around evening some backlight possible
MISC.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-100mm

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	Spot #9 – Apron 1 side
WHERE	In the ‘Rolbaanstraat’, you have a small sideroad that will lead you to the fence near the apron, bumpy gravel/dirt road but plenty of parking space.
WHAT	Perfect side-on view of apron 2. Best spot for this apron. Holes cut in the fence for camera.
TIME	Almost all day. On hot days heat haze can be a (serious) problem.
MISC.	The local farmer might get annoyed if he sees spotters here, especially with cars, be kind and try not to stay too long.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-200mm

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