Ireland West Airport Knock - Spotting Guide

Ireland West Airport Knock – Spotting Guide

February 22, 2020 - last modified on February 5, 2024

Ireland West Airport Knock (IATA: NOC, ICAO: EIKN), is an international airport located 5.6km south of Charlestown, Co. Mayo and 20km north of Knock, in the heart of the west of Ireland. It is Ireland’s 4th busiest airport, handling 807,000 passengers in 2019. It has 1 newly renovated terminal, with a single, 2300 metre runway, designated 26-08. It is the highest airport in Ireland, at 665FT above sea level, bringing challenging weather all year round. The airport has 3 scheduled airlines: Ryanair, Flybe & Aer Lingus, who fly to over 16 destinations in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK. March 2020 will see the launch of Lauda Air using their A320 to Palma de Mallorca. The airport also see’s frequent charter flights in the Summer season to destinations such as Lourdes, Croatia, Bosnia and Spain, which brings a wide variety of rare charter airlines including AlbaStar, Enter Air and Trade Air.

There is also an aircraft dismantling facility at the airport, which Air France has planned to use for 4 of its A380s by 2022.

Tower (also handles approaches) – 130.700MHZ ATIS – 118.525MHZ

Written by Nathan Gray and James Mulroy (Spot 7). Last change: January 2024 / Spot 7 added

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08/26	2.300 m (7.546 ft)
Terminals	One for all flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not required
Car/Public Transport	Only methods of getting to the airport are by air, bus or car. A car is recommended for those who don’t like walking for more than a kilometre. If travelling by air or bus, most spots can be reached within 20-30 minutes of walking from the terminal.
Restrooms	Nothing around at the spots. Only available in the terminal.
Drinks/Food	In the terminal, there is a restaurant upstairs with great views overlooking the apron, as well as a small shop downstairs.
Hotels	Local B&B nearby in Charlestown (5km away). Other hotels available further away.
Season	Late summer is typically best for weather. First months of the year can bring ice and snow. Low clouds and fog surround the airport for many days of the year.
Runway Usage
08/26	RWY26 is used predominantly throughout the year due to the prevailing winds. 08 occasionally used for eastbound departures and infrequent easterly winds.

	Spot #1 – Unnamed Road – RWY26 arrivals + RWY08 departures
WHERE	From the N17, turn onto the R376 heading towards the airport. About 1km up the road there will be a small paved lane to the left. Follow it up to the top of the hill and you will find yourself at the perimeter fence. Turn left, following the fence around towards the south of the runway (the road will become unpaved and bumpy). As you continue on, you will notice the road rises up level with the runway and you will see a small gate. You can use the pillars of the gate to stand on to clear the fence.

WHAT	This is the best location as you can easily photograph all runway movements.

TIME	In winter you can spot the whole day from here. In summer backlit in the morning and evening hours.

MISC.	It is about a 30 minute walk from the terminal, so bring anything you need before you go.

FOCAL LENGTH	55 – 250mm. (A320 – 135mm, Gulfstream – 195mm, A380 – 82mm)

	Spot #2 – Unnamed Road – RWY26 arrivals
WHERE	Take the same route to the airport and about 1km up the road there will be a small paved lane to the left. Follow it up to the top of the hill and you will find yourself at the perimeter fence. Turn left, following the fence towards the approach lights, there is space to park on the side of the road. Place your self along the approach path

WHAT	All arrivals on RWY26.

TIME	Perfect for the whole day as you can easily switch between the sides. Good sky conditions are needed for shooting non-backlit photos underneath the glideslope)

MISC.	It is about a 25 minute walk from the terminal, so bring anything you need before you go.

FOCAL LENGTH	15 – 100mm. (Dash 8 – 18mm)

	Spot #3 – Unnamed Road – RWY26 arrivals and departures
WHERE	Take the same route to the airport and about 1km up the road there will be a small paved lane to the left. Follow it up to the top of the hill and you will find yourself at the perimeter fence. Turn left, following the fence along the Runway. About 200m down, there will be a mound on the left hand side where you can stand on.

WHAT	All arrivals on RWY26, and departures turning around at the end of the runway.

TIME	In winter the approach is backlit the whole day and in the summer only usuable during the early morning hours and in the evening. The Turning point is okay from afternoon till sunset.

MISC.	It is about a 25 minute walk from the terminal, so bring anything you need before you go.

FOCAL LENGTH	70 – 250mm. (Fokker – 220mm, A320 – 110mm)

	Spot #4 – Unnamed Road – RWY26 arrivals and RWY08 departures
WHERE	Take the same route to the airport and about 1km up the road there will be a small paved lane to the left. Follow it up to the top of the hill and you will find yourself at the perimeter fence. Turn right, and you will find a large Blue water container and a small building. On the right of that the ground is raised, giving clear views of the runway.

WHAT	All arrivals and departures on RWY26.

TIME	In winter it is backlit the whole day. In the summer only usable during the early morning hours and in the evening.

MISC.	It is about a 25 minute walk from the terminal, so bring anything you need before you go.

FOCAL LENGTH	150 – 250mm. (A320 – 220mm)

	Spot #5 – Unnamed Road – Main Apron Movements
WHERE	Take the same route to the airport and about 1km up the road there will be a small paved lane to the left. Follow it up to the top of the hill and you will find yourself at the perimeter fence. Turn right, pass spot 4 and follow the fence down towards apron fence.

WHAT	All movements on the Main Apron (all commercial traffic.).

TIME	For the ramp in the morning hours. Depends a bit on the angle you wanna photograph.

MISC.	It is about a 30 minute walk from the terminal, so bring anything you need before you go.

FOCAL LENGTH	18 – 300mm. (Enter Air B738 – 18mm, Aer Lingus A320 (Green– 300mm)

	Spot #6 – Car Park Exit – Runway Movements
WHERE	Park your car at the terminal and head towards the end of the car park where the exit is. Go through the barriers and there will be a road immediately on the left that is no longer available to drive on. Follow the road up the hill and at the top there will be a view of the full runway.

WHAT	All runway movements.

TIME	In winter it is backlit the whole day. In the summer only usable during the early morning hours and in the evening.

MISC.	Parking outside of the car park is available if you don’t wish to pay.

FOCAL LENGTH	100 – 300mm. (Fokker – 150mm, Citation – 300mm).

	Spot #7 – Hangar – Apron Bravo
WHERE	Located of the R376 Drive straight through the airport roundabout coming from the N17 side instead of turning left into the airport. About 200 meters after the roundabout turn left and park beside EirTrade (don’t park in EirTrade as its private property but park beside it) Climb up onto the grassy mound to take pics of aircraft located on apron Bravo. About a 15 minute walk from main terminal.

WHAT	Apron Bravo (All aircrafts here are for dismantling)

TIME	Depends on the position of the aircraft. Usually in the morning but in general you are facing the sun.

MISC.	Nothing close.

FOCAL LENGTH	Depends on the postion of the aircraft but not more then 100mm needed.