Victoria Airport - Spotting Guide

Victoria Airport – Spotting Guide

April 21, 2021 - last modified on December 5, 2023

Eventhough Victoria is British Columbia’s capital, YYJ is only a focus city for Air Canada, Pacific Coastal and WestJet and welcomed almost 2 Mio pax in 2019. Airlines include Alaska Airlines (Horizon), Air Canada, Air North, Pacific Coastal and WestJet. Seasonal service includes Sunwing and Viva Aerobus. For movements, you will see about 30 per day, only about 4 of which are commercial jets. Private jet movements are decent, occasionally with Global Express jets and BBJs. There are 2 charter companies based at YYJ with fleets ranging from Beavers to Challengers. Viking Air has a Twin Otter factory on the east end of the airport, new Twin Otters will come back for testing every once and a while.

Written by Grant Gladych. Last Update: January 2021

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
09/27	2.133 m (6.998 ft)
03/21	1.532 m (5.027 ft)
14/32	1.524 m (5.001 ft)
Terminals	One for all airline movements
Spotting Information
Ladder	Helpful for spot 9 and 12 but not really needed.
Car/Public Transport	Cars aren’t needed as bus service runs around the airport
Restrooms	Restrooms available at the terminal, spot 7 (public restrooms) and flying club
Drinks/Food	Best restaurant time wise is Dakota Cafe at the flying club others inclue Spitfire Grill and the Fickle Fig
Hotels	There’s a great hotel overlooking the water in Sidney about 3 mins away from the airport
Season	Summer is the best, but Winter gives good views. However with strong winds and tempetures lower than 0C in the winter it’s nice to have a car
Security	Security is very kind and doesn’t mind what you do, as long as it’s legal
Runway Usage
General Info	09/27 is the main runway but the smaller ones are used for Q400s when the wind is right
09/27	Used for most flights (all jets will be using this runway)
03/21	Prop planes departing
14/32	Prop planes arriving and departing

Observation Lounge - All commercial flights

WHERE	The observation lounge is located inside the terminal before security checks.. Follow the signs to the elevator, which are between starbucks and Tim Hortons, and then go up to the third floor to the observation lounge.

WHAT	Apron 4 & taxiway B

TIME	Any time is okay

MISC.	Food, drinks and restrooms available. The lounge is behind windows.

FOCAL LENGTH	100mm

Photo of the location

Gate 13 - Most commercial flights

WHERE	Get out of the terminal and to the east side, next to a security building. It is next to a gate and security checkpoint along the fence where you have to shot through as well.

WHAT	Taxiway B

TIME	Any time is good

MISC.	Bring ID as the security portal is right across from this spot and can result in security coming to check in. If you are just spotting they are friendly and don’t mind.

FOCAL LENGTH	100 – 250mm

Terminal/Dirt Mounds - Commercial flights (excluding WestJet)

WHERE	There is a small dirt mound with some at the west end of the terminal next to rental cars. You can either walk there from the terminal or if arriving by car you can park at the end of the road on the side because this road is “closed”. The mound offers a clear sight above the airport fence.

WHAT	Taxiway B and de-ice pad.

TIME	Night and afternoon.

MISC.	Dirt mounds made up of dirt contaminated with de-ice fluid

FOCAL LENGTH	100 – 250mm

Willingdon Rd - 09 & 03 departures/27 arrivals

WHERE	Base of runway 03 off of Willingdon Rd and the small road leading to the previous location. It is very close to the road, however, there is space for parking on the side of the road.

WHAT	27 arrivals and 09 departures pass by on Taxiway B, Apron 3 & 03 departures (no 03 arrivals)

TIME	Usually any time is good as it depends on the angle and where the plane is.

MISC.	No need for a ladder as the fence is lowered.

FOCAL LENGTH	737 = 70mm

Willingdon Rd Crosswalk - 09 arrivals

WHERE	Follow the way up from the terminal on Willingdon Rd, pass the Spitfire Grill and the RCAF base. Stop where the crosswalk is and park on the side of the road, but there is limited parking! Stay somewhere on the sidewalk and start spotting.

WHAT	09 arrivals only but with a nice mountain on the back.

TIME	Noon. However, most times work great.

MISC.	Nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	A321 = 200mm 737 = 250mm +

Coastguard - 09 arrivals

WHERE	Continue from the previous location until the next bigger junction. Park your car on the side of the road next to the sidewalk and the powerlines. Cross the road and get up on the mound next to the coastgard building. Swicht along the mound for your preferred angle.

WHAT	09 arrivals only (sky shots).

TIME	Most times work great.

MISC.	If you are planning to drive, there is a driveway that you can park on

FOCAL LENGTH	A310 = 70mm

Pat Bay (CAP5) - Seaplane arrivals/09 arrivals

WHERE	This spot is just a short hump from the previous location at is located at the parking lot for Patrisha Bay Park next to the Coast Guard building.

WHAT	Seaplane arrivals and departures and 09 arrivals. Perfect spot for getting seaplanes or for gettting undercarriage shots of commercial aircraft.

TIME	Best from morning until afternoon.

MISC.	Nice place to relax. There are some picnic tables and public restrooms.

FOCAL LENGTH	737 = 24mm Seaplanes = 200mm – 600mm

Lost Airmen of the Empire Memorial - 09 arrivals/27 departures & military ramp

WHERE	This is a public memorial, north of the airport along Mills Rd. There are some parking lots along the road. From the hill you have a pretty nice overview of the airport.

WHAT	09 arr & dep, 27 arr & dep and military ramp. Perfect for night shots of military aircraft.

TIME	Always backlit, however, Dean Park blocks the light.

MISC.	Pretty quiet place with some benches to sit down.

FOCAL LENGTH	A320 = 175mm

Photo of the location

Chinese restaurant - 09 dep & 27 arr

WHERE	There is a small office complex with a chinese restaurant at end of McDonald Park Rd and Beacon Ave. Park at their lot and walk on the sidewalk to the crashgate.

WHAT	09 departures and 27 arrivals. There is also a Catalina seaplane parked on the ramp.

TIME	Morning and overcast days

MISC.	You can go to Maple Palace and get a bite to eat. Ladders would work well, but aren’t needed as there are large holes in the fence next to the gate.

FOCAL LENGTH	CL350 = 240mm

Base of Runway 27 - 27 arrivals

WHERE	On Sterling Way next to a crash gate behind the 27 approach. Stay next to the first house on the side of the road at the meadow. Leave your car in the nearby neighborhood at Barnes Pl.

WHAT	27 arrivals only.

TIME	All times work well

MISC.	Nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	150 – 200mm

Ballpark - 27 Backtrack

WHERE	Drive westwards from the pervious spot until you see a Baseball field on Ocean Ave W. Park on the side of the road on the gravel area and start spotting. For ground shots you can climb up on the dugout of the field, but the fence is unstable and spiders are everywhere.

WHAT	09 departures and 27 backtracks.

TIME	Noon. However, most times work great.

MISC.	Nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	737-700 = 140mm

Cemetery - 09/27 movements

WHERE	From the previous spots continue on Ocean Ave W until the next junction. Turn right and drive till the end of Canora Rd. next to Shell Aerocenter. There is a small cemetery to the right. There is a trash can to climb up to clear the fence but latter is not really high.

WHAT	All 09/27 movements and and FBO view

TIME	Noon. However, most times work great.

MISC.	For rare movemnets bring a ladder as the trash can may not be available to climb on. Not a problem if you don’t because the fence is slightly lowered.

FOCAL LENGTH	737 = 60mm G-IV = 90mm

Shell Aerocenter- Private Jets

WHERE	There are several gaps around the Shell Aerocenter (next to the previous spot) where you can shot their ramp.

WHAT	Private Jets and Helicopters

TIME	Noon. However, most times work great.

MISC.	Be cautious of vehicles for passengers. You can shoot through the fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	KingAir = 60mm 737 = 50mm

Dakota Café - Taxiway S & 03 departures

WHERE	From the previous locations drive to the control tower and park your car there at the Victoria Flying Club. The corner where Purolator trucks park is best due to the lack of slats in the fence. You don’t need to go into the Dakota Cafe next to the tower and stay on the parking area outside, but doing so you can get on to their patio which has a very low fence.

WHAT	Taxiway S and 03 departures

TIME	Morning to noon.

MISC.	If you do go in the restaurant you will need to buy something.

FOCAL LENGTH	737 = 30mm

Photo of the location

Hangars - FBO/Viking

WHERE	Another position where you can get some planes parked on the ramp. From the previous position go south to the World Fuel FBO and end of Hampden Rd next to the Viking Air Hangar. When going to the Twin Otter/Viking Air hangars you can go to then end of the road despite what the sign says.

WHAT	Twin Otters and Private Jets

TIME	Morning to noon.

MISC.	Be cautious of vehicles entering the ramp. Do not bring a ladder as these areas are pretty sensitive, shooting through the fence works great.

FOCAL LENGTH	Citation 560 = 20mm Twin Otter = 50mm