Nîmes Grande Provence Méditerranée Airport - Spotting Guide

Nîmes Grande Provence Méditerranée Airport – Spotting Guide

September 25, 2024 - last modified on September 27, 2024

The Aéroport de Nîmes-Grande Provence Méditerranée (FNI/LFTW) is located in the South part of France near one of the most famous region, Camargue. The airport does not offer a large amount of passenger flight. The only regular company is Ryanair. The airport offers two small terminals, one for the civilians flights and one for the bizjets. The airport is obviously not famous for its passengers flights but rather from the maintenance/storage facilities as well as being the headquarters of the French Sécurité Civile.

The airport offers a maintenance facility with Sabena Technics which are specialized in civilian and military aircraft. For example, they are maintaining the whole French Sécurité Civile fleet as well as the French Air Force KC135 and A332(MRTT).

As previously mentioned, Nîmes is the home base for the French Sécurité Civile where most of their fleet are based their. You’ll have a fair chance to photograph their Canadair CL415, Dash 8 Q400MR, Beechcraft 200King Air as well as their Eurocopters/Airbus Helicopters EC145/H145.

Written by Dylan Tenreiro, eraviation (IG account), Jeremy Denton & Romain Boghossian. Last Update: July 2024

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
18/36	2.443 m (8.015 ft) – Concrete
Terminals
Terminal 1	Used by all airlines (Ryanair)
Spotting Information
Ladder	A ladder is needed especially for the ramp positions. Keep a fair distance with the fence to avoid attracting the attention of the police.
Car/Public Transport	Not available for most the spotting locations.
Drinks/Food	Bring with you what you need. You’ll find toilets and some snacks in the terminal or at the Lidl supermarket which is at 2 minutes drive from the airport.
Hotels	A few hotel nearby the airport, we actually spent our time at the Mas de l’Espérence which was simply fantastic (family point of view).
Season	You’ll encounter most of the Sécurité Civile flights during the high forest season thus in Summer is the good period to go.
Security	A part of the airport holds a military facility and the Sécurité Civile areas are considered as military equipments as well in France. Rather keep a low profile.
Runway Usage
18/36	Runways are used depending on the winds direction. The Sécurité Civile tends to use the rwy36.

	Spot #1 – Highway – Morning arrivals rwy18
WHERE	From the airport terminal, drive up north by crossing the highway and taking the 4th exit of the roundabout. You will pass in front of the Lidl supermarket. Then continue straight up until the next roundabout. Take the third exit and and straight after the bridge turn right on the dirt road. Park and spot from there.

WHAT	Arrivals aircraft rwy18.

TIME	Summer: Sunrise to 13h00 Winter: Sunrise to 11h00

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need.

FOCAL LENGTH	100 to 300mm depending on the size of the aircraft.

	Spot #2 – Farm Road – Morning arrivals/departures
WHERE	From the airport terminal, drive up north by crossing the highway and taking the 4th exit of the roundabout. You will pass in front of the Lidl supermarket. Then continue straight up until the next roundabout. Take the third exit and and straight after the bridge turn turn left and drive down the farm road. Stop where it suits you the best.

WHAT	Arrivals & departures aircraft rwy18.

TIME	Summer: Sunrise to 13h00 Winter: Sunrise to 11h00

MISC.	A ladder is necessary to be able to photograph the planes on the runway. Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. Spot 1 would be better if you want to avoid the heat haze. Road might be muddy in the winter months.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #3 – Terminal Building – Ramp
WHERE	At the terminal itself you can spot at the bus station in the south or at the bizjet terminal in the north. You can come with the car, stop and take the picture. Then leave as soon as you are done. We do not recommend to stay too long.

WHAT	KC135 line-up storage and the tarmac activities.

TIME	Summer: Sunrise to 13h00 Winter: Sunrise to 11h00

MISC.	The spot 3 is not a location which you will stay all day and we do not recommend to do so. Rather keep a low profile especially during week days. A ladder is definitely mandatory (3 steps at least).

