Weeze Airport - Spotting Guide

Weeze Airport – Spotting Guide

August 19, 2021 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Weeze Airport (NRN/EDLV), rather known as “”Niederrhein Airport”” is a minor regional airport located 5km nearby the municipality Weeze. Until the year 1999, it was used as a military airfield operated by the Royal Air Force Germany as “”RAF Laarbruch””. From 2003 on, Ryanair acquired the airport’s main facilities and opened a base with a few of their aircraft right there, which stresses the importance of Weeze and its low-cost traffic. A few holdovers from the British occupation can be recognized by the high number of army barracks around the field and the RAF-Laarbruch Museum, which hosts a lot of British warbirds. NRN has one runway (09/27) with a length of 3.000 meters and two parallel taxiways. In the north of the airfield, there is a solar park located and a storage area, where the 16 FlyBe-DHC400 are parked. In the south of the airport, the main facilities are placed. The main terminal, where restrooms, a few shops, and a coffee bar can be found.

Weeze also has a large firefighter training area with an ATR42’s fuselage, a former Bell 212-helicopter’s fuselage, and two dummies. In the year 2019, Weeze served more than 1,3 million passengers, which are mainly flown by Ryanair: Ryanair carries as the main carrier at NRN the most significant proportion of passengers, furthermore Air Arabia and Corendon Airlines are operating a few charter flights due to the summer season.

When you arrive at the airport, don’t be afraid of the payment barrier, this is something common and regular at Weeze.

Written by Johannes Fiedler (follow him on Instagram). Last Update: June 2021

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
09/27	2.400m/7.874ft of asphalt
Terminals	There is only one passenger terminal here handling all activities.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Mostly needed on every spot and highly recommed.
Car/Public Transport	Only spot 1 at the terminalt is reachable by car and public transport (Bus 490). For all other spots you have to walk from the first location.
Drinks/Food	Drinks and food can be purchased in the terminal. Besides that, it’s recommed to bring everything you need to the spot by yourself.
Hotels	The nearest hotel is situated nearby the airport and called “Best Deal Airporthotel”, other hotels can be found in the city of Weeze.
Season	We would recommed the summer months.
Security	Although no problems with the security have been reported yet, always carry an ID-card with you! The security staff might ask you about your intention, please just briefly explain what you are doing.
Runway Usage
09/27	Departures vacate mostly via 09-direction, while arrivals always come in by 27-direction.

	Spot #1 – Terminal – Ramp View
WHERE	This spot is located next to the main terminal and the main facilities. You can simply get there by public transport and car, is requires just a five-minutes’ walk.

WHAT	Ramp area and main terminal are visible from this spot. The main apron is mostly frequented by Ryanair, sometimes if you’re lucky you can get a nice Executive jet.

TIME	Useable from early morning on until midday.

MISC.	A ladder is needed due to the double-fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	Parked 738 on the apron > wide-angel lense or up to 10mm-50mm.

	Spot #2 – Gravel Road – All runway and taxiway movements
WHERE	This spot is located right next to runway, a small dirtpath nearby the fence. This spot is no exact position, you can choose the spot by your preferences. Spot cannot be reached by car and you have to walk form the terminal parking to this location on the dirtparth. Access to it is next to the airports gas tanks.

WHAT	All taxi- and runway movements on RWY 09/27. Late departures on runway 27 as well.

TIME	Useable from early morning on until high noon.

MISC.	A ladder is required. Uncut grass can be a problem in summer!

FOCAL LENGTH	Boeing 737-800 on taxiway >wide angle lens; on runway >30mm

	Spot #3 – Fence – Line-Up 09
WHERE	This spot can be found at the end of the runway. It’s just possible to get there by foot, so keep on following the small dirtpath from the previous spot right next to the fence. As you will reach the runway’s ending, you have to turn right between to a small path. Don’t follow the left one, keep on going next to the fence! The route is not contained in Google-maps, so it can only indentified by the satellite map. There are “no passage” sings installed at the street from the terminal so it is up to you if you use a car or not. We recommend to walk on the dirt path as described above.

WHAT	Lineup on RWY09 on summer evenings.

TIME	Useable in the summer season (march-september) from late noon on.

MISC.	Heat haze can be a problem in summer.

FOCAL LENGTH	B738 on the taxiway> 100mm

	Spot #4 – Parookaville Area – All runway movements
WHERE	At the northern side of the airport nearby the “Parookaville” area, pictures of the runway on late summer evenings can be taken. As you have reached spot #3, just follow along the fence on the dirtpath/sandpath. After a half-hour, you’ll reach the other side of the airport. Right there, you should be able to walk next to a taxiway. Along the fence, choose your different angle by your preference.

WHAT	Arrivals and departures on RWY09 and late 27 departures and 27 arrivals vacating.

TIME	Only useable on late summer evenings.

MISC.	As already mentioned, you are only able to take photos on late summer evenings.Heat haze can be a problem!

FOCAL LENGTH	B738 on the runway: >50mm

	Spot #5 – Storage Ramp
WHERE	As the directions of spot #3 and 4 have been given you, follow the small dirtpath along the fence. After further 10 minutes, the first of right now 8 Dashs operated by FlyBe will stand next to you more less parallel to the taxiway.

WHAT	To date (June, 2021) eight former DHC-400 op. by FlyBe are parked on the taxiway, including three wearing the old livery, four wearing the new livery. G-JECP, the only aircraft which carried the newest livery, is stored there as well. Furthermore, all Dashs are still carrying the former registrations and are stored with full c/s and titles.

TIME	Useable in the summer season (march-september) from late afternoon on.

MISC.	A ladder is needed and really necessary. Because of the short distance, heat haze won’t be that of a problem.

FOCAL LENGTH	A wide-angle lens is useful.