Karlsruhe Baden-Baden Airport (FKB/EDSB) or Baden Airpark is the second largest Airport in the State of Baden-Württemberg and number 17 in Germany. The former Canadian Air Force Base nowadays serving mainly low fare airlines and charterflights.
Most of the traffic is generated by Ryanair, which has a base here. Other Airlines serving FKB are Corendon Airlines, Eurowings, EnterAir, TUI and Wizzair. Beside the Passanger flights there a weekdaily freight flights with mainly Air Est Saab 340F and Swiftair EMB120. The Airport is also busy with businessjets, especially by the local residents e.g. ACM Air Charter. The Airport is also Maintenance and Rescue Base of DRF Air Rescue with Helicopters and their Learjets. At the Airport you also find the “Deutsch-Kanadisches Luftwaffenmuseum” which shows planes of the past.
The best time to go for spotting is during the summer as there is the most traffic and the light is up longer.
Written by Patrick Weis, Gerrit Griem and Alex Zur (regular visitors). Last update: September 2024 (Spot 5-7)
| Rating |
| Movements |
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| Airline Variety |
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| Photo Locations |
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| Weather |
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| Airport Information |
| Runways |
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| 03/21 |
3.060 m (10.040 ft) Concrete |
| Terminal |
One for all operations |
| Spotting Information |
| Ladder |
At some spots 3 steps are necessary. See descritption for details. |
| Car/Public Transport |
Public transport is not really an option at FKB so a car is recommend. But if you are good on foot you can walk from the terminal to almost spots #1 till #6, with a maximum of 30minutes to #1. |
| Restrooms |
Nothing directly at the spots except some bushes. |
| Drinks/Food |
There are plenty of restaurants at the surrounding villages and a ALDI supermarket in Hügelsheim. |
| Hotels |
One B&B Hotel directly at the terminal and some smaller ones in the surrounding villages. |
| Season |
The best months to travel are during summer as there is not that much rain and most (charter) traffic. |
| Runway Usage |
| 03/21 |
Depends on the wind. There is no major runway direction. |
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Spot #1 – 21 arrival evening |
| WHERE |
This spot is located on the side of a paved road named Cabot Trail. You can access it from the golf course entrance on the western side of the airport or from the terminal access road named “Dieter-Rückle-Straße”. Search for the angle you like and park next to the road and don’t block it. The street is quite busy due to the Golf Course which is just next to the spot. |
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| WHAT |
This spot is good for aircraft arriving into Runway 21 only. |
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| TIME |
Best light conditions are from 16:00 till sunset |
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| MISC. |
No Facilities here. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-200mm (depends on the angle you like) |
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Spot #2 – 21 arrivals morning |
| WHERE |
This Spot is located at the Cabot trail (paved) corner Dieter-Rückle-Straße. Park your car as marked on the map and walk to the angle you like. |
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| WHAT |
This spot is good for all morning arrivals on Runway 21 only. |
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| TIME |
Best light conditions are from sunrise till 13:00. |
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| MISC. |
No Facilities at this spot. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-200 (also closer possible) |
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Spot #3 – Line up Runway 21 early morning |
| WHERE |
Close to #2 so park your car as marked on the map at the corner of Cabot trail (paved) and Dieter-Rückle-Straße and walk up the fence along the Cabot Trail until you reach the angle you prefer. |
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| WHAT |
This spot is good for line up shots on runway 21 in the early morning hours. You need a step ladder of at least 3 steps here to get above the fence. |
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| TIME |
Best light conditions are from sunrise till 10:00. |
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| MISC. |
No facilities at this spot. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-200mm |
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Spot #4 – Apron view |
| WHERE |
This spot is located next to the apron entrance gate along the perimeter fence. Park your car as marked on the map for a short stop. If you plan to stay longer use the official parking at terminal.
OCT 2023: Unfortunately, this spot is unuseable as of now due to a new gate/fence installed in the front. Be prepared to end up before locked doors here. |
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| WHAT |
Parked aircraft on the apron and also shots for planes on the taxiway and runway are possible. Stay only for your shots and don’t stay there too long. A ladder is needed for this location. |
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| TIME |
Best light conditions are from sunrise till 13:00 depends how they parked. This spot is really good for nightshots too. |
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| MISC. |
Everything you need within the terminal. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
18-80mm for the parked Aircrafts and 70-400 for taxiway and the runway |
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Spot #5 – Viewing Area |
| WHERE |
This spot is located outside on the right of the terminal and is an official elevated viewing platform. Park at the official parking spots and follow the signs to the visitor hill “Besucherterasse” next to the terminal. |
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| WHAT |
This spot is for runway movements in both directions during the morning hours. That spot is not ideal for spotting as the view is really limited and blocked by ground equipment. |
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| TIME |
Best light conditions are from sunrise – 13:00. |
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| MISC. |
Everything you need within the terminal. No ladder needed. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
50-400mm |
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Spot #6 – GAT – DRF and GAT apron + 03/21 movements |
| WHERE |
This spot is the ramp of the DRF and only good for a short stop. It is located at the Aerolub carpark at the end of Lavel Avenue which you can access from the airport main road. Park your car at their carpark and take your shots. |
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| WHAT |
This spot is good for catching helicopters parking on the DRF apron as well as the GAT apron. Plus, one can also spot the runway with all its movements. |
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| TIME |
Runway from sunrise till late noon. Apron works all day in theory, but depends on how the aircraft are parked. |
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| MISC. |
Nothing at this spot. Everything you need within the terminal. A ladder is very useful, but spotting also works thru the fence mesh. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
40-300mm |
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Spot #7 – 03 arrivals morning |
| WHERE |
Follow the “Leiberstunger Straße” until you see the signs for the MC Stollen an offroad track. Park your car at the entrance of this and walk up to the fence and find the angle you like. There is a small gate which is open and leads to a footpath to the terminal. |
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| WHAT |
All arrivals on runway 03 only. |
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| TIME |
Sunrise till 13:00. |
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| MISC. |
Nothing at this spot |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-400mm |
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Spot #8 – 03 arrivals evening |
| WHERE |
Same as above. Follow the “Leiberstunger Straße” until you see the signs for the MC Stollen. Park your car at the entrance of this and walk up on the path to the west as marked on the map until you reach the perimeter fence. |
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| WHAT |
All arrivals on runway 03 only. |
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| TIME |
16:00 till sunset |
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| MISC. |
Nothing at this spot. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-400mm |
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Spot #9 – Helipad |
| WHERE |
When coming from the terminal, pass the B&B hotel on your left and continune south on “Halifax Avenue B”. Follow this street to its end where you will end up in front of an barrier next to some concrete obstacles which keep unauthorized cars from driving onto the apron. Just next to this you will find some parking spots close to a long term parking area, leave your car there and search your favourite position around here along the front. |
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| WHAT |
In the former shelter here is a company which is maintening helicopters and some local police helicopters are also based here. That’s why you will have nice helicopter movements here and sometimes even outside parked aircraft. |
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| TIME |
Depends on the aircraft’s exact position, but mostly it is best in the morning. |
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| MISC. |
Nothing around, closest facility is the terminal. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
30-200mm |
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Well, I live nearby and can say: This airport is nothing special anymore. Only WizzAir and Ryanair land and take off there. And very rarely during the day