Calvi Sainte Catherine Airport - Spotting Guide

Calvi Sainte Catherine Airport – Spotting Guide

February 19, 2020 - last modified on August 8, 2024

Calvi Airport (CLY/LFKC) is 8 km to the south-east of the city. It is the smallest among the four airports for commercial flights in Corsica (with Bastia, Ajacco and Figari beeing the others). Traffic isn’t too dense even in the season, biggest aircraft type is A320/321 and B737 respectively. Dominating airlines are Air Corsica and Air France. Especially on the weekend you can expect mainly Easyjet and Volotea and a few more charter carriers from various origins in Europe.

Thanks to its location in a valley, the airport enjoys a great backdrop and nice scenery. However, the traffic is – as said – not too much. So all in all Calvi handles ~320.000 passengers per year and 7 tons of freight. As you can see, quite a quiet airport…

Written by Severin Hackenberger, Markus Deter, Philippe Chastagnol and Martin Oswald. All spots checked April 2024.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
18/36	2310 m (7581 ft) – concrete
Terminals	One terminal, which is serving all flights – domestic and international.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed except at spot #3 partly and spot #4.
Car/Public Transport	Car useful for Spot 2, but not necessarily needed. It’s about 20 min’s walk from the terminal. For spot 1 very recommended, I have not tried or done research about public traffic to this place.
Restrooms	Nothing at both locations.
Drinks/Food	In the terminal, apart from that nothing near the two spots.
Hotels	Plenty of choices around, since this is a tourist area.
Season	Definitely summer, when there is way more traffic, especially on saturday and sunday plus better weather, which may be too hot sometimes though. Late spring until early autumn is thus the best time.
Runway Usage
18/36	Because of it’s vicinity to a mountain range landings are mostly on runway 18, with the usual exceptions though. BUT THEY ONLY USE RUNWAY 36 FOR TAKE OFFs and whatever the direction of the wind is, they have to due to the mountains all around the airport. All pilots coming to Calvi must run thru a special training first.

	Spot #1 – Industrial area – 18 arrivals, 36 take offs
WHERE	Take road Nr. D151 to the south at the respective intersection (roundabout) with T30 (Calvi – L’ile Rousse) as indicated on the map. Turn right at the second roundabout and drive a little further into the industrial area, the road is named Cantonia. Park beside the road or in a bay which is there. The spot is slightly elevated.

WHAT	Arrivals runway 18, take-offs runway 36. Due to a crane, the view is a bit limited.

TIME	Sunrise till early midday.

MISC.	Nothing directly here, but a bar called “U Spuntinu” is quite close. One may be sent away here when it is busy as this spot is in a industrial area, so keep a low profile.

FOCAL LENGTH	150-200mm A320 = 175mm

	Spot #2 – D81 – 18 arrivals
WHERE	There are two options where you can stay. Both are along the road D81, leading to and from the terminal. The first spot possibility is a mound. Parking is possible at the eastern side of the road, but be careful about oncoming traffic when pulling over. The vegetation can be extreme here so in this case we recommend to move a bit further up the road, until you see a gravel area to your left hand side. This is the second spot. Just park here and start spotting from this area. You can stay behind the embankment to get in distance from the busy road.

WHAT	Best for arrivals runway 18.

TIME	Late midday till sunset.

MISC.	Closest facility for food, drinks and shadow is the terminal as there is nothing directly here, but also some restaurants/hotels a bit to the north/south wehere you may find something (see map).

FOCAL LENGTH	130-180mm A320 = 150mm

Pictures taken from the mound

Pictures taken from the gravel area

	Spot #3 – Roadside – all movements
WHERE	This spot can be found just by the roadside of hgihway “D81”. Just get rid of your car around here, which can be done by parking it by the roadside here on both sides, and then search your favourite position along the fence – either in the southern part, where one needs a ladder or at the northern end where one can shoot without a ladder by standing on a small wall.

WHAT	All runway movements.

TIME	Late noon till sunset.

MISC.	A hotel close to this spot, but except of this nothing else. Heat haze can become a problem! Take care when parking your car to don’t block the road and to park it properly in order to avoid crashes. A LADDER is needed all the way down the fence here EXCEPT ALONG A SMALL PART at the northern end of this straight roadside, where “D81” MAKES THE LITTLE CURVE – there is a small WALL which can be used as object in order to get over the fence! This part is marked on the map in red! As the road is very busy during the summer season so be very careful if you use the wall!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm 95mm

Example pictures were taken along the roadside – not only form one position, that’s why angle/backdrop vary:

Overview shot source: Google – the mentioned part where the wall can be used as ladder to clear the view:

	Spot #4 – Road to La Signoria Hotel – 36 departures
WHERE	From the terminal drive northwards on D81 until you see a sign leading to the Las Signoria Hotel. Turn into the small road and continue for 200 meters until you see the hotel entrance. Park in front of it by the road side.

WHAT	36 departures only.

TIME	Late noon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing directly here. Do not block the road!

FOCAL LENGTH	300mm for A320, 350mm for ATR72

	Spot #5 – Field Road – 36 arrivals
WHERE	From the terminal drive southwards the D81, pass spot 6 and take the next right. Now continue on the small road for a few hundred meters until you see a small entrance to a bumpy field road to your left. Park by the roadside and step on the field road to gain a clear view of the approach.

WHAT	36 arrivals only.

TIME	Late noon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing directly here. Do not block the road!

FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm PC-24 = 300mm; A320 = 180mm

	Spot #6 – Lay by – GA Apron, 36 line-up
WHERE	Drive down the highway “D81″from the terminal until you see the GA Terminal. Pass it until you see a lay by for 2 cars on the left side. Park there to stay.

WHAT	General Aviation Ramp and line ups for departures runway 36.

TIME	Late noon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing directly here. There are some holes in the fence where you can shoot through.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-200 for the ramp