Aberdeen International Airport (Scottish Gaelic: Port-adhair Eadar-nàiseanta Obar Dheathain) (IATA: ABZ, ICAO: EGPD) is an international airport, located at Dyce, a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, approximately 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) northwest of Aberdeen city centre. Roughly 3 mio passenger using the airport yearly.

The airport is owned and operated by AGS Airports which also owns and operates Glasgow and Southampton Airports. It was previously owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings (formerly known as BAA).

The airport serves as the main heliport for the Scottish offshore oil industry. With the utilisation of newer aircraft, helicopters can reach northern most platforms on both the East and west of Shetland areas. However, helicopters frequently use Wick, Kirkwall, Scatsta and Sumburgh for refuelling stops.

The airport has one main passenger terminal, serving scheduled and charter holiday flights. In addition, there are three terminals dedicated to North Sea helicopter operations, used by Bristow Helicopters, CHC-Scotia, and Bond Offshore Helicopters. There is also a small terminal adjacent to the main passenger terminal, Broomfield House, used primarily for oil company charter flights to Scatsta in Shetland, operated by Eastern Airways.

Written by Peter Adam  (based in Scotland) and Gerrit Griem. Last visit October 2021.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
16/34	3.623 m (11,887 ft)
Terminals	One for all operations
ATC	APP: 119.05    TWR: 118.1
Spotting Information
Ladder	Any UK Airport a ladder up against a fence is a bad idea and is forbidden.
Car/Public Transport	Spots 1-3 are in walking distance to the termianl and the other ones are reachable by public tranpsort except #6.
Restrooms	Not much around the spots itself.
Drinks/Food	There is a supermarket at 4/5/7 but thats it. Not much around.
Hotels	The major chains are south of the terminal.
Season	Any time of the year  the traffic is more or less the same but if you come in winter then wrap up well as Aberdeen not the warmest place and gets pretty cold. Be aware that in the summer you have much more sun hours than in the winter.
Runway Usage
16/34	Runway 16 seems to be the runway used the most.

	Spot #1 – The Car Park / Bristol CHC Helicopters
WHERE	Cross the road from the terminal there’s a elevator that takes you up to the car park.
WHAT	Bristol CHC Helicopters shots plus Eastern head on push-back shots sometimes cargo planes parked up at the ATC Tower.
TIME	Depends on the angle but better in the afternoon.
MISC.	You will notice there’s a convenient grass embankment that runs covers the whole fence you can shoot stuff close up however OVERSTAYING YOUR TIME here will mean you will be shifted by security very fast so if something is parked up then try be discrete if you venture here.
FOCAL LENGTH	Between 200 & 300 mm, up at the fence 24 to 70 mm

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	Spot #2 – Fence 34 line ups
WHERE	From the terminal follow south up past the bar left hand side then go through the tunnel for the people. Follow this up till the end then take a left then a left again hotel on your right hand side follow the path up to the end of the international ramp. A Bus shelter on a mound can be seen on your left where you can stay. Update Oct. 2021: The former “bus shelter lookout” is no longer available. For the line up spot go to the fence is 5 minutes walk from there. Just follow the same path as far as it goes.
WHAT	Ramp shots taxiway shots departures 16/34 and also night shots in the dark nights as well from here you can make great head on pics very close up. Line up spot, 16 vacating shots 34 arrivals line ups.
TIME	From afternoon until sunset.
MISC.	You need to shoot through the fence. If you visit here in winter then the track becomes icy so take care.
FOCAL LENGTH	24 to 200 mm depend by taxi, line up or runway

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	Spot #3 – 16 Line ups arrivals
WHERE	From the terminal follow the road north past the helicopter hangars  you will pass the terminals CHC Bristol follow the track takes about 20 mins walk  then on your right hand side there’s a patch of grass you can get nice close up pics of helicopters taxing here as well.
WHAT	Arrivals on 16  and 16 Taxiway holding shots also there’s S 92S EC 224S Parked up here so you get close up helicopter shots.
TIME	From afternoon until sunset.
MISC.	You need to shoot through the fence. There’s nothing here so take what you need. Plus it can become noisy here also as the helicopters are a few feet away.
FOCAL LENGTH	Line up land 70-200mm & taxi 24-50mm

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	Spot #4 – Grass Mound 16 arrivals Morning Only
WHERE	Get to Dyce Railway station and park there. Space is limited at the location itself as its mainly private. From there is a bridge which takes you to the site from the airport where the spots are situated. The spot is about 5 minutes away on foot. There is a mound where you can climb up so no ladder is needed.
WHAT	As you are in the middle of the runway all movements are possible to photograph form here, even the helicopter landings.
TIME	From sunrise until 1100. In winter almost zero light on this side.
MISC.	There’s nothing here so take what you need.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm aircraft  / Helicopter 200-400 mm depending on angle

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	Spot #5 – The crash gate & Bond
WHERE	2 mins walk from spot 4 infact you pass it.
WHAT	Helicopter close up shots  bizjet static shots.
TIME	From sunrise until 1100. In winter almost zero light on this side.
MISC.	This spot is good for overcast days  its backlit in the afternoons. Also there’s a hotel  across the road with a restroom.
FOCAL LENGTH	Parked up 737 18 mm / 70-200mm  bizjets /18 mm helicopter up at the fence hangars.

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	Spot #6 – Dyce Rd – 16 arrivals
WHERE	From the airport get on the Dyce Drive and drive all the way up. There  is an unamed parallel street where you can stand higher to get a better angle for arriving planes/helicopters. Just park you car on the side and start your session.
WHAT	16 arrivals only.
TIME	From afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. Parking is no problem.
FOCAL LENGTH	ATR72 = 250mm

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	Spot #7 – Roundabout – 16 arrivals
WHERE	The spot is at the roundabout at the end of Kirkton Drive. Easily to reach from the airport via dyce rd (spot #6). Dont park your car in front of the gates in the roundabout there are a lot of parking places. By Public get off at Dyce Station (same as 4 and 5) and walk for approximate 20 minutes to this location.
WHAT	16 arrivals only.
TIME	From sunrise till around 11:00. In winter almost zero light on this side.
MISC.	Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	ATR72 = 220mm, Helicopter from 240mm

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