FOCAL LENGTH	70mm to 200mm is enough (KC135 were done between 95mm to 135mm)

All KC135 can be photographed from here

	Spot #4 – Helicopters pad
WHERE	From the terminal drive south along the airport. You’ll pass in front of the Alouette III from the Sécurité Civile as well as the helicopter base. Continue for a few hundred meters and then take a right turn and park your car along the road near the dirt path. Then walk towards the helicopter pad to the fence.

WHAT	All in and out movements from the Sécurité Civile helicopters.

TIME	All day.

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. Ladder is needed.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #5 – Field – 36 touchdowns, 18 departures
WHERE	From the spot 4, just continue driving down the road, pass the roundabout and you’ll reach another entrance gate. Park your car on the dirt road and walk towards the runway. Then put yourself where it suits you the best (no shadow, take what you need).

WHAT	Arrivals and departures rwy36 as well as heavy rwy18 departures.

TIME	Summer: Sunrise to 13h00 Winter: Sunrise to 11h00

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. Heat haze can be an issue during hot summer days and no little shadows available. A ladder is mandatory which you will have to carry with you for a few minutes… Think twice before getting there (spot 6 could be more convenient).

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #6 – The Hill – 36 arrivals
WHERE	From the spot 5, just continue driving south until you reach the spot (refer to the map). You can park the car next to the road, along the path. And put yourself where it suits you the best. Climbing the hill isn’t that difficult but the bushes aren’t that friendly (high and sting) so be careful. The alternative is to stay down the hill.

WHAT	Up the hill rwy36 arrivals and departures and down the hill arrivals runway36.

TIME	Summer: Sunrise to 13h00 Winter: Sunrise to 11h00

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. Heat haze can be an issue during hot summer days up the hills for runways movements. Not an easy climb due to all the high bushes and no shades. No ladder needed.

FOCAL LENGTH	A332 = 120mm

The hill (KC10 NAF + B738 Transavia)

Down the hill across the road (A332MRTT was taken from here)

	Spot #7 – Fields – 36 arrivals
WHERE	From the spot 6, continue driving on the same road and take the second dirt road to your left. Drive for a few meters and again take a right turn on that road. From there you’ll be able to stand yourself as you wish. Try to avoid blocking the road and be friendly with the farmer.

WHAT	Arrivals runway36.

TIME	Summer: From 15h00 to sunset Winter: From 14h00 to sunset

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. Be respectful as you are located next to fields. Road might be muddy in the winter months.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm (Dash8 was done at 85mm)

	Spot #8 – Sécurité Civile – Ramp
WHERE	The Sécurité Civile ramp is located on the west side of the airport and is a great place for the afternoon and evening. Please refer to the map so you’ll know where to stop to make the pictures of the aircraft.

WHAT	All movements/park sécurité civile airplane on the tarmac and the aircraft that taxi to runway36 for departure or taxi of the arrivals rwy18.

TIME	Summer: From 15h00 to sunset Winter: From 14h00 to sunset

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. The people in this area are very friendly. A ladder is highly recommended to facilitate your pictures or shot through the gate on the right.

FOCAL LENGTH	Between 18mm to 130mm is enough (depending how far the aircraft are on the ramp)

	Spot #9 – Control Tower – Taxiway and Runway
WHERE	From the sécurité civile ramp just go back to the same road and continue driving towards the Tower (end of the road). Park the car in the parking.

WHAT	Aircraft taxiing from both runways (arrivals/departures).

TIME	Summer: From 15h00 to sunset Winter: From 14h00 to sunset

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. A ladder is highly recommended to facilitate your pictures if you don’t have a small lens. Keep a low profile and do not keep your ladder against the fence. Heat haze can be an issue during hot summer days.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #10 – Farm Road – 18 arrivals
WHERE	From spot 1, just drive a few hundreds meters on the road and take the first path on your right. Park the car at the road fork without blocking the entrance to the farms.

WHAT	Arrivals runway18.

TIME	Summer: From 14h00 to sunset Winter: From 13h00 to sunset

MISC.	Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. Be respectful as you are located next to the fields.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm