Spotting Tips: Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE/LFMN)
Caution: Based on a single 4-hour visit in Spring 2004 (heavy schedules updated 1/2008)
The airport of Nice is an important Hub at the Cote d'Azut, the french border to the Mediterranean Sea. The airport is the main gateway to the city of Nice (350'000 inhabitants) as well as to the principality of Monaco.
For this reason you can see both types of planes: Many European carriers as well as a lot of Biz-jets. In addition to that there are some low-cost carriers, mainly Easyjet and of course some Air France planes.
And there can be seen to heavies, daily:
| Flight |
Type |
Airline |
From |
Arr |
Dep |
To |
Days (1=Mon |
| |
| DAL083/084 | B763 | Delta Airlines | New York JFK | 09.40 | 11:30 | New York JFK | 1234567 |
| UAE095/096 | B773 | Emirates | Dubai via Rome | 13:10 | 14:35 | Dubai via Rome | 1 5 7 |
Spotting Tipps
Point 1: Cap3000
Probably the only point where good shots can be made is at the headland behind the Cap3000-supermarket.
Just behind the airport on the western side there is a river (width approx. 100m) running into the sea, and on the landhead on the other side of the river is the spotting point. There is a big "Cap3000" shopping mall. You can try to look for a bus (I know there are) or tell the taxi where you want to go to. From the shopping mall just head for the beach, climb over some bigger rocks and you'll get to this beach. There'll probably some fishermen, but they are no problem.
Unfortunately you are north of the runway axis and looking south, so the sun is never in your back. Light is only good in the evening.
Getting there: Mit Auto (3500 Parkplätze), Bus oder Taxi zum >>Cap3000<<. Zu Fuss in Richtung mehr (5min, steinig)
Equipment: Headland, shopping mall not far away.
Visible: Landings Rwy04L, Taxi to & Lineups Rwy04R
Zoom: 250mm-400mm
Time: No really good time except in the evening
Example shots:
Approach 04L |
Landing 04L in the nice evening sunlight!. |
Taxiing to 04R |
That's Nice! |
Here you can see the headland, the river and the airport! |
If the runways are changed you could try it from the oder side, from the Promenade d'Anglais. But only for planes still in the air, because you can't see much of the airport-ground.
What you can do is a nice walk from the city on the Promenade d'Anglais to the airport. It will take about one hour and it is a beautiful experience (not for spotting, though ;))
The planes departing runways 04 will pass by the city during their departure, so you can try some shots from the city centre. Nightshots from somewhere on the Promenade d'Anglais can be nice, too!
Departure 04R |
Deparutee 04R |
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