Home Photo Search My best Flying Tips About Links Guestbook Other Photos

Spotting Tips: Zürich (ZRH/LSZH) Last update: July 2007 (Heavy List, PDF-Spotting Guide, new map, various) As Zurich is my home airport, I see it as my duty to help you plan your visit to this outstanding place. In Zurich you have both, some great traffic in combination with excellent spotting positions. So let me take you on a tour around my airport! If there are any questions please feel free to e-mail me! I will be happy to help and I'm looking forward to receiving your feedback about my spotting guide or your spotting visit to Zurich! I hope this spotting guide helps you while planning your trip to Zurich. Oh, and please excuse these small english mistakes - it isn't my mother tongue ;) Useful Files: ZRH Heavies Summer 2007 Download Excel File ZRH Short Spotting Guide as PDF Download PDF-File (1MB) (1.) Introduction Zurich airport is the only airport of the city of Zurich, Switzerland's centre of finance and economy. The airport is located about 10 kilometers northeast of the city and can easily be reached by car, bus or train. The construction of the airport began in 1946 and was be finished in November 1948, when the airport officially entered service and replaced the airfield at Dubendorf near Zurich. At the beginning there was only one runway at ZRH, but it was continuously extended to what it is today: Switzerland's biggest and most used airport, the most important international entrance to Switzerland and the homebase of flag-carrier, Swiss Intl Airlines, charter-airlines Edelweiss Air and Belair, as well as the new swiss airline helvetic.com . Today there are about 100 airlines offering almost 150 connections to every continent in the world except Australia. 19.2 million passengers were handled in 2004. In 2003 the new terminal, terminal E, also called "Midfield", was opened. Three runways, most of which are equipped with an ILS-system are the basis for a smoothly running service. More information can be found on >>>Wikipedia<<< (2.) Runways, terminals and their usage 2.1 The runways The airport is equipped with three daily used runways. Here a list of them: 10 2500m - Departing runway with winds from the east. No landings rare 14 3300m ILS Main landing runway, no takeoffs always 16 3700m ILS Main departing runway for heavies, rarely a landing frequently 28 2500m ILS Main departing runway, landings in the evening always 32 3300m - Departing runway in the morning, no landings rare 34 2700m ILS Landing rwy morning, sometimes heavy-TOs medium As many people living around the airport are complaining about the noise, the airport authority had to create a detailed concept of runway usage. I listed the normal concept in the following table. Of course changes can be made because of reasons like weather, so I recommend listening to the ATIS (128.525) before you go spotting. Weekdays (Mo-Fr) Weekend, public holidays south. Germany 06.00-07.00 Landing Rwy34 Departure Rwy32 07.00-21.00 Landing Rwy14 Departure Rwys 16&28 21.00-00.30 Landing Rwy28 Departure Rwys32&34 06.00-09.00 Landing Rwy34 Departure Rwy32 09.00-20.00 Landing Rwy14 Departure Rwys 16&28 20.00-00.30 Landing Rwy28 Departure Rwys32&34 2.2 Terminals and parking stands At Zurich airport there are three Terminals, Terminal 1 (former A), Terminal 2 (former B), Terminal E (former Midfield). In the table below I listed which airplanes can be seen in which area. Terminal 1 (A) This terminal is mostly used by Swiss. Many longhaul flights (A332/A343) are being handled here aswell as some european flights (A32X, RJ). Besides Swiss sometimes other European carriers can be found here, for example BA. Best view from: Spotting Points 1 and 2 Terminal 2 (B) Terminal 2 was closed when Terminal E was opened and the finger docks were demounted. Now this terminal is mostly being used to park longhaulers which stay for a longer time. For example SAA A342, Malasian B777, or the MNG A300F. On the southern side there are new stands for regional aircrafts (CRJs, ERJs, ...) which are served by bus. (Lufthansa, Alitalia, Air France) Best view from: Spotting Point 1 Terminal E (Midfield) The terminal opened in 2003 is the point where all longhaul flights of foreign airlines are handled. (UAE, SIA, MAS, UAL, AAL, DAL, COA, ACA, KAL, SAA, JAL). Also there are some longhauls of Swiss (mostly to the USA) as well as most European carriers here.. Best view from: Spotting Point 2, but only the aircrafts on the western side of the terminal which is about 1/3 of all aircrafts. Mike-Stands South of Terminal 2 there are the Mike-Stands (designated C and D but served by Taxiway Mike). These are stands served by bus. On these stands mostly medium airliners (A32X, B737, MD8X) von DLH, SAS, AUA and IBE can be spotted. Best view from:: Spotting Point 1 (a little far away) and 5 (3.) Traffic Because of Zurich being quite an important international HUB there are some interesting planes around waiting to be spotted. Besides the big european carriers which usually send their standard medium equipment to Zurich, many big carriers from other continents can be seen here arriving with their heavies. Some of these are: Air Canada, American, Continental, Delta, Emirates (2x), Korean Air, Qatar, Singapore, Thai, United, US Air. In addition to that you have the Swiss lognhaul-fleet (9 A332 + 9 A343) as well as the heavies of local charter airlines Edelweiss (1 A332) and Belair (1 B763) which you don't see that often in Europe. To be up to date in terms of traffic the best thing is to have a look at the official online timetable which even displays the registrations! Arrivals     Arrivals next day(available from 19.00LT) Departures   Departures next day(available from 19.00LT) Download the official timetable as PDF >>click!<< The specials of the next days are usually listed in this thread on Flightforum.ch from about 1915LT. Be sure to navigate to the newest page. Here's a list of all regular heavies that can be spotted in Zurich during Summer 2007 . For the updated arrival and departure times please have a look at the online flight plan (see above). Download: ZRH Heavies Summer 2006 (4.) ATC Using an airband receiver can be very helpful to know what's going on. Luckily, using airband receivers in Switzerland is allowed and police ignore it. I've never had any problems and there are many enthusiasts using airband receivers here, also on the observation decks. I recommend listening to the tower because it is the most used frequency and you know about every landing and takeoff that is being performed. In the following table I listed the most used frequencies Station Frequency Remark   ATIS 128.525 Weather info and rwy usage Also by phone: +41438162294 Arrival West 118.000 Arrivals via GIPOL Arrival North/East 120.750 Arrivals via AMIKI and RILAX Arrival 119.700 Final 125.325 Used between APP and TWR if there's much traffic Tower 118.100 Tower for all runways Ground North 121.850 north of Rwy28 Ground South 121.750 south of Rwy28 Delivery 121.800 Delivery for all terminals Departure 125.950 for all departures If you want to listen to Zurich ATC via computer you can find two livestreams on LiveATC.net: >>Zurich Radar (Lower/Upper Stereo)<< >>Zurich Arrival, Tower, Departure<< (5.) Spotting Positions In Zurich there are plenty of spotting positions, and most of them are excellent! Here a list of all positions I know: First of all a map of the airport area. Click on a spotting point to get to the corresponding description. NEW!! Interactive Spotting Map for Google Earth! >>Download (1.3KB)<< The first points (point 1 - point 5) are located at or near the airport. You can get there by car (>>parkings<<), by bus or by train. Public transport is very well organised around the airport, the train station is located right below the terminals, the bus terminal in front of the building. There are trains from Zurich Main station (Zurich HB) to the airport about every 15 minutes. The airport is an important bus-hub for the whole region.(>>Online-timetable Bus/Train<<) Position 1: Observation Deck Terminal 2 The observation desk which is located on the roof of the whole terminal 2 is probably the most famous spotting point, because it is easy to reach, you have a great view on the planes as well as a restaurant. Since terminal 2 has been shut down there isn't so much action anymore - nevertheless the observation deck remains an excellent spotting point, for example to watch the outbounds on rwy16. The entrance fee is 2 franks, the location is open from 08.00-21.00 in the summer (27.3.