The AIRBUS (Hamburg-Finkenwerder - XFW/EDHI)
SPOTTING GUIDE
The following informations are very circumstantial and seemed somewhat confusing. So, first of all: spotting at Hamburg-Finkenwerder (we call this place “Finki”) is pretty easy and we have a number of salients spots there. If you come from outside, you can renounced of a ladder or a rental car. But what you really need is: patience! Finki is not an airport with reliable timetables!!!
On the one hand, you can spend lots of hours for nothing but on the other one, you can catch delicacies (for what you have to travel all around the world) during one day. It is not unfounded, that Finki is worldwide the 3rd important hotspot in the matter of airline industry (after Seatle and Toulouse).
Unfortunately, there are no public informations about the movements available. But some local spotters are well informed (as they have insider-contacts). Make a contact with the local spotters whenever possible, it’s worth it!
Let’s start this Guide with a summary…A,B,C,D, E, F G… will introduce you, what is going on in the “Airbustownship”. Unfortunately, there is no public access (except you book a commercial trip in advance – taking pictures not allowed) to these areas. But this informations are important to estimate where an in- or outbound aircraft will taxi.
Area AA380 facility, paintshop, flightline and deliverycenter. All (in Toulouse) final assemlied A380s come to Finki for facility and paint!
Area BFinal assembly and facility of the “Hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family).
Area CFlightline and deliverycenter of the “Hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family).
Area DPaintshop for the tails and some “Hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family). Some others were painted in area A ore outsinde (e.g. at Dinard/France) and come back after paint.
Area E Facility of the “Toulouse-made” single aisles (only some A320s). Usually, they will never visit other areas!
F“The Powerbox” for engineruns of “hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family). Usually all of the “hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family) will visit this place after transferring from area B to area C. (And after this procedure, they use the runwa for compensation)
G“The Powerbox” for engineruns of the A380. After paint and facility, all A380s will visit this place and – usualy after that – they make a compensation on the runway!
HThe “Beluga Loading Hall”… In former times, the Belugas were loaded anywhere else depending on the wind-situation. But now, there is a special Hangar to load the Belugas independent the wind (and – sometimes we have a very strong wind in Northern Germany!) Regardless of the weather conditions, all Belugas will use the onely one taxiway to/ex this place.
Beluga-loading in former times:
Beluga-loading now:
Area IWe call it “The Hole”… (owed the originally name of this place amongst the river prior the landaus: “Muhlenberger Loch” / “Muhlenberg Hole”. However, this place is used for longtime storages; let’s say when customers are unable to taking over a new Airbus… they will parked there. There is no chance to visit this place.
Area J“The Museum”… In this corner of the factory-area, some real treasures are parked: a “HFB-Hansajet”, a “Noratlas” and a “Superguppy”. It is a shame, that this place is closed to the public. But there is room fore hope: In the future, Airbus will expose this historical planes as “Gateguards”…
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Mind: Before the “Hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family) performed their F1s (firstflights) respectively the A380 performed their “cabin-first’s”: they will realise an unalterable RTO!
As well, the “hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family) will usually make a lowapproach at Hamburgs’s HAM-airport at the end of their F1s. Also a good chance to catch a nice picture…Well, let’s come to the spots at Finki! Obove they are marked in yellow and the given times relating on Summer resp. CEST (Central Europe Summer Time).
In advance:
There is only one runway and it is in use as the main taxiway as well. But (unfortunatly) the planes will enter the runnway from several directions. It depends on which flightdirection is in use and what they will do… (check also the main ops at HAM/EDDH at 123.1200; Finki will never operate against this).
Spot 1This is the most popular spot in Finki at all! You can catch most of the movements all over the day there and you will find a exploratory contact to the local spotters as well. In a way: It is the “basecamp”… (and do not be shy to speak to the locals!) A parking lot is available as well as a hill for a splendid overview.
This spot is good for:Early morning until early afternoon:
- any activities on the southwestern part of the runway e.g. 23 inbounds, 05 in- and out-bounds (incl taxi to 05 takeoff) and A380 outbounds.
Example (05 inbound/RTO):
Example (taxi to 05 outbound)
Example (05 outbound):
Example A380 23 outbound (single-aisles are too high)
Noon until early evening:
- A380s and Belugas taxing for 23 outbound
Example taxing to 23 takeoff
Noon until sunset:
All “Hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family) leaving “area C” via taxiway “Delta-South” e.g. to the powerbox “F” or to 05 takeoff ; as well all pulled “hamburg-made” single aisles (A320-family) which were transferred from area B to area C…
Example (from the Flightline “C” to the powerbox “F”)
Example (leaving the deliverycenter “C” for 05 outbound)
During all daytimes:
“action-shots” are possible…
Also some general aviations and bizjets are visiting XFW all the day
Spot 2Right across the maingate, yo will find the 2nd popular spot. But this place is only good for 23 ops from the morning until the early afternoon. Visit this place, when the local spotters will suggest it! In general, you will have more fun at Spot 1.
This spot is good for:- all 23 in- and outbounds from the early morning until the early afternoon
Example (a 23 landing)
Example (a 23 takeoff)
You can also catch some nice “action-shots” there…
And sometimes they transfer a tail or a “glider” to/ex the the paintshop “D”…
Spot (3)Very close to Spot 1, you will find an other hill which was used for spotting in former times. Meanwhile, a fence closed this spot for the public. But it is not so bad, because you can catch everything from Spot 1 just as well.
Anyway an example…
Spot 4A ladder is required (or small lenses through te fence). This spot is splendid in the early afternoon when the old turning area will be used, as the light is better then on the runway. If 23 inbounds use this area for turning is uncertain!
Most A380 compensations are starting here.
Example (a A380 compensation)…
Spot 5A ladder is required (or small lenses through the fence). This spot is the nicest for all 05 outbounds/RTOs from afternoon until sunset. Mind: When some outbounds use the earlier turning area: you loose…
Example (a 05 line-up)…
Spot 6A preferential spot in the afternoon (until sunset). A ladder is helpful, but not implicit necessary if you climb the embankment.
This spot is good for:-23 inbounds using the old turning area after landing(usual but not reliable) from afternoon until sunset. Particularly between 2pm and 6pm the only place to catch “Toulouse made” A320s.
Examples…
-all 05 out- and inbounds from 6.30pm until sunset (no ladder required)
Examples…
Spot 7At the exit of the Finkenwerder marina, you will find a lightfire which you can climb. This spot is nice for all who want to watch the ships on the river Elbe as well.
In the early morning (sunrise until 10 am) you can make some line-up shots for 23 outbounds.
Example (for a too late visit at this spot):
From about 9am until 2pm you also can catch all 23 inbounds.
Example:
Spot 8This spot is an option for all 23 inbounds in the evening (5.30pm until sunset). It gives you the edge to avoid travelling to Finki when the trafficsituation is bad. As well you do not have any disappointment when the incoming single aisles stops very early.
But mind: You will see the approaching planes very late (flightradar is required).
If you come from the ferrypier (or the bus station) follow the riverside walk downstream. About 200 meters after the restaurant you will find a snackbar. Here you are…
Example:
VISIT FINKI BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:There are two common ways for the journey: by bus or by bus in combination with the ferryboat. If you prefer the bus only, your origin is the trainstation “Altona” (subway and mainline trains stop there). The bus No 150 (destination “Cranz/Estebogen”) will bring you in about 45-50 minutes to the airfield area.
If you prefer the nice combination-trip, take the subway or unterground to “Landungsbrucken” and change there at “Bridge 3” in the ferryboat No 62. The boattrip to the Finkenwerder pier takes about 30 minutes. Change there in the Bus No 150 for another 10 minutes.
Bus No 150 is running all 15-20 minutes, ferryboat No 62 every 15 minutes.To reach the Spots 7 and 8: the ferryboat No 64 is shuttling between the Finkenwerder pier and “Teufelsbruck” with stop at “Ruschpark” every 30 minutes.In the overwiev, the numerous stations are marked in purple (as X 1-9).
In detail:
X1 – FINKENWERDER PIER: Intersection of ferryboats No 62 (to/ex „Landungsbrucken“), No 64 (to/ex „Teufelsbruck“) and Bus No 150 (to/ex “Altona” resp. to/ex the Finki-Airfield)
X2 – AIRBUS: Busstop for Bus No 150 (to/ex “Altona” and the Finkenwerder pier)and some other locals buslines. Very close to the mainentrance of the factoryarea and Spot 2.
X3 – WESTERWEIDEN and X4 – AM ROSENGARTEN: Busstop for Bus No 150 (to/ex “Altona” and the Finkenwerder pier). From both busstops, the walkway to Spot 1 takes about 10 minutes.
X5 – NEUENFELDER KIRCHE: Busstop for Bus No 150 (to/ex “Altona” and the Finkenwerder pier). Just 50 Meters walk to Spot 5
X6 - NEUENFELDER DAMM: Busstop for Bus No 150 (to/ex “Altona” and the Finkenwerder pier). The walkway to Spot 6 takes about 10 minutes.
X8 – TEUFELSBRUCK: Pier for ferryboat No 64 (to/ex Finkenwerder pier). Also some local busses stops there). The walkway to Spot 8 takes about 15 minutes.
X9 – RUSCHPARK: Pier for ferryboat No 64 (to/ex Finkenwerder pier resp. “Teufelsbruck”) The walkway to Spot 9 takes about 5 minutes.
If you use the Ferry back to downtown Hamburg, sometimes in summer you can risk a view back to Finki and watch the last incoming Beluga… Enjoy your stay!
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