VLC-Spot1A
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January 21, 2017Valencia Manises Airport – Spotting Guide
The Airport of Valencia, also called Manises Airport (VLC / LEVC) is a Spanish airport managed by Aena. It is located 8 km west of Valencia, between the municipalities of Manises and Quart de Poblet. Its implementation has contributed to create an important business and tourism center, facilitating the economic development of the areas around it.
Traffic has increased in recent years. After closing the year 2019 with 8.539.403 passengers, 9.9% more than in 2018, when the 7.769.804 million users were reached. In 2019 Valencia had 77,699 operations, 2,5% more than in 2018
Current regular services are offered by Air Europa, Alitalia, British Airways, Easyjet, Eurowings, Evelop, Air Nostrum, KLM, Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair,Brussels Airlines, Swiss, TAP/TAP Express, Transavia, Travel Service, Turkish, Volotea, Vueling, Wizz Air and Lauda
You can check the flight schedule on www.aena.es
Written by Fabrizio Spicuglia and Alejandro Valero Ramírez (local spotters). Major Update March 2020
Rating | |
Movements | |
Airline Variety | |
Photo Locations | |
Weather | |
Airport Information | |
Runways | |
12/30 | 3.215 m (10,548 ft) |
Terminals | |
Terminal 1 – old | KLM, AIr Europa, Vueling, Aeroflot, British, Swiss |
Terminal 2 – new | Ryanair, Easyjet |
Terminal Regional | Air Nostrum , PGA, Air Europa Express |
Spotting Information | |
Ladder | Only on point 4 mandatory and optional on points 6 and 7 |
Car/Public Transport | You need a car to access all the points except those near the terminal that you can access using the subway |
Restrooms | Only at points near the terminal and the point 9 |
Drinks/Food | Only at points near the terminal and the point 9 |
Hotels | Cheap hotels are next to Manises. 200m of the airport there is a Holiday Inn and a Ibis Budget. |
Season | All year round there are rare visits but the best time is summer. |
Runway Usage | |
12/30 | The use of 12 is very rare in winter. 30 is in use most time. In Summer, runway 12 is almost always in use. |
Spot #1 – Terminal Pedestrian Walkway – Ramp | |
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WHERE | Outside of the deparute level at the westernmost corner of the terminal is a pedestrian walkway (1A) that leads down to the ground level. Just find your prefered postions for a view of the ramp. If you go down and continue along the perimeter fence westwards to the cargo terminals you will see a small sheltered cottage (1B). From there you can photograph parts of the cargo ramp as the sight is limited due to noise protection walls. If you arrive by car park at the terminal and walk to the spots. |
WHAT | You can see the regional ramp and the remotes parkings from A. From B you can see the regional ramp,the cargo stands and the taxiway to the terminal. |
TIME | Only in the morning(in summer until 12:00 in winter until a little earlier) and perfect fot night shots |
MISC. | You have everything in the terminal. No need for a ladder, you can shot trough the fence. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm. Gazprom = 200mm,Israir = 230mm,IL76 = 250mm |
Spot 1A:
Spot 1B:
Spot #2 – Cargo – Ramp, taxiway | |
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WHERE | By foot just continue westward till the roundabout and turn left at the roundabout. Then walk till you reach the perimeter fence. By car follow the signs from the terminal to the cargo area and use the same direction. You can park at the end for a short period only because there is no parking allowed. |
WHAT | Can see the UPS aircraft from monday to friday and the planes taxiing to the RWY12 in the mornings. |
TIME | Mornings or night shots. |
MISC. | The passenger terminal is close(900m). No need for a ladder,you can shot trough the fence. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm and 18-55 for the UPS 767. AN12 = 250mm, 767 = 30mm, E35L = 180mm, 737 = 125mm |
Spot #3 – Hillock – 12 movements, taxiway | |
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WHERE | It is located in a hillock next to the industrial estate and a golf course. It can be reached easily. From the airport drive westwards and when you have passed the golf course turn left into the Poligon el Copmtat 3. Park your car roadside and climb up a small mound to shot over the fence. You can see the planes passing by. |
WHAT | You get taxiway N4 for the runway 12 departures and the arrivals on this runway. Some 30 arrivals are possible too if the use the ruwnay exit H7 in front of you and some T4 departures. |
TIME | In the summer only from the moorning until noon for the runway. Taxiway exit only during the evening. |
MISC. | There is a restaurant close to 300m. |
FOCAL LENGTH | A400m = 150mm, AB A320 = 220mm |
Spot #4 – Perimeter Fence – 12 arrivals, line-up | |
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WHERE | It is located 650m from point 3 westwards. Just continue on the same road which partially pretty bumpy. Park the car roadside. There’s no public transport to this place. You need a ladder to clear the fence here! |
WHAT | All aircraft landing on the RWY12(Mornings) and aircraft waiting to line-up(afternoon) |
TIME | Landings in the morning, line-up in the afternoon |
MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot so bring what you need with you. No sun protection! |
FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm. 767 = 135mm, 737 = 165mm, 787 = 270mm |
Spot #5 – Collado – 12 arrivals | |
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WHERE | This location is for all runway 12 movements and you can eather stay in under the header (A) or continue for 200m eastwards (B) for a clear approch view. Following the road along the border of the airport if you are coming from spot #4 otherwise drive from the terminal through the industrial area next to the golf course and then turn left into the Via Camino. Park your car at postion B as there is a small lay by. Postion A is on a small hill so you have a great sight of the runway. There’s no public transport to this place. |
WHAT | RWY12 Landings. Spectacular place where the planes fly about 30 meters high to the point of landing on track 12. Ideal place to live the excitement of seeing planes from very close. |
TIME | From noon to sunset. |
MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot so bring what you need with you. No sun protection! |
FOCAL LENGTH | 55-200mm; 737 = 70mm, AN12 = 90mm, A350 = 55mm, 767 = 65mm, GLF6 = 100mm |
Spot 5A:
Spot 5B:
Spot #6 – Cabecera – 12 arrivals and departures | |
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WHERE |
This location is a few hundred meters eastwards from the previous point. Just follow the airport fence till the next junction diretly at the runway 12 threshold. Park at this corner. You don’t need a ladder to clear the fence as there’s a wall to climb up. In general you can position yourself all along the fence on various elevated postions. If you walk more eastwards (B) you will have some airport buildings as a background. You have more or less parts of the fence in your picture at these two postions. Depends on which angle you wanna photograph. |
WHAT | Runway 12 arrivals and departures. |
TIME | From noon to sunset. |
MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot so bring what you need with you. No sun protection! |
FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm |
Spot 6A:
Spot 6B:
Spot #7 – Perimeter fence – 30 departures, taxiway | |
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WHERE |
Just follow the airport fence eastwards until the road makes a right turn. You don’t need a ladder to clear the fence as there’s a place to climb and can shot trough the fence too. There’s no public transport and if you go by car you can leave it parked on a side where it doesn’t bother. Earlier the day you can continue eastwards to B for taxiway photos (need to shot through the fence).
