Going spotting for the first time at EMA

[Heinz57]

Hi all,

Later this week on Thursday my friend and I will be going spotting/photographing for the first time at East Midlands Airpirt. So I have a few questions, I hope you can help.

So what is the best way to plan the outing? Where is the best place to find the arrivals and departures for the day? I have taken a scouting look on the airport website, but that only has a live feed displaying them for the particular day. Realy we'd like a proper listing that we could easily print off.
Also, is there a way we would beable to find out the active runway in advance? We don't want to go to the end of one and it turn out that the planes are coming from the other direction.
Further to this, does anyone know the best locations? I understand the car park for the museum is near the end of 09 so should provide a good spot. But what about 27? I understand there is a little side road off the A453, is this a suitable location, by that I mean is it allowed. Because I understand the road is also used as emergency access.

We're going to get some photos of bmibaby before they finish. Its early next week isn't it when they shut up shop?

Hope you can help,

Cheers,

Heinz

 

[Don2912]

Heinz,

There are usually quite a few spotters at the fire gate at the 27 end; the access road is quite wide at the perimeter fence, and there is space to park, whilst still allowing access for emergency services.
There is also a picnic area there, complete with tables!

HTH,

Don

 

[Ferret]

Hi all,

Later this week on Thursday my friend and I will be going spotting/photographing for the first time at East Midlands Airpirt. So I have a few questions, I hope you can help.

So what is the best way to plan the outing? Where is the best place to find the arrivals and departures for the day? I have taken a scouting look on the airport website, but that only has a live feed displaying them for the particular day. Realy we'd like a proper listing that we could easily print off.
Also, is there a way we would beable to find out the active runway in advance? We don't want to go to the end of one and it turn out that the planes are coming from the other direction.
Further to this, does anyone know the best locations? I understand the car park for the museum is near the end of 09 so should provide a good spot. But what about 27? I understand there is a little side road off the A453, is this a suitable location, by that I mean is it allowed. Because I understand the road is also used as emergency access.

We're going to get some photos of bmibaby before they finish. Its early next week isn't it when they shut up shop?

Hope you can help,

Cheers,

Heinz

Check the weather forecast! Winds out of the west will mean 27 in use.

As for the picnic area car park at the 09 end - that's wrong side for the sun so not a lot of use if the forecast blue sky materialises.

 

[starrymarkb]

on the morning google "egnx metar" and you should find something that looks like this -

EGNX 040750Z 26013KT 9999 SCT022 16/14 Q1023

The bit you are interested in is the "26013KT" - The first 3 digits are the wind direction in degrees from North and the last two before the KT is the Wind speed in knots. Aircraft usually land into the wind. But there is a cavet

Be advised that a lot of airports operate a preferred runway for noise reasons, this means that aircraft will land with a light tailwind. I don't know the East Mids setup but at Bristol (which I am more familiar with) they will always land on 27 unless the tailwind is greater then 5KTs (also at Bristol the ILS on 09 is of a lower grade meaning Autoland can't be used in low visibility, not to mention the 09 approach is usually turbulent with the hills)

 

[WestCoast]

Where is the best place to find the arrivals and departures for the day? I have taken a scouting look on the airport website, but that only has a live feed displaying them for the particular day. Realy we'd like a proper listing that we could easily print off.

Flightstats will provide that. Here's a link the page for the lists. Enter EMA and the date and time period you require - Thursday is already listed. You can list arrivals or depatures, in the morning or afternoon. Also listed is the scheduled aircraft type. Note that a flight number with the symbol ^ after is a codeshare.

Interestingly enough, from that list I've discovered that Thomson currently uses 767s on all flights from EMA. I'm rather surprised at that.
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We're going to get some photos of bmibaby before they finish. Its early next week isn't it when they shut up shop?

Bmibaby flights are being withdrawn on the 8th and 9th of this month, so basically this weekend.

 

[Heinz57]

Wow, thanks for all your replies. It was just the infomation I was looking for!

@starymarkb, thanks for the infomation. I'll certainly google it tomorow morning

@WestCoast, Thomson are currently using 767s on everything out of ema you say? Quite interesting! I'm looking forward to seeing that then, I do quite like the 767s