Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport - Spotting Guide

Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport – Spotting Guide

August 4, 2020 - last modified on November 17, 2023

Bordeaux International Airport (BOD/LFBD) is located in the municipality of Mérignac, at 12km from the center of the Gironde capital.It is the 8th French airport. In 2019, the airport welcomed 7.7 million passengers. It serves as a base for the companies Air France, Ryanair, Volotea, Easyjet and it shares its runway with the Air Base 106.

Dassault Aviation is present on the site with a final assembly line. Thee are also Sabena Technics maintenance workshops and the company Novespace is present with the A310 “Zero G.” Many companies serve the airport regularly (KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, HOP, Chalair, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Air Algérie, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Iberia, etc.). Aegean, Ural Airlines, Air Transat, Air Canada Rouge, Baltic and Helvetic operates on high season demand mostly summer times.

It is therefore very common to see many business, governments and military jets around BOD.

Bordeaux Mérignac Spotters Association can be found on the following links (available only in French): Website & Facebook

Written by Didier Durieux, president of Bordeaux Mérignac Spotters. Last Update: June 2021

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
05/23	3,100m / 10,171ft (asphalt)
11/29	2,415m / 7,923ft (asphalt)
Terminals
Terminal A	Mainly for international flights.
Terminal B	Mainly Air France flights.
Terminal Billi	Low cost carriers like easyjet, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Ladder is needed for 7-8 and 11-13.
Car/Public Transport	Car is needed to go to the major spotting locations. Not necessary for the spots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 if you are good walker you can reach them from the terminal.
Restrooms	Restrooms only in the terminal or near the spot 15 (bakery/pastry called Baghera.
Drinks/Food	You can buy drinks and foods inside the terminal and in the hotel zone you’ll find some restaurants. At midday there are many food trucks near the office.
Hotels	There are many hotels in the hotel zone located near the airport. Some of them have free shuttle. You can also take the public transport (line lianes 1+.
Season	Bad weather in autumn with lot of rain. During winter you can have very cold days but with blue sky. Spring is nice. In summer, the temperature is too hoot and you have heat wave on ground.
Security	Please keep a low profile while your are in the south of the airport as it is a military place, BA 106 Merignac. Note since March 2021: controls are being tightened more now by law enforcement so be polite and keep a low profile if there is any police patrol. Also we recommend you to get in touch with the local Bordeaux Mérignac Spotters Association for any assistance.
Runway Usage
05/23	23 is in use for arrivals and departures. 05 is used for the same. 23 is the most used for approach.
11/29	29 used for arrivals and departures. 11 often used for test (engines, taxi, check…).

CAPAM - ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES RWY23, TAXI and PARKING AT GENERAL AVIATION

WHERE	The location is called Capam, which is the aeroclub of the airport. It is located after the General Aviation parking (towards threshold rwy 13). By car you will have to exit the airport by driving on the “Rue René Cassin”. You will reach a first huge roundabout from which you have to take the third exit then at the second smaller roundabout take again the third exit and continue a few hundreds meters. You will see the left turn that you have to take it. At the other roundabout take the first exit on the right and then straight after take on the right path which will guide you until spot 1 at the fences on your left side. There is a small parking. No public transportation to this spot but it is just a 15 minutes walk from the terminal.

WHAT	Parking, taxi and departures rwy 23. Landings are possible too but no side shots as the house blocks the sight.

TIME	From sunrise until mid afternoon (04.00 pm.

MISC.	No food, no drinks, no restrooms.The police can control you. Be polite with locals. ladder is useful. 15 minutes walking from the terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-600mm (aircraft taxiing : 300mm for a Falcon, 200 mm for A320, 150 mm for A340).

ZENITUDE HOTEL-RESIDENCES - ARRIVALS RWY23

WHERE	At the end of “Rue Paul Deplante”, behind the Zenitude Hotel-Residence. By car you will have to exit the airport by driving on the “Rue René Cassin”. You will reach a first huge roundabout from which you have to take the third exit then at the second smaller roundabout take the second exit on your right on “Avenue Charles Lindbergh” then at the crossed road continue straight on “Avenue Neil Amstrong” direction north until you arrived at the end of the road “Rue Paul Deplante”. You will drive and have to pass in front of the Zenitude Hotel-Residence. Park your car before the TDM office (TDM parking is private). A 5 minutes walk from the Capam location and 20 from the terminal.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 23.

TIME	From morning until mid afternoon (4.00 pm).

MISC.	No food, no drinks, no restrooms.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-600mm (200 mm for Falcon, 150 mm foir C-130, 135 mm for A320/737, 100 mm for A330-200).

THE FIELD - ARRIVALS RWY23

WHERE	The spot is on a field next to the Rue des genêts. From spot 2, drive back pass the hotel and then take on the left on “Avenue Henry le Châtelier” until you reach a cross road and take on the left again on “Avenue Rudolf Diesel”. Once you are at the roundabout take the third exit and stay on the street for a few hundreds meters until you can notice the field on your left in between two buildings. At the end of the street there is a small parking on your left.

WHAT	Landing rwy 23.

TIME	From sunrise until mid afternoon (04.00 pm).

MISC.	No food, no drinks, no restrooms.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm (150 mm for A220, 100 mm for A320/737, 70 mm for A330).

Baghera - ARRIVALS RWY23

WHERE	Baghera is a bakery with a car park. From spot 4 go back and take the path on your left until you reach the roundabout from which you have to take the fourth exit on “Avenue Jacqueline Auriol”. Drive north pass the roundabout straight and take the road on your right “Rue Gay Lussac” and finally directly right after on that parking area.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 23.

TIME	From sunrise until mid afternoon.

MISC.	Food and drinks on site or to take away are available. Be careful cars and trucks it’s an industrial zone.

FOCAL LENGTH	200-600mm. Interesting for medium and large planes (200 mm for A320/737, 135 mm for A340).

CHEZ LULU - ARRIVALS RWY23

WHERE	At the Avenue Marcel Dassault you’ll find a round about near the main entrance Dassault factory and a restaurant called Lulu dans la Prairie. If coming from the previous locations get on the Avenue Marcel Dassault and take the third exit at the big roundabout. Park your car on the road (which is closed) just next to the restaurant.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 23.

TIME	From mid afternoon (4.00 pm) to sunset.

MISC.	Food and services available along Avenue Marcel Dassault.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm ( 250mm for Rafale, 120 mm for IL-62, 70 mm for A340-600).

THE PATH (GATE) - ARRIVALS RWY05

WHERE	Directly at a crash gate at the end of Avenue de l’Argonne. From the BA 106, take the road to St jean d’Illac. Before the second round about turn right and drive slowly (cause of the resident) to the end. From the spot 6, go back on the D106 and continue driving for about 5 minutes pass the Air Base and at the roundabout continue straight until you reach a small way on your right “Avenue de l’Argonne”. The drive until the end towards the fences but park your car next to the threes not on the road and not next to the gate. You can also walk to spot 8 from this position along the fence.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 05.

TIME	From sunrise until mid afternoon (04.00 pm).

MISC.	Ladder is useful. No food no drinks no restrooms. Don’t park the car before the gate! The security and the police often check!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-600mm (250 mm for Falcon, 135 mm for A320/737, 100 mm for A330-200).

DIRT PATH (FENCES) - ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES RWY05 and TAKE-OFF RWY23

WHERE	From spot 7 drive back on D106 and take the road on your left direction the Air Base for a few hundreds meters to finally turn on your left (SPA signs) in the tiny path surrounded by trees. Follow the road until the end and park it at the big parking space and walk to the fence. Alternatively you can easily walk from #7 along the fence.

WHAT	Arrivals and departures rwy 05, take off rwy 23.

TIME	From sunrise until mid afternoon (4.00 pm).

MISC.	Ladder is useful. No food no drinks no restrooms. You can be controlled by the security or by the police.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-600mm (18 to 100 when aircraft are taxiing, 250 mm for GA planes, 200 for A320/737, 100 mm for A340).

GYM - ARRIVALS RWY05

WHERE	The spot is on a unused road next to a gym. From spot 7 and 8, go back on D106 and follow this road. You will pass the roundabout straight as well as the runway. After you will see another roundabout, take the first exit and once again immediately right to the gym. Pass it and drive till the end and park you car somewhere on the road.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 05.

TIME	From mid afternoon (4.00 pm) until sunset.

MISC.	There is a Lidl supermarket just at the roundabout. No public transportation.

FOCAL LENGTH	60-600mm ( 300 mm for Falcon, 200 mm for C-130, 150 mm for A320/737, 80 mm for A330-300).

RIDING STABLE - ARRIVALS RWY11

WHERE	From spot 9 it’s a 10 minutes drive so exit the area and take the road D211E2. You will pass through a dens forest for about 5 minutes drive until you see the roundabout take the first exit on the right and merged on D213. Follow D213 until you notice on your right a bike race it will be on “Avenue de Bellevue”. Drive on it until you see the runway 11 and take the dirty path on your right side at “L’Oxer de Bellevue” which is a riding stable.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 11.

TIME	From sunrise until midday.

MISC.	No food no drinks no restrooms. The parking is for horsemen so be discreet. No public transportation.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm (135mm for Rafale, 100 mm for A320/737).

THE RADAR - ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES RWY11 & DEPARTURES RWY 29/23/05

WHERE	From spot 10 drive back on “Avenue de Bellevue”, pass the motor race track and turn right at the D213. Take the first exit at the next roundabou, continue straight on “Rue Marcel Isartier” and simply follow that road pass the roundabout and take the small path which continues along the forest on your right. Drive until the end and park your car next to the trees.

WHAT	Arrivals and departures rwy 11, departures rwy 29, departures rwy 23/05.

TIME	From morning until midday rwy 11/29. from midday until sunset rwy 23/05.

MISC.	Ladder is useful. No food no drinks no restrooms. You can be controlled by the security. Keep calm and be nice.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm ( 300 mm for Rafale, 150 mm for A320/737).

IMA PATH - ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES RWYS 23/05

WHERE	From spot 11, just go back on the path until you reach the end of the fences which makes an angle.

WHAT	Arrivals and departures rwy 23/05.

TIME	From midday until sunset.

MISC.	Ladder is needed. No food no drinks no restrooms. But you have a snack located after the round about near the karting track 2 minutes drive from this spot.

FOCAL LENGTH	200-600mm.

NOVESPACE - ONLY PARKING OF AIRBUS ZERO G - ALL DAY

WHERE	From spot 12, go back until the beginning of the street and take a right turn on “Rue Marcel Issartier” and drive until the end of that road.

WHAT	Parking Airbus Zero G and other stored aircraft.

TIME	From midday until sunset.

MISC.	Ladder is useful. No food and drinks. No restrooms.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-400mm.

THE EARTH BERM - ARRIVALS RWY11 AFTERNOON UNTIL SUNSET

WHERE	From the spot 10, drive back on “Avenue de Bellevue” until you reach a crossroad from which you have to take the first exit on the right. Drive a few meters and park the car in the path near a house.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 11. The window to shoot plane is very short!

TIME	From afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	No food no drinks no restrooms.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-300 mm for small and medium planes.