-31.10) and 09.00-18.00 in the winter (1.11.-26.3.) At the entrance to the observation desk there is a safety check like for normal passengers. Tickets can be bought in the kiosk right beside the entrance. Official homepage of the observation desk: >>click!<< Getting there: In the airport: Follow the signs to terminal 2 or "observation desk" Equipment: Large observation desk with a shop, a restaurant, toilets, children's playground. Ticket shop for bus tours Visible: Departures Rwy16, landings&departures Rwy34, aircraft taxiing on Echo, aircraft parked at terminal 2 Zoom: Depending on the target. 100-300mm for Rwy16-TOs and Rwy34-landings, 50-150mm for taxiing on E, 17-100 for Acft at the terminal Time: early morning until 1-2 pm Example shots: Rwy34-Arrival View on aircrafts in front of the terminal aswell as to the HP Rwy16 Takeoff Rwy16 Climbout Rwy16 Aircrafts parked at terminal 2 Aircrafts taxiing on Echo Position 2: Observation deck Terminal E When planning the new terminal they seem to have thought of the visitors and included an observation deck. This one is located on the western end of the roof, and you have access to about 1/3 of the terminal. This observation deck can only be reached by bus departing from the obs-deck terminal 2 (Point 1) on Wednesdays (13.15-16.45) and on the weekend (11.45-16.45) every 30 minutes. Adolescents (6-16 years) have to pay 2 franks for a ticket, adults 4 franks. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office on the observation deck Terminal 2 (point 1) On this observation deck you have a great view on foreign heavies and you are nearer to departing Rwy28. But you also have an excellent view on Rwy16/34! Official homepage: >>click!<< Getting there: Get to point 1, buy a ticket and do a bus-ride. Equipment: Quite a large area, equipped with vending machines and toilets Visible: Aircrafts at terminal E, Takeoffs Rwy28, 16, 34, aircrafts taxiing to Rwy16 Zoom: Depending on the target. 100-300mm for TOs, 17-100mm for parked aircraft Time: early morning until 3pm Example shots: Taxiing to Rwy16 on Echo Takeoff Rwy16 Takeoff Rwy28 Takeoff Rwy34 Aircraft at the gate Nice climbout-shots of Rwy28-departures are also possible Position 3: Parking 3 Parking 3 is located on the western end of the complex of buildings belonging to the airport and it is about beside the treshold of Rwy34. So this is what you can see: Aircrafts landing on Rwy34. In the morning when Rwy34 is mainly in use the light is perfect! But from the parking you can also take pictures of aircrafts parked on the Mike-Stands. But, unfortunately, the view is often disturbed by some ground vehicles around the aircrafts. You can also take pics of the regio-jets parked jus south of Terminal 2. The bad thing is that the walls of the parking are vertically placed lamellaes, about 25cms apart. This can be annoying when taking pictures of planes moving fast, but you'll get used to it. >>A picture of these walls<<< Parking tariffs can be found >>here!<<, the homepage of parking 3 including a detailed map >>>here<<< Getting there: Follow the signs to parking 3 (it's in the foodland, near to the train station) Equipment: A parking with 10 floors, shops and restaurants can be reached in 2 minutes Visible: landings on Rwy34, aircrafts parked on Mike-Stands and on the regio-stands at Terminal 2 Zoom: 150-300mm Time: Early morning (when the most traffic can be seen here), Night Example shots: Arrival Rwy34 Final Rwy34 in the breathtaking morning light! Touchdown Rwy34 Aircraft on their way to/from the Mike stands View on the regio aircraft parked south of Terminal B. Position 4: Parking 6 Parking 6 is the best point for spotting aircrafts using Rwy28. From the parking you can look down on the beginning of Rwy28 and you will be able to see aircrafts lining up aswell as the ones landing on Rwy28. Because the parking has got 10 floors there are many different angles you can try. The parking can also be good at night because you can take wonderful nightshots of aircrafts holding short at Rwy28. The bad thing is that the walls of the parking are vertically placed lamellaes, about 25cms apart. This can be annoying when taking pictures of planes moving fast, but you'll get used to it. >>A picture of these walls<<< The rates for the parking can be found >>here!<<, the website of Parking 6 including a map is located >>>here<<< Getting there: Follow the signs to Parking 6, (leave Terminal 1 to the east and go over the pedestrian bridge) Equipment: Parking wih 10 floors, vending machine at the entrance visible: Aircrafts taxiing on A & B; Lineups and takeoffs Rwy28. Landings Rwy28. Aircrafts vacating Rwy14. Zoom: 100-300mm are mre than sufficent. Time: You are facing north, so light is good almost all day. Also good for nightshots. Example shots: Taxiing onAlpha to Rwy28 Ready on Rwy28 Standing on Bravo with a takeoff on Rwy28 in front. MD11 vacated Rwy14 onto Hotel2 The airbus in the foreground is taxiing on Hotel, the other one on Rwy14. Position 5: Final Rwy28 Another quite famous point is located just behind the treshold of Rwy28. Here you can see planes approaching very low over your head to land on the short runway28. This is most impressive with heavies. I can't really recommend this position for takeoffs on Rwy28 because there are many obstacles between you and the plane. Because the planes are approaching very low you might have to go away from the runway axis to get good sideviews. But this is no problem as you can easily move to the left and right. Getting there: Best is to go afoot from the airprot. Frachtstr (through the freight area) - Bimzähltenstr. 15min walking. Parkings should also be available >>>Road map (160KB)<<< Equipment: Nice small park Visible: Landings rwy28 Zoom: 50-200mm Time: Noon to evening (runway mostly in use in the evening) Example shots: This is the standard view! Right in the runway axis The planes are very near and very low... Big planes seem even bigger here, and they are very impressive Shots onto the runway need a lot of luck Position 6: "Heligrill" Nope, no helicopters being grilled here. But don't ask me why this point is called Heligrill. Probably is named after the small takeaway there. But we are more interested in the planes, and this is a good point to feel their power. Heligrill is located on the western side of the airport, just beside Rwy16 in the southwestern corner of the runway crossing. So you have a great view on aircrafts departing Rwy16 and Rwy28. Of course landings on Rwy34 are interesting to be watched, too, but most of them are performed in the morning when the light is bad at this point. The airport authority cut some holes in the fence so you can put your lenses through - so this point is really impressive because you are so near to the powerfully taking off planes. This spot can easily be reached walking or by car, and besides looking at the aircrafts you can also eat and drink something. Getting there:By car: From Oberglatt: Rümlangstr - Flughofstr - Klotenerstr. From Airport: Flughofstr - Klotenerstr >>>Street map (240KB)<<< By PT: Bus 510, Airport - Rümlang Bahnhof (Rümlang train station). 10min of walking // Back: Bus 510, Rümlang Bahnhof - Airport. (>>Timetable<<) Equipment: Takeaway, toilets, fence with holes for the lenses. Parking available. Visible: Departures Rwy16&28, landings Rwy34 Zoom: 100-250mm Time: Afternoon until evening Example shots: Takeoff Rwy16! Takeoff Rwy28! Airborne Rwy28! Climbout Rwy16! The following positions (points 7 - point 9) are all located at the northern end of the airport. In this region you'll find plenty of spotting points which are easy accessible by car afoot. The best starting point is the village of Oberglatt because it is the nearest settlement. You can get there the following ways: Car: From Airport: Flughofstrasse -> Rümlangstr. // From Bülach (east): Zürichstr. -> Oberglatterstr. >>>Road-map (340KB)<<< PT: Bus 510, Airport - Oberglatt Zentrum (= Oberglatt town center). // Back: Bus 510, Oberglatt Zentrum - Airport. (>>Timetable<<) Here a general map of Oberglatt with spotting positions, parkings and the important roads and streets. >>>click! (300KB)<<< Position 7: Lineup Rwy16 Another interesting point is located at the beginning of Rwy16. On a little hill above the training area of the firefighters you have a wonderful view on aircrafts lining up on Rwy16. Aircraft landing on Rwy16 can also be spotted from here although this doesn't occur very often. The advantage of this spot is that you have enough time to capture the heavies while they are lining up, and it is also possible to take shots at 90-degrees once they're lined up. Getting there: From Oberglatt: By car until reaching the driving prohibited sign (German: Fahrverbot) in "im Hof Strasse". Park your car there, walk 5mins. >>See map!