Dinard Pleurtuit Saint Malo Airport - Spotting Guide

Dinard Pleurtuit Saint Malo Airport – Spotting Guide

September 3, 2020 - last modified on November 19, 2023

Dinard Pleurtuit Saint Malo Airport (LFRD/DNR), is located in the North East of Brittany at only a few minutes from the famous Emeraude Coast. With two routes operated by Ryanair during the season, Dinard is a small “family” airport. 95,814 passengers in 2019. However, Dinard hides some nice surprises mostly at the Sabena Technics (well-known European repair company). It is present at the airport and specialized in the repair of Casa and Puma helicopters.

In addition, the airport has a paint booth that can accommodate aircraft ranging from a PA46 Malibu up to an A321. There are also 4 flying clubs with light aircraft. There are sometimes some flights from military transport planes as well as fighters.

Written by Mael Robin & Samuel Le Dû. Last update July 2020

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
35/17	2,200m (7,218ft) – Asphalt
30/12	1,445m (4,741ft) – Asphalt
35R/17R	180m (591ft) – Grass
Terminals
Spotting Information
Ladder	Ladder is mandatory.
Car/Public Transport	Public transport are not available, we highly recommend you to use a car.
Restrooms	Yes, named “The Bar’ à Caf” located on the first floor of the terminal.
Drinks/Food	Yes, named “The Bar’ à Caf” located on the first floor of the terminal.
Hotels	At Dinard city center, 15 minutes drive.
Season	Good all year however we still recommend in summer time in order to increase the day range as well as the weather condition. Nevertheless, be careful about heat haze during summer or hot days.
Runway Usage
35/17	All big movements civilian, military or business jets.
30/12	Light aircraft
35R/17R	Only ULM flights

	Spot #1 – The Terminal (apron + runways movements)
WHERE	Drive direction Dinard Airport towards terminal and rental cars agencies. Once you arrived you will notice the big airport parking from which you will have to park there. The walk a few hundred meters towards the right of the terminal at the fences here is your spot.

WHAT	All commercial traffic which are parked at the gate, taxiways as well as runways movements.

TIME	From sunrise until midday.

MISC.	Be discreet, there are a lot of employees working around. Just take your shots and leave.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #2 – Approach rwy35 & back track rwy35
WHERE	Exit the airport terminal and rive on D364 until you reached a cross road take on your right on D64. Follow this road until the roundabout take again the second exit and follow D64 until the second roundabout take the third exit left, continue straight. At the roundabout take the first exit right and stay on Rue de Dinard until you reached the center of the town next to a church and again at the roundabout take the first on your right. Follow D3 road you will then exit the town and pass over the highway D266 continue straight until you reach a crossroad where you will notice a bus stop on your left. Turn and park your car next to it but do not block the road.

WHAT	All traffic back tracking the rwy35 from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Also all traffic on final rwy35 all day.

TIME	All day depending the angle choose.

MISC.	Park your car next to the bus stop called ”Abs de Kergoat”.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm

	Spot #3 – The Cow Fields
WHERE	From spot 2 continue on D3 pass the field and park your car at “La Basse Chrlottais” road but do not block the way. Then cross the field by walking along the fence you will then arrived below few trees.

WHAT	All movements both runway directions.

TIME	From midday until sunset.

MISC.	It is a private property which you have to respect the location and do not enter if cows are presents. be careful, sometimes there are cows and respect the place. Don’t eat in the field please.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #4 – The Hill
WHERE	It is located just before the spot 3 it is a good alternative if the cows are in the field.

WHAT	All movements both runway directions and you can have a view on the storage/maintenance apron (300/400mm needed).

TIME	From midday until sunset.

MISC.	Call the police if the barrier are open, Pleurtuit sheriff trust the spotter for signal a problem in airport.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm

	Spot #5 – Approach rwy17
WHERE	From spot 4, keep driving on D3 until you arrived at the crossroad D503 take on your right until you reached another crossroad take again on the right on D168. Few hundred meters after take on your left on D503 “Bellevue” and follow this road until the stable take on the right on “Blanche Lande”. Stay here until you see a big house in front left then take left on “Le Placis”. You will pass another house as well as a field which is separate by a line of trees. Park you car next to that lines of trees you are at spot 5.

WHAT	All movements expect arrivals rwy35.

TIME	From sunrise until midday.

MISC.	Nothing nearby, please bring with you what you need. Be discreet.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm