Mathias Henig Spotter Homepage - Photopositions at Brussels Zaventeem

!!! Warning !!! Air band receivers are forbidden in Belgium. You will be punished hard, if the police catches you using such a device !!!

General

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Brussels Zaventeem is the major airport of Belgium and you can say it is the only international one in that small country.
Compared to other European airports the traffic at BRU is quite slow during the whole day, but you can always see something interesting that you won't see in any other European country.

Runway usage

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If the wind is from the west (as mostly), landings are normaly on runway 25L and take offs on 25R, but also some aircraft are landing on 25R (especially freighters or the government aircraft). When the wind is from the east most take offs are from 07R and landings are on runway 02 with also some take offs on this runway.

Spot #1

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	70-300mm lens
	from sunrise until afternoon
	landing traffic on runway 25L airrcaft entering runway 25L for backtrack and take off (only very few)
	Police might send you away. In that case do so and switch to spot #2.

There are only a few real photoposition I know, one of which is next to a prison near Steenokkerzeel. Don't be afraid this is a prison for asylums who are waiting to be brought back to their country. The position #1 is good for landing shoots on runway 25L. Everything is in reach a 300mm lens and most of the traffic is landing on this runway while the other one is just used for take-offs and when I have been to Brussels wind was most of the time for 25. Another point is that some aircraft use 25L for take-off and so they enter the runway just ahead of you and will make a backtrack on this RWY. You can reach this spot by going from the airport towards the city of Zaventeem and then head towards Steenokkerzeel. Before going through a tunnel under the runway, the asylum prison is to your right and you can can park here on the road and walk towards the fence. Don't enter the street leading to the prison with your car or the police might tow it away.


aircraft landing on runway 25L

Spot #2

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	70-300mm lens
	from sunrise until afternoon
	approaching aircraft

It is next to the approach path for runway 25L. If you were hassled by the police at spot #1 this is an alternative spot. To get there, follow the dirt road from spot #1 along the fence until you reach a normal street that passes under the approach lighting. Drive some meters to the south and park your car on the side. From the fields there you can take wonderful pictures.


aircraft approaching runway 25L

Spot #3

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	70-300mm or wide angle lens for aircraft parked close to the fence
	all day depending position of the aircraft
	parked cargo aircraft and biz-jets

Spot #3 is the cargo area south of runway 25R/07L and there is a public road where you can have a look at parked DHL freighters and some smaller business jets that are parked here. A ladder to overlook the fence is an advantage and recommended here. The best day to get (see) most freighters is sunday, when they are parked there. On weekdays most freighters have a daystop on other airports.


some of the DHL freighters can be photographed when they are parked on the cargo apron

Spot #4

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	70-300mm lens or more for pictures of smaller aircraft taking off from runway 07R
	from sunrise until afternoon
	approaching aircraft for runway 02 traffic lining up on runway 02 aircraft taking off from runway 07R

Spot #4 is good, if landings are carried out on runway 02. In that case head for Zaventeem and at a roundabout (can't imagine which one, but I think it was very close to the airport) turn direction east and follow this road that should go through a railway tunnel and from here you should already see the approach lights of runway 02. Park your car next to the lights and cross under the approach path by foot and follow now the fence on the eastern side of runway 02 until you reach a forest. From here excellent shots of aircraft landing aircraft can be obtained and in addition you take pictures of aircraft taking off on runway 07L, but I have to say that you need a rather long lens (for an A330-300 you will need about 250mm).


landing on runway 02	lined up on runway 02	taking off on runway 07R

Spot #5

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	70-300mm lens
	from afternoon until sunset
	approaching aircraft for runway 02

In the afternoon leave the forest and go back to your car and you should be able to get some nice pics of approaching aircraft on runway 02.

more spots, but not so good

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	70-300mm lens
	from sunrise until afternoon
	parked cargo aircraft and perhaps some movements on runway 25R (but don't know)

There is also a restaurant in the new terminal overlooking the cargo apron and some shots can be taken from here, but the results are not the best.

© by Mathias Henig, AVIATION FRIENDS NÜRNBERG