<< Equipment: - visible: Lineups Rwy16 Zoom: 100-300mm Time: Noon to the evening Example shots: Landing Rwy16 Lineup Rwy16 Lined up Rwy16 Takeoff Rwy34 Position 8: Parking Rwy14/16 This is another very famous and sometimes very occupied spotting point. Located just at the main road from Oberglatt to Bülach there is a big parking. You can either stay on the parking or go a little north on the small paths. Depending on the point you are looking from there are many diferent views possible. The rural area around the parking is a well known and a beautiful hiking paradise, so you can easily access different places on both sides of the runway axis. Getting there: From Oberglatt on the main road (Bülacherstrasse) direction Bülach. Parking on your right hand side. >>See map<< Equipment: Takeaway, toilets, parking, park benches. Large hiking-paradise. Visible: Landings Rwy14 and 16 Zoom: 50-250mm Time: Always because you can go to both sides of the runway axis. Evening shots are very beautiful! Example shots: Landing Rwy14 in the evening If you walk about 5min north you have a breathtaking view down on Rwy14! Also shots from behind are no problem! Landing 14! Final Rwy14! Position 9: Touchdown Rwy14 Within reach of point nr.8 there is another beautiful place. On the eastern side of Rwy14, a little behind the touchdown zone there is a little hill where you can make nice pics of the aircrafts seconds before touchdown. The best time to be here is during workdays (Mo-Fr) when Rwy14 is in use from 7am. You'll get a bunch of heavies in beautiful light conditions here. Put the point is also excellent for sunset-shots! Getting there: Walking from Point 8: A small asphaltic path (before the bridge) goes from the main road to the south. It will lead to a parking after 100m. You continue along the fence until, after the single building you get onto a small hill. It's a 10 minutes walk from Point 8. You can also get to the parking by car and walk the rest. >>See map!<< Equipment: - Visible: Landings Rwy14 Zoom: 150-300mm Time: Early morning to noon // Sunset-Pics in the evening Example shots: Short Final 14! Final Rwy14! Final Rwy14! Touchdown Rwy14! Sunset Landing Rwy14! (6.) Some notes Aviation photography is no problem in Zurich and ignored by the police. Most of the time police is only present but doesn't intervene. They are not against spotters. Going around the airport is no problem because most of it is a hiking area. Using airband receivers is allowed Summers can be very hot (>35°), winters can be freezing cold (<-5°) There might be a lot of spotters and normal visitors on certain days. Some places may be crowded. Most traffic can be seen in the morning (6-13) and evenings (17-22). Between, there is a big gap with almost no movements. (7.) Schedule for a complete day at the airport I have never done the following program in one day, but it should be possible. It is based on the standard runway usage on weekends. Check ATIS! The day begins at 6am in parking 3. Before entering the parking you can buy your breakfast in the airport-foodland, I can really recommend the bakery called "Steiner". From the parking you can see all the early morning inbounds, most of which are heavies in the beautiful morning light. At 8am you can change your location to the observation deck Terminal 2. There you have another hour of Rwy34-approahces until they change the runway usage. After a short break the main outbound-wave is beginning at about 10am. If you like you can also go to the Observation Deck on the Midfield terminal. This heavy traffic period is terminated by Thai and Singapore at about 13.45, then it is calm around the airport, very calm. