Augsburg-Mühlhausen Airport - Spotting Guide

Augsburg-Mühlhausen Airport – Spotting Guide

August 11, 2021 - last modified on November 17, 2023

The airport Augsburg-Mühlhausen (EDMA/AGB) is located north the city of Augsburg which is also the regional seat of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben within Bavaria. The airport property lays within the district of Airach-Friedberg. With it’s location close to one of Germany’s main highway A8 and only 54 km away from Munich it serves as a kind of gateway to Munich and it’s region. The airport was built as a new one in 1962, the former city airport and army field was located in the south city of Augsburg-Haunstetten. The new airport was used very active as a local field for small props and business jets. 1985 Augsburg Airways started to operate flights from here to 13 destinations. In 2002 Augsburg Airways moved to Munich Airport as they started to fly as Subcarrier for Lufthansa.

Since then no regular flights are operated from here. The runway was grooved and expanded in 2009 to handle flights with up to a B737. Today there are around 75000 movements a year with only one part time scheduled flight operated by Sun-Air and a based Dornier 328J operating flights to France and England for Airbus employes. The airport also has some interesting companies starting with Airbus Helicopters, Augsburg Air Service and some flight schools. In the south is the local flight club having a glider area with a hanger, own winches and 3 small glider grass “runways”. Augsburg Air Service is doing many maintenance at Augsburg resulting in some visitors from all around the world coming with Beechcraft and Cirrus aircraft. Sometimes you also have government Beechcrafts from whole Europe.

Written by Stefan Bratner. Last Update: July 2021

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
07/25	5230 ft/1594 m – Asphalt
Terminal	No actively used terminal. Only the former terminal with offices, toilets and a restaurant including the terrasse on the rooftop.
Airport Chart
Spotting Information
Ladder	Helpful to clear the fence thus allowing easy spotting, but a 2-3 step ladder is more then enough. In addition, shooting through the fence or holding the camera over the fence is possible too and a good option.
Car/Public Transport	A car is needed to get to the airport, public transport is only poorly available. At the airport itself a car is not mandatory but helpful to move quicker.
Drinks/Food	The restaurant “Triebwerk” on top of the Terminal – otherwise none, but the city of Augsburg is not far away and supermarket/gas station is already available in Derching (3,5km drive).
Hotels	No hotels directly at the airport or close by.
Season	All year round, but summer may be better due more aircrafts flying and the weather is mostly better as well.
Security	No problems, but always have your ID with you just in case you will be checked. There is no regular security or Police present, only airport staff and companies. So behave friendly and respectful, use the ladder only if needed and keep a normal profile.
Runway Usage
07/25	Depending on the wind, runway 25 has an Instrument Landing System (ILS CAT I).

	Spot #1 – Airbus Helicopter – Apron and Hangars
WHERE	The spot is located along the apron and their respective hangars, like the main hangar of Airbus Helicopter. When following Flughafenstraße towards the airport you will see the hangars and some parking spaces after two turns. Search a good parking spot, but do not block reserved parking or any gates. I recommend staying next to your car so you can remove it if needed.

WHAT	Aircraft in front of the hangar, helicopter on Apron 6 and planes going towards the hangar on taxiway G.

TIME	Summer: later morning till early afternoon Winter: whole day

MISC.	Due the big hangars sun can cause big shadows on parked aircrafts depending on the position. You can shoot through the gates here or over the fence, but a ladder is not recommended due to the proximity of the Airbus hangars.

FOCAL LENGTH	Depending on what you shoot: Apron 24-70mm / Taxiway 200-400mm

	Spot #2 – AAS Hangar West – Apron 5/6 + 07 movements
WHERE	Coming from Spot 1 you will have to follow the Flughafenstraße towards the airport. After a 90° left turn you pass the glider runway on your right. After another 150m there is another 90° turn. Do not follow the main road, turn left towards the “Minigolf” into a dead end road. Park your car on the left side on a big loose gravel area and walk to the fence.

WHAT	Parked planes on the apron, aircraft on runway 07 and taxiing from Apron 6

TIME	Summer: later morning till early afternoon Winter: sunrise till sunset

MISC.	Park on the big gravel area opposite as the parking directly at the apron belongs to Augsburg Air Service and is for visitors/guest only

FOCAL LENGTH	Piper: Wide angel 35mm / Traffic on runway 300-500mm / Static planes on apron/taxiway: 120-300mm

	Spot #3 – Small Prop Hangars – GA Apron
WHERE	The spot can be found along the main road “Flughafenstraße” shortly after the last right turn towards the airport terminal. You can park your car on the parking lot next to the hangars or simply by the roadside (do not block the road itself).

