The St. Gallen Business Airport is located at the north-eastern tip of the Switzerland just at the very edge of the Lake Constance and next to the border of Austria. In consequence of its location, the airport is an important hub for business traveller in this trijunction around the Lake Constance and the eastern part of the Switzerland.

The airfield was opened up back in 1927, serving regular flights to Basle, Innsbruck and Munich which had been interrupted and suspended when the Second World War began. In 1988, after the airfield was being extended, flights to Vienna were commenced which has been the main market of the airport until today. An own brand which should stand for the airport and mainly serve the business traveller was set up in 2010, namely “People’s Viennaline” and it operates scheduled flights to Vienna and some charter flights to holiday destinations. They own a E170 but sometimes they lease aircraft from different operators (e.g Helvetic, Denim Air) Business jets are always to be encountered at the airfield, smaller business jets are being maintained here, too.

Timetable can be find here

Written by Jeremy Denton, Marlin Lehmann and Severin Hackenberger. Last Update October 2021.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10/28	1.500m (4,921ft)
Terminals	One for all operations
Spotting Information
Ladder	No, there is no need for it except at Spot 1.
Car/Public Transport	Car is not neccesary, but makes it easier. Most of the spots can be reached by foot.
Restrooms	Available within easy walking distance inside terminal and at the airport restaurant.
Drinks/Food	There are supermarkets nearby the airport and food is available at the airport’s restaurant.
Hotels	“Bodenseehotel Weisses Rössli” and the “Hotel Restaurant Rank” is very close to the airport. Both hotels may offer a view onto the approach path and Lake Constance.
Season	ACH is very busy during WEF in February but it’s nice to have a stop-over during a journey from Germany to Zurich at any time. Check People’s Viennaline’s timetable because it may is the only movement during your stay.
Runway Usage
10/28	Depends on the wind direction but the operations are usually being dispatched via runway 28.

	Spot #1 – Beside the Terminal hall
WHERE	This spot is situated beside the terminal area at a fence.
WHAT	From this spot you can take pictures of taxiing aircraft and of all Runway 28 movements. You can also photograph Business jets in front of the hangar.
TIME	Afternoon until sunset
MISC.	The terminal is not far from here. Aplenty of public institutions are available here.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-250mm

ACH-Spot 1

	Spot #2 – Face to face with the runway
WHERE	This spot is located just underneath the approach path of runway 10. You can park your car at the roadside of “Dorfstrasse”
WHAT	Apron movements, aircraft taxiing towards the runway and this spot offers view onto the movements on the runway.
TIME	You can take photos all day long from here as there are different angles possible. Light for planes taking off is good in the evening.
MISC.	Fence is lowed at this place due to very low incoming planes just beyond fence.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #3 – Airport restaurant
WHERE	This spot is located inside the terminal in its restaurant. You will get access by entering the terminal hall and proceed right to the restaurant.
WHAT	Apron movements (very close to the action), aircraft taxiing towards the runway and this spot offers view onto the movements on the runway.
TIME	You can take photos all day long from here as there are different angles possible. Light for planes taking off is good in the evening.
MISC.	The restaurant’s view is glazed.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm

ACH-Spot 4

ACH-Spot 4

	Spot #4 – Position Sierra
WHERE	This spot is located at a parking bay for passengers. It is immediately afterwards you have turned onto the terminal access road.
WHAT	There are larger business jets parked on this taxiway which can be photographed from every angle by walking along the fence.
TIME	close to afternoon or evening
MISC.	Terminal is in easy walking distance
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

ACH-Spot 4Bizj

	Spot #5 – Runway view from breakdown lane
WHERE	This spot is located on a breakdown lane of highway A7 to Zurich.
WHAT	From this spot you can take pictures of all Runway 28 movements. You can also photograph Business jets in front of the hangar
TIME	Around noon
MISC.	This spot is to use short-time only. It is illegal to leave your car behind. We are not liable for any inconveniences with any motorists or police
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

ACH-Spot 5

	Spot #6 – Runway 28 arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located on a wet grass during winter time right at the fence. To park the car we recommend you at the OTTO’s public parking place which is free however if you are too lazy to walk a good 7-19 minutes and carrying your ladder to the spot you can eventually park your car right next to the road. There’s a little breach between the road and a wall as mentioned on the map blue lines are the entry/exit points. Be aware you can’t crossed any cars it’s a one way go.
WHAT	From this spot you can take pictures of all Runway 28 movements. A ladder is needed to be above the fence. Runway 10 arrivals and departures OK.
TIME	Summer: 1100-1700 – heat haze can be a problem for smaller props. Winter: 0800-1600
MISC.	Be aware you may be kicked out by the police at any time if you keep your car at this location therefore we recommend a short stop.
FOCAL LENGTH	GLEX = 82mm / CJ3 = 140mm /  C152 = 300mm

ACH-Spot6

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	Spot #7 – Gate
WHERE	This spot can be found just by the roadside of “Hauptstrasse 7” as it is a gate in the fence or just the fence, wherever you want to stand. It can be reached quite hardly as parking is a big issue right there and it is hard to rech by foot only…
WHAT	Runway 28 arrivals and Line-Ups as well as the apron on the other side, where you can see some DHC or Beeches sometimes…
TIME	From late morning till afternoon in summer. In winter all day.
MISC.	Only stopping by the roadside possible right there, nothing nearby and quite dangerous. Ladder might be useful if you have wide lenses – some lenses fit thru the holes in the gate. Heat haze is a big problem especially in summer.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-400mm DHC6 and B1900 on the other side = 330mm

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