Perpignan Rivesaltes Airport - Spotting Guide

Perpignan Rivesaltes Airport – Spotting Guide

January 11, 2021 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Perpignan Rivesaltes Airport (PGF/LFMP) is a small airfield in the south of France, which can be found roughly 5km northwest of the city of Perpignan itsself. It was opened in 1910 by the first flying movements, extended in the 1920s as it was a stop on important flying races. The British forces established a base in the late 30s, but the German took over in the early 1940s. After WW2, the airfield was mostly serving as charter airport, which mainly came from Africa or Britain. After terminal extensions in the 1960s, it was the 5th biggest airfield in the 1977 in France. However, a lack of attractivity and interest led to a downfall in tourist flights. Nowadays Perpignan is therefore quite famous for hosting the “Libya Force One”, a rare A342. It is stored here together with some other rare aircrafts like B727s or Arabian A320s. Meanwhile, tourist flights are at a low level. You will see just a very few domestic services regularly, in addition therefore a few LCC connections (mostly flown by Ryanair). Therefore PGF is home to some helicopter fleets and plenty sports aircraft, so you will see many of these smaller aircraft.

Feel free to get in touch with the local spotting group called “Aérospot66”, which can be found HERE on Facebook.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Emiel Pijpers, Eric Verplanken and Dominique Hydra. Last Update: Summer 2020

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
13/31	1265m x 25m
15/33	2500m x 45m
Terminals
Terminal 1	Handling all (charter) flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Highly recommended as it is needed for the most important spots.
Car/Public Transport	Car definitely needed. High distances, poor PT…
Restrooms	Only in the airport/city.
Drinks/Food	Only in the airport/city.
Hotels	Nothing around.
Season	Summer has lots of haze, so winter is better there, therefore summer has more charter traffic.
Security	Spotting is no issue here at all, however it is not really common, so you may see some suspicious faces/people. Take care!
Runway Usage
General Info
13/31	Mainly small GA and sports aircraft land here normally.
15/33	Mainly used for testruns or by heavies coming in for maintenance.

	Spot #1 – Airport Fence south – 31/33 Arrivals + Sabena ramp + Storage area south
WHERE	The most famous spot at Perpignan can be found in a small street running north/on the airportside of the highway of the D117 (best via the roundabout in the west next to spot #1). Just getting rid of your car is very hard here. You can either quickly stop by the roadside for 1-2 minutes or otherwise you either need to park it in the parking line on the D117 leading north just behind the roundabout (marked on the map), or park somewhere completely else. So enter the unnamed street running between D117 and airport fence, make your way up northeastwards and choose one of the two options here: 1. Just after the hall on your left ended, you have basically reached this spot. Just position yourself along the fence around the Sabena ramp here (west + middle) 2. Continue walking for a while, cross the arrival path and position yourself at the fencekink here (east)

WHAT	From here you have a nice view onto Arrivals onto runway 31 and 33. In addition, you can nicely see the Sabena technics and the storage area south aprons just in front of you.

TIME	31/33 movements: Early midday till sunset from the Sabena site, but you can also shoot them from the field in the east in the morning. Ramp: Depends on where you stand as you can either position yourself northeast or southwest of the apron. So this spot may be useable beyond noon, too.

MISC.	Haze can be an issue on ground shots. In addition, especially the ramp is often cramped by foreground clutter. Furthermore, high grass may disturb your view, so angle and results may be harsh here. Nothing around, getting rid of your car is very hard. Ladder needed! “Parking”/Stopping here is very hard, be careful!

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm Lybian A342 = 60mm / A333 Thomas Cook = 24mm / B727s on ramp = ~150mm / B737s = ~210mm

1. Around Sabena ramp:

West end:

Middle:

2. Around the fencekink:

East:

	Spot #2 – Helipad – GA
WHERE	This spot can be found all along the fence around the “helittoral” company building along the fence frontes (as shown on the map) next to the big heli- and GA pad. Park your car somewhere here on the plenty free spaces and position yourself along the fence. DEC 2020: Construction works are going on just next to the spot – an extension to Aerosmith66 and a new building for Aerofutur. So soon the sight and accessibility will be reduced!

WHAT	The whole GA and helicopter ramp can be spotted from here nicely.

TIME	Depends on how the aircraft are parked, but in general, from early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around, do not park on preserved spots. Ladder may be useful, but static is easy to shoot without as well.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-200mm Helicopters = ~100mm / Piper 28 = 28mm

Example overview of the northwestern part of the spot:

Construction works on the meadow:

	Spot #3 – Avenue Maurice Bellonte – Main ramp + 13/31 movements
WHERE	Along “Avenue Maurice Bellonte” south of runway 13/31, you can spot from all way down the fence. Just get rid of your car nearby somewhere (terminal, roadside, whatever…) and position yourself along the fence.

WHAT	All runway 13/31 movements as well as the main ramp behind the runway.

TIME	Roughly from late morning till sunset.

MISC.	Haze can be a huge issue, ladder recommended. Parking is hard here, therefore you can park and get snacks in the terminal, which is just a few hundred meters away.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm BMI Baby B733 = 165mm

	Spot #4 – D5G – Storage area north
WHERE	From the main PGF terminal facilties, drive northwards on D5G and just after a few meters, you should reach a storage platform on your right. Stop with your car around here somewhere and position yourself along the fence.

WHAT	You can nicely walk along the fence and thus spot the whole northern storage area here mainly. In the background you can also see the nearby taxiway and GA apron.

TIME	Depends on how the aircraft are parked, but in general, from early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Ladder recommended, otherwise you may have dark corner shots. Nothing around here.

FOCAL LENGTH	10-50mm A320 = 18mm / B727 = 14mm

	Spot #5 – Mound parking – 15/33 movements
WHERE	This spot is located in the northeast of the airport. Just where D5G and D5F merge at the a small elevated T-junction, there is a small dead-end road still on D5G to the fence in the northeast. Just stop/park on the streetshoulder there and position yourself on the mound here.

WHAT	All movements on runway 15/33.

TIME	Depends on where the aircraft are right then, but in general, from early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Haze can be an issue on hot days as well as high bushes. There is nothing around.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-200mm B737 departure = 235mm / A321 = 90mm

	Spot #6 – Fencegate East – 15/33 movements
WHERE	This spot can be found in the deep east of the airfield and is hard to reach. Make your way to the small street running north/on the airportside of the highway of the D117 (best via the roundabout in the west next to spot #1). So turn on this unnamed street, drive northeastwards, pass the arrival lights, pass spot #7 and continue northwards till you do not reach a barrier in front, thus you can only drive onto a bumpy dirt road to the fence in the west. Take this road till its end, which should be an apron gate, park somewhere there and search your favourite position along the fence.

WHAT	All movements on runway 15/33 and in the background you can also see the main apron.

TIME	Sunrise till late morning, actually only really nicely useable in summer.

MISC.	Haze is an issue, bring water with your, nothing around! Ladder recommended. Runway itsself cannot be seen sometimes due to high grass, keep that in mind!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm CRJ900 = 125mm / Helicopter = 150mm