WHAT	Parked small props and planes waiting to get parked into the hangar. Also it’s possible to shoot planes on the taxiway

TIME	Summer: later morning till early afternoon (for parallely parked planes) Winter: whole day

MISC.	Nothing special, but a ladder is useful to avoid dark corners again and using a ladder is no problem here either. However, shooting through the mesh or over the fence is possible too.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-105mm on the apron / Taxiway >200mm

	Spot #4 – Viewing area – 07/25 movements + Apron + Taxiway
WHERE	This spot is located west of the former Terminal, which is now used as office building for examples as there are no scheduled pax flights anymore. You can park your car in the official parking lot for free. Left of the terminal you see two small buildings used by flight schools. Left and behind of this is the airport fence with some benches. You can either stand here (where the taxiway is only 30m away) or you can walk along the fence towards the gate and petrol station. So you can simply vary your angle here.

WHAT	Aircraft on the taxiway, on runway and on the apron. This is the alternative spot for #5 if the restaurant is closed. You are lower here giving another view more face to face

TIME	Depends on the subject/angle: Runway has light in summer: later morning till early afternoon / winter: whole day, parking spots may be lit differently (mostly only good in the morning).

MISC.	Better use a ladder than standing on the metal benches as this is not welcomed by visitors with kids and the airport staff.

FOCAL LENGTH	Piper/Cessna parked: 200mm / Planes on the taxiway at 4a: 70-200mm

	Spot #5 – Restaurant “Triebwerk” Terrace – 07/25 movements + Apron + Taxiway
WHERE	This spot is located on the top of the terminal on a big outdoor area. You can enter the restaurant itsself and its terrace then via some stairs on the left front side of the building. You will end up in a free area where you can stand and relax. On the other side of the terrace is the restaurant itself offering an outdoor seating for guests. It’s no problem to take photos only as the area is good separated so you do not need to be a guest in order to be able to use this spot. But of course try to not disturb the guests and restaurant area.

WHAT	View onto the whole runway and approach path, taxiway in front and taxiway C which is mainly used by small props.

TIME	Whole day all year round due the possibility to vary your angle.

MISC.	Opening times vary, sometimes it is closed for a long time, sometimes not. Access to the terrace only possible when the restaurant is openend, so rather always check in advance or otherwise use spot 4.

FOCAL LENGTH	Runway: 300-400 / Vacating the runway: 250-350mm / Taxiway: 70-200mm

	Spot #6 – AAS Hangar East – Apron 3 + AAS Apron
WHERE	This spot is located farly at the eastern end of the airport facilities close to the tower. Follow Flughafenstraße till you pass the terminal and see the tower. On your left hand site you will see a gate (Gate 13) with some parking spots starting here and leading till the end of the road. Park your car here for Spot 6 and 7. You are directly at the fence and you are also able to walk behind a small office building to get closer to the AAS apron.

WHAT	Parked planes on the aprons, plus planes taxiing and landing could be seen as well, but the view is often blocked by parked aircraft. Planes are parked mostly with their nose towards the runway, while maintenance visitors are mostly parked sideward to the fence, thus nice to shoot.

TIME	Summer: later morning till early afternoon / Winter: whole day

MISC.	Close to the gate the fence was lowered and cut down a bit by spotters (illegally). You can use that if you have no ladder, but do not damage the fence any further of course!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-400mm

	Spot #7 – AAS Hangar Stairscase – Apron + Taxiway + 25 movements
WHERE	This spot is on the outdoor fire exit stairs of the AAS hangar/building. You need to park your car at spot 6 as parking here is not allowed due the firefighter gate and also the parking spaces in front of the building are only for employees. From spot 6 it’s less then 200m to walk. Walk along the hangars and pass the tower, so proceed till the road ends. You see a small wall and sign saying not to park. Turn left so you can enter the side of the hangar. You’ll find yourself in front a smaller gate. From here you can also shoot onto the apron and towards the runway. But it is better to walk up the metal stairs outside the hangar and now you can vary your position along the staircase easily.

WHAT	Parked planes on the east of the apron and planes departing/landing runway 25.

TIME	Summer: later morning till early afternoon / Winter: whole day

MISC.	Behave friendly and prepare to be asked by the maintenance staff what you are doing. Do not loiter around and take all your litter with you. During my visits I did not have any problems here, better on weekends where no staff is present.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm Apron = ~150mm / Runway/Approach: >400mm

	Spot #8 – Gate 1 – Approach 07, Taxiway G and AAS Apron
WHERE	After entering Flughafenstraße from the intersection you see after a few meters a gate with the sign “Tor 1”. This is the spot. Parking here is not that possible. For short shot onto the apron you can park roadside after the curve for longer shooting parking along Mühlhauser Straße is better as there are places to use. Be aware of cars passing you when parking or crossing the street!

WHAT	Approaching planes onto Runway 07 and all movements on the apron on the taxiway G. Also parked helicopters from Airbus sometimes depending on the mowed gras or how they parked

TIME	Apron/Taxiway: Afternoon till sunset. Approach: Summer from late morning till early afternoon / Winter the whole day

MISC.	Ladder is nice to have but shooting through the mesh or gaps is possible too for the apron.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm