Ulyanovsk Baratayevka Airport - Spotting Guide

Ulyanovsk Baratayevka Airport – Spotting Guide

November 18, 2024 - last modified on October 2, 2024

Ulyanovsk Baratayevka Airport (ULV/UWLL) is a civil airport located roughly 10 kilometers southwest of the center of Ulyanovsk city itsself. The airport links Ulyanovsk area with the bigger Russian cities like Moscow, Sochi and St. Petersburg thanks to services by Aeroflot, Rossia and more. Furthermore, the airport is a training base for the civil aviation institute, which operates the DA-40NG and DA42 aircrafts.

Written by Denis Sergeev. Last Update: 2024

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
02/20	3100mm in use – 3820m total available length
Terminals
T1	There is one terminal in the northwest handling all operations.
Spotting Information
Ladder	It is not recommended to use big metall ladders here, but a small 1-2 step wodden pallet is handy at spot 1+2. The locals positioned one pallet at both these spots though, so you are good to go without normally.
Car/Public Transport	A car is definitely useful to get around ULV airport.
Drinks/Food	There are some shops in the nearby villages, but better bring with you, what you need.
Hotels	There are no real spotting hotels around the airport.
Season	The weather in winter is quite harsh, so we recommend to go here in the months from spring to autumn.
Security	Spotting is not forbidden here, but in generally try to keep a low profile here epsecially once standing along the fence. An aviation security bus drives along the fence every hour making sure that there is no one standing along the fence: they will send you away if they see you (as it is their task to do so), so simply move away from the fence and hide once the bus drives passes by again. Otherwise authorities never bothered spotters here. At spot 3 and 4 keep a low profile in order to avoid attention by local residents walking by and reporting you.
Runway Usage
General Info	The aircraft try to reduce taxiing, so 02 Arrivals and 20 Departures are quite common. Otherwise the aircraft adjust to the wind.

	Spot #1 – Terminal – Apron + All runway movements
WHERE	This point is located at the fence just southwest of the terminal and apron. You can get there by driving to the village of Barataevka, then walking to the point through the field.

WHAT	This spot faces the apron and would thus allow to catch all runway movements basically, but unluckily the grass is very high most of the time (as you can see on the attached Pobeda picture below), so often only 02 Departures work here.

TIME	Early afternoon till sunset roughly.

MISC.	Ladder or wodden pallet is very useful here to clear the fence and some of the bushes/high grass. Locals positioned a pallet by the fence here though, which can be used for spotting. Nothing around, closest facilities are in the terminal or up north in the nearby villages. Heat haze can be an issue on hot days.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm

	Spot #2 – Turning Pad – All runway movements
WHERE	This position is located roughly at the turning pad at the runway’s southern end. You can get to the point by turning into the village of Baratayevka, then moving along a country road along the fields till you get down to the height of the turning pad.

WHAT	From here you can basically spot all runway movements, although 20 Departures might be to high already and some 20 Arrivals may turn earlier.

TIME	From early afternoon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around here. Better bring insect spray with you and wear solid shoes. Heat haze can be an issue on hot days. There is a wooden pallet by the fence put here by the local spotters, standing on which you can rise above the level of the fence. So no ladder needed!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm SS100 departing front shot = 180mm

	Spot #3 – Gas Tanks – 20 Movements + 02 Departures
WHERE	Turn off the busy street connecting Ulyanovsk and the airport just west of the big roundabout northeast of the airport onto a small airport service road. Then make your way down here till you roughly reach the gas tanks as there are less trees here towards the fence and you can spot the runway.

WHAT	From here you can see all 20 Movements (arrivals + departures/line-ups) and also low 02 Departures.

TIME	Sunrise till early noon.

MISC.	At some points you are a bit higher and can just clear the fence, but it will be in the bottom of the pictures most of the times. Nothing around here. Heat haze can be an issue here. Keep a low profile in order to avoid being spotted and reported by the local residents here.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #4 – Gates of Love – 20 Arrivals + 02 Departures
WHERE	On your way to spot 3 on the airport service road you will pass a small gate in the fence, where the spot is roughly located, but feel free to move up and down to search your favourite position. This point got its name from the inscription “gate of love” on the lock as you can see below.

WHAT	From here you can shoot 20 Arrivals and low 02 Departures passing over your head.

TIME	Sunrise till early noon.

MISC.	Closest facilities are in the nearby villages. Keep a low profile in order to avoid being spotted and reported by the local residents here.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm