Tromsø Langnes Airport - Spotting Guide

Tromsø Langnes Airport – Spotting Guide

July 31, 2018 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Tromsø Langnes Airport (TOS/ENTC) is probably the easiest reachable gateway to the lofoten islands and northern Norway. It’s located about 3 kilometers (north-)west of Tromsø city and handled almost 2.3 million passengers back in 2019. It was opened in September 1964 and the new Terminal A was built in 1998. As well back in 1998 (during a main renovation) the runway was extended and two turning pads were added, so even bigger aircraft were able to land and start at Tromsø Langnes Airport.

Nowadays it is one of the most important hubs for Widerøe and Lufttransport. Apart from this, the airport is often served by SAS and Norwegian and common visitors are for example Lufthansa and Helvetic. Sometimes you’ll also meet Titan Airways here or similar charter carrier – mostly during the high-season in summer. The Tromsø Flight academy/university is also based here with its smaller aircraft.

Written by Severin Hackenberger. Thanks to Helmut Schnichels for the photos of spot #1 and #2. Last visit/update: July 2018.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
01/19	2.447m Asphalt
Terminals
Terminal A	This is the northern part, which is newer and where normally all pre-security check actions are held in (Check-In and Baggage drop for example). The Gates 20-25 here are mainly used by Norwegian and SAS.
Terminal B	This is the southern part, which is older. Here you can find the Gates 16-20, which are normally used by Widerøe.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not often needed here. There are almost always alternative spots for the ones, where a ladder is needed.
Car/Public Transport	Public transport in this area is quite okay, a car will be much easier anyway – although parking is often a problem.
Restrooms	Inside the gas stations around the airport or the terminal facilities itself.
Drinks/Food	Between spots 2 and 3 there is a supermarket and burger king.
Hotels	There are a couple of hotels within the city, but around the airport are almost no hotels.
Season	Depending on the kind of pictures you wanna have, but the summer months are mostly better cause of much more hours of sun – in deep winter months you won’t have ANY sun!
Runway Usage
01/19	Used in both direction, but if the wind is weak enough, the runway will be used into the direction of the destinations (example: a flight to Oslo might depart runway 19 even though most aircraft will use runway 01 at the same time, because the way is shorter then).

	Spot #1 – Horsefarm
WHERE	This first spot is located in the “parking” of “Tromsø Rideskole” (a horsefarm), which can be entered via a dirt road on the left side of “Ringvegen” street, if you’re driving into northern direction. From spot #2, keep following “Ringvegen” for about ~2,5km (into northern direction). Shortly before the road turns slowly right and leads you up an elevation through a forrest, exit to the left to the farm, which can be recognized easily cause of a wodden sign above the dirtpath. Then search your favorite position inside the dirty parking area, which can varie depending on your favorite angle for example. To photograph the 19 departures go down the road a bit to the crash gate next to the turning pad.

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 19 and line ups on the turning pad before departing runway 19.

TIME	Depending on the exact angle of the turning aircraft, but light will be mostly better in the morning hours. Runway: From sunrise till noon, which can change extremely during the different months. In summer months the sun won’t even set and in winter months the sun won’t even rise, keep this in mind!

MISC.	You can find everything you need along “Ringvegen” street; there are some stores/gas stations. The farm employees or/and the owners might ask you to leave this area, which is totally understandable. It should be clear, but if so, don’t start discussions or similar, just leave this spot, so it might won’t be closed for all time for our hobby! The farm is a private territory and was “open” for our hobby until now, so annoying behavior is ABSOLUTELY the wrong way to thank those people for their kindness!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

	Spot #2 – Coop hall
WHERE	The second spot can be found inside the parking infront of a Coop storage hall, which is located east of the runway. It can easily be reached from southern direction, where the “862” highway ends up into “Ringvegen” street. After this “meeting”, follow “Ringvegen” stret for about ~450m into northern direction, before turning right to the Coop building(s). The smaller road will lead you up a little elevation first and then to the left onto a big asphalt area. Go to the front of this area and search your favourite spot along the grassborder. Parking might be okay by the side of this area, but the employees might also send you away from here. Then you can stop by the roadside of nearby streets or inside the big parking bay of the nearby shopping stores.

WHAT	All runway (in both directions) and apron activities. If you cross the “Ringvegen” street and go to the fence you can also spot the parked little Prop aircraft on the eastern side of the runway.

TIME	From sunrise till noon, which can change extremely during the different months. In summer months the sun won’t even set and in winter months the sun won’t even rise, keep this in mind!

MISC.	No ladder needed from the parking area, but a ladder is needed for the parked prop aircraft to get over the fence – 67mm also fit through the fence holes. You can find everything you need along “Ringvegen” street; there are some stores/gas stations.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #3 – Kvaloyvegen
WHERE	This spot is located at kinda dead exit of a roundabout along “Kvaløyvegen” street. If you’re coming from the city centrum and just after leaving the tunnelsystem (heading for Tromsø airport or “862” highway), exit the first roundabout (outside the tunnel!) at the 3rd exit into “Kvaløyvegen” street. After around ~200m you’ll reach the next roundabout, which you have to leave at the first exit – this exit is dead and unused (actuality: July 2018). Park your car at this exit or by the roadside of one of the nearby streets and search your favorite position, which can varie depending on your favorite angle for example.

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 01 and aircraft using the turning pad at the runways southern end (mostly heavy 01er departures or heavy 19er arrivals).

TIME	Depending on the exact angle of the aircraft on the turning pad, but light will be mostly better around early noon. Runway: From sunrise till noon, which can change extremely during the different months. In summer months the sun won’t even set and in winter months the sun won’t even rise, keep this in mind!

MISC.	No ladder needed, everything needed inside the terminal and the nearby shops/gas stations.

FOCAL LENGTH

Unfortunately we can’t provide any pictures for this spot yet. If you have some, please don’t hesitate to sent them to us. Anyway, example shot looks like THIS.

	Spot #4 – 862 Roadside
WHERE	This spot is no exact position, rather the area along the “862” highway. Your exact position depends on the moment/angle you wanna picture. You can park your car in a dirt path, if you are coming from the terminal heading “Tromsø Sentrum”. Immediately before passing the tunnel (and with this the runway as well at the same time), there is the mentioned path on your right, which leads down to the sea. Just leave your car there and go back to your favorite spot. For the example pictures we walked down around ~200m the highway to get a better angle.

WHAT	All arrivals on runway 01 as well as line-ups onto runway 01 at some points even without ladder, but maybe with some fence at the lower picture parts. Late rotates on runway 19 might be good as well.

TIME	From late noon till sunset, which can change extremely during the different months. In summer months the sun won’t even set and in winter months the sun won’t even rise, keep this in mind!

MISC.	Heat haze might be a problem on hot days. No ladder needed, everything needed inside the terminal and the nearby shops/gas stations.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm

	Spot #5 – Parking P12
WHERE	This spot is no exact position, rather the area around (t)here. Your exact position depends on the moment/angle you wanna picture and the lenswide you have. The spot is located along the fence in the parking P12 or by the roadside of “Skognesvegen” street on the concrete blocks/pollers. The easiest way to reach this spot is by exiting the “862” highway at the first roundabout after you came down from the bridge at the 3rd exit to “Flypassvegen”. After around ~100m turn left into “Skognesvegen” street and shortly after this you will see the mentioned fence and blocks on your right. You might park your car along the roadside or in the dead-end road on your left. Anyway, stay close to your car, because the police might send you away! If you have no ladder with you, our tip(s) is/are: For runway activities stay on/at the concrete blocks, because spotting fast movements through the fence are kinda difficult. For apron activities go down to the fence, because those can’t be shot from the blocks above due to the high fence.

WHAT	All Lufttransport aircraft (helicopter and Beech 350s) on their apron in front of you as well as parts of the main taxiway and all runway activities.

TIME	Depending on the exact angle of the aircraft on the apron, but light will be mostly better in the afternoon hours. Runway and taxiway: From late noon till sunset, which can change extremely during the different months. In summer months the sun won’t even set and in winter months the sun won’t even rise, keep this in mind!

MISC.	If you use the concrete blocks (shown on the overview shots) you won’t need a ladder. Up to 67mm wide lenses you can also shot kinda through the fence. Everything needed inside the terminal and the nearby shops/gas stations. Heat haze might be a problem on hot days.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm Beech 350 on runway = ~400mm / Beech 350 on apron = ~80mm

The departures were taken from the concrete blocks at the back; the standing B350 from the fence:

	Spot #6 – Skognesvegen
WHERE	This spot is no exact position, rather the area along the fence. Your exact position depends on the moment/angle you wanna picture. The spot is located along the fence, which was built along “Skognesvegen” street. The easiest way to reach this spot is by exiting the “862” highway at the first roundabout after you came down from the bridge at the 3rd exit to “Flypassvegen”. After ~100m turn left into “Skognesvegen” street and follow the street until you reached your favourite position. You can stop by the roadside of this road for parking, but to be sure, stay close to your car.

WHAT	Almost all runway activities as well as the kinda “GAT” in front of you.

TIME	Depending on the exact angle of the aircraft(s) on the apron, but light will be mostly better in the afternoon hours. Runway and taxiway: From late noon till sunset, which can change extremely during the different months. In summer months the sun won’t even set and in winter months the sun won’t even rise, keep this in mind!

MISC.	We used the top of our car to get over the fence and this worked quite well (~1,50m high car is enough); up to 67mm your lens will fit through the fence, otherwise a ladder is needed! Everything needed inside the terminal and the nearby shops/gas stations. Heat haze might be a problem on hot days. Advantage(s) in comparison to spot #7: The distance is not that high, so it’s much better for small aircraft. Heat haze is as well a smaller problem. / Disadvantage(s): It’s much easier here if you have a ladder or an similar object there, which isn’t needed at #7.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm CRJ200 on runway = 320mm

Overview picture was taken without ladder or any else higher object (like a cartop for example, what we used, because we had no ladder with us):

	Spot #7 – Bridge
WHERE	This spot is no exact position, rather the area/way up the bridge on the walkway. Your exact position depends on the moment/angle you wanna picture. The easiest way to reach this area is by following the walkway on the northern/eastern side of the bridge. Example shots were taken from the first look-out “plattform”. If you’re travelling by car, you will have kinda problem, because parking is difficult at TSO. You might stop by the roadside of the dead-end road, which is next to spot #5 on the other side of “Skognesvegen” street. Walking to the mentioned look-out from there will take ~10 min.

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 19, aircraft using the turning pad at the runways northern end (mostly heavy 19er departures or heavy 01er arrivals), as well as late departures on runway 01 (e. g. the shown SAS B738). You might also be able to spot late vacations from runway 01 after arrival.

TIME	From late noon till sunset, which can change extremely during the different months. In summer months the sun won’t even set and in winter months the sun won’t even rise, keep this in mind!

MISC.	No ladder needed and not recommended due to the often STRONG WINDS up there! Keep aware of the bridges border! Everything needed inside the terminal and the nearby shops/gas stations. Heat haze might be a problem on hot days. Advantage(s) in comparison to spot #6: You don’t need a ladder here. The most interesting fact about this spot are the interesting results, which look a bit like “helispotting-shots”. / Disadvantage(s): The distance is much higher, that’s why smaller aircraft are almost unshotable from here. Apart from this, heat haze can get a problem here faster.

FOCAL LENGTH	Depending on your exact position from ~350mm on till ~600mm. For small aircraft like the little Lufttransport Beech this spot is kinda useless!

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Timo

2 years ago

I highly recommend this airport for spotting.
There is not a lot of traffic but the spots are definitely worth it to visit the Airport. Spot 1 and 2 are the best with the mountains in the Background. The bride is also okay but might be some heathaze. Great airport with nice landscape in the Background