Pescara Airport - Spotting Guide

Pescara Airport – Spotting Guide

September 17, 2022 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Pescara Airport (PSR/LIBP) is a small airport on the eastern shore of Italy, across the city of Rome. The airport is located 3km southwest of the city centre and was opened in 1917. Nowadays it handles ~700.000 passenger a year.

Spotting is not difficult, but the amount of movements is very low. That’s why some airplanes spontaneously take the other runway, so ATC radio is useful. You can expect some commercial services by Ryanair, ITA and Co, but Pescara is interesting due to its Vigili del Fuoco base here (Helicopters and CL415) as well as Guardia di finanza with several helis (like Aw139), Carabinieri with NH500 and Guardia Costiera with ATR42 as well as helis. However, sometimes helicopter come from Monteprandone which is a helicopter maintanance facility 50 miles north of Pescara as well as Frosinone Air Base to make some checks or training here – PSR is quite and offers enough space for aircraft to make crew training or whatever, so you can regularly see aircraft making patterns here.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Gian Marco Anzelotti on behalf of Pescara spotters. Last Update: 2022

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
04/22	2420 x 45m
Terminals
T1	One terminal handling all operations.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Would be very useful at some points, but the police does not like it at all as spotting is uncommon here, so please shoot thru the mesh.
Car/Public Transport	Pescara is very difficult without a car, you can use a motorbike because you never know the runway in use and usually they change the runway on final. It is faster and smaller than a car, but that’s fine as well.
Drinks/Food	There are some restaurants, bars and shops all around the airport.
Hotels	No spotting hotels here.
Season	Summer is better due to some charters. The heat may lead to some additional flights by the Vigili del fuoco (firefighters) however also haze/heat distortion.
Security	Spotting here is normally no issue and unless you do not show off with your equipment, there should not be any issues with criminals either. However, always keep an eye on your stuff, never leave it unattended in your car.
Runway Usage
General Info	Arrivals mostly use 22, takeoffs 04 due to terrain clearance and wind reasons. Generally commercial traffic prefers runway 22 because it is the only IFR runway. GA use preferably 04 because the wind blows from the sea.

Citroen car dealer - 22 Arrivals

WHERE	Located in Via Albegna next to a Citroen car dealer and big parking area for some free space to shoot. Just park by the roadside around here and position yourself on the big parking area.

WHAT	Perfect for 22 arrivals.

TIME	Sunrise till late noon.

MISC.	Some shops in the surrounding houses. Place is safe both during weekdays and weekends, but stow your expensive equipment, do not show off. You are in an industrial area.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm B738 = 60mm

Ponte - 04 Departures

WHERE	This spot is tough. It is located on a bridge over some tracks along Via Vicenza. Parking is possible on the east on some dirt by the roadside here. Then just only come up here quickly for spottig and leave again – do not stay upon the bridge all time!

WHAT	Best for 04 departures, 22 arrivals are tough. Ponte it is not too far for commercial aircraft like A319/B738, for small prop and helicopters it is useless.

TIME	Sunrise till late noon.

MISC.	Heat haze is a huge issue in summer. Be careful with the cars on the busy bridge, do not wonder when being humped at.

FOCAL LENGTH	150-400mm B738 = 200mm

AeroClub Pescara - Apron 2 + 04 Departures + 22 Arrivals

WHERE	This position is located in between an old abandoned hangar and the fence next to the building/hangar of AeroClub Pescara. Turn off the main highway SR5 and head for the old hangars west of the street. You can stop your car directly in front.

WHAT	Here you can nicely see Apron 2 (with GA as well as police/governmental institutional helicopters) in front as well as 04 departures and 22 arrivals.

TIME	Sunrise till late noon.

MISC.	Haze and foreground clutter are an issue here. Keep a low profile as you are close to the military area! Follow instructions if asked to leave and stay polite! Do not use a ladder and do not hang around here with your camera. Nothing around here.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm

Airport Parking - 04/22 Movements + Apron 1

WHERE	Located in the airport’s main car park area, this spot is close to the terminal. Thus it can be reached well by public transport as well. Just head for the fence in the parking area then offering the best view at this spot.

WHAT	You can see the stands 3-6 of Apron 1 as well as the taxiway/runway behind.

TIME	Runway/Taxiway: sunrise till noon Parking: morning till afternoon, depending on which one it is.

MISC.	Ladder not recommended as it attract lots of attention. The fence is mostly made of bricks/stones, but has some fence parts where you can shoot thru the mesh. Ground stuff/foreground clutter is an issue as well as haze. Therefore everything you need is around.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-400mm

Via Vicenzo Muccioli - 04/22 Movements + Apron 1

WHERE	Park by the roadside or in the huge lot of the shopping center and walk up to the fence to the west or the small piece north of the parking lot at the gas station – depending on what you wanna shoot.

WHAT	Taxiway Echo in front as well as the runway 04/22 in the back – plus partly views onto the apron 1 from the gas station. It is theoretically possible to take very nice pictures from here with the Gran Sasso mountain in the back.

TIME	Apron: best around noon Taxiway/Runway: sunrise till late noon

MISC.	A ladder would be useful, but the police does not like this, so rather do not try it – shoot thru the mesh! Haze on the apron and runway is an issue here. A gas station and shopping center with all you need is directly here.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-400mm Apron 1 > 100mm / B738 on taxiway = 30mm

Fence Via D'Ilio - 04/22 Movements

WHERE	Leave the roundabout on and head on Via D’Ilio for the fence passing a sole living house on the left. You need to continue on a dirty road till you end up at the fence/gate. Park a few meters away not blocking the access road and position yourself at the fence.

WHAT	All 04/22 movements on the runway and taxiway.

TIME	Sunrise till noon, aircraft leaving via taxiway Charlie also work during the afternoon.

MISC.	Ladder not recommended rather shoot thru the mesh. Nothing around. Keep a low profile and behave appropiately regarding the neighbours.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-400mm B738 on taxiway = 30mm / B738 on runway = 220mm

Via Chiacchiaretta - 04 Movements

WHERE	Turn of Via Po into the small Via Chiacchiaretta leading to the fence with crashgate No. 5. There is a small playground with some houses nearby from where you can shoot nicely (and park your car easily as well). Alternatively, you can also position yourself in the parking lot of a shopping center a bit southwest of the former spot and choose your position freely – if you have been sent away from the playground.

WHAT	04 Arrivals and backtracks/line-ups and heavy 22 movements may also work.

TIME	Runway is best from sunrise till noon, turning taxiway also in the afternoon.

MISC.	Haze and high grass in an issue making this spot better useable in winter. Arrivals can be shoot above the fence from a few meters away, line-ups/taxiway movements can be shot thru the mesh or the nearby apron gate – no ladder needed. Southwest of this spot you will find some shops. Keep a low profile here to avoid attention as neighbourgs may get suspicious.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

Via Sinello/Salara - 04 Arrivals

WHERE	No exact position, rather the streets Via Salara and Via Sinello. Park somewhere by the roadside in the area and search your favourite position between the trees and power lines.

WHAT	Good for 04 Arrivals.

TIME	Early afternoon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around except two bars north of the spot in the streets directly here. Keep a low profile here to avoid attention as neighbourgs may get suspicious.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm

La Casetta - 04/22 Movements

WHERE	As marked on the map: head towards the E80 highway to Pescara. Once you are already on the driveway up to highway, there should be an exit to the right towards Guardia di Finanza/5° Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri di Pescara. The area is fenced, but in front of the fence there is a small exit onto a dirt road to the right. Drive this way all along between the highway and the fence for 1km to the southwest. Then the road should make a left turn, pass an abandoned house and end up at the fence at a gate with a nice view.

WHAT	Nice view onto the runway and all movements with the terminal in the back.

TIME	Early afternoon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around, ladder useful to get over the fence. Stay away from the fence and do not park the car directly here to avoid attention. Heat haze in summer weeks and the bumpy road on wet days can be an issue.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm F900 = 225mm / CL415 = 170mm

Thanks to Simone Ianni for providing some pictures:

Strada Fosso Cavone - 22 Arrivals

WHERE	This spot is located just next to the highway on a small dirt road before this one crosses the highway. You can simply get here by car from the east and then just park directly and spot here.

WHAT	Nice view onto 22 Arrivals.

TIME	Early afternoon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around, nothing needed. Place is safe both during weekdays and weekends, but stow your expensive equipment, do not show off. You are in an industrial area. Recommended to bring anti insect spray due to nearby tanks!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm

Strada Vicinale Torretta - 22 Arrivals

WHERE	Simply all along Strada Vicinale Torretta here in the industrial area wherever you want to stand. Parking is possible all along the street by the roadside here.

WHAT	Nice view onto 22 Arrivals.

TIME	Early afternoon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around, nothing needed. Place is safe both during weekdays and weekends, but stow your expensive equipment, do not show off. You are in an industrial area. Recommended to bring anti insect spray due to nearby tanks!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm 180mm = B738