|
WHAT | All the GA traffic takiing off from RWY12 (B) and RWY30 takeoffs (A) |
TIME | From noon to sunset. |
MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot so bring what you need with you. No sun protection! |
FOCAL LENGTH | 55-300mm. E295 = 55mm, GLF6 = 82mm, B747 = 116mm, Plus Utra = 95mm 55-300mm. B747 = 55mm, A340 = 110mm, C25A = 300mm, E190 = 195mm, B737 = 200mm |
Spot 7A:
Spot 7B:
Spot #8 – General Aviation – Ramp | |
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WHERE | The general aviation terminal is on the southern side of the field, on the opposite side of the pax terminal. You can only access the location by car. From the terminal drive eastwards direction Madrid and then to “zoa servicios c comercial” in the roundabout. At the next roundabout take the first exit and drive till the end of the road next to some hangars. It is recommended not to be there for long as airport security does not like that there are people nearby. There`s no public transport to this place! |
WHAT | Citations in maintenance and some aircrafts on the ramp |
TIME | Citations in the morning,GA ramp on the afternoon |
MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot so bring what you need with you. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 55-400. Citations = 150mm, BT67 = 400mm |
Spot #9 – Gas Station – 30 arrivals | |
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WHERE | There are many ways to get to the spot. Its located next to the gas station “Repsol” and a car dealer. Use Exit 347 if you are coming on the A3 heading to Valencia City. Otherwise you can easly walk from spot #10 if the sun has turned around. There is a pedestrian bridge that cross the A3. Park you car next to the car dealer roadside. There’s no public transport to this place. |
WHAT | Arrivals on RWY30 only. |
TIME | From noon to sunset. |
MISC. | At the gas station you can find all kinds of drinks and food. |
FOCAL LENGTH | CRJ = 280mm, 772 = 190mm |
Spot #10 – Pedestrian Bridge – 30 arrivals | |
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WHERE | The spot is on the top of a newly build pedestrian bridge. Park your car in the Calle Manuel Vilar to get access on the bridge of walk from Spot #9. |
WHAT | You’ll see the planes land on runway 30. Also line up is possible in the morning if you have enough zoom (heat!). |
TIME | Only in the mornings from april until september. The rest of the year is backlit all day |
MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot. So bring what you need with you. Some shops and restaurants are in the Av. de Madrid. There’s no public transport and if you go by car you can leave it parked in the street below |
FOCAL LENGTH | E190 = 100mm, 737 on taxiway = 300mm |
Spot #11 – Aldaia camp – RWY30 arrivals | |
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WHERE | This location is in the middle of some field on a farm track. Hard to explain how to get there so it is recommended to use google maps. There are various possible entrances from the main roads onto the farm roads to the fields. Park your car on the side and don`t block the road. |
WHAT | Runway 30 landings |
TIME | From noon to sunset. |
MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot. So bring what you need with you. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 150-600mm. |
¿Para el punto de la gasolinera no hay transporte público? Porque en Google Maps he visto que hay una parada de autobús cerca…
Hola Alicia, soy Spotter de Perú y radico aquí en Valencia desde hace un mes, tenía la misma duda, te comento cómo yo llego hasta ese punto, tendrías que tomar el metro, la línea que va al aeropuerto y bajar en la estación Manises de ahí caminar hasta el punto 10, yo me guío por google maps, relativamente está cerca, llegarás a un puente peatonal muy largo, tienes que seguir por el puente y llegarás al otro lado de la carretera, básicamente terminando el puente está la estación de gasolina, si consigues algún tipo de transporte menor como una bicicleta o un patinete eléctrico te tomaría menos tiempo y esfuerzo llegar, si necesitas más información puedes contactarme en Facebook como Aldo Martinelli, espero haberte ayudado, saludos.
What are the best hotels for spotting at Valencia with unobstructed views. Difficult to tell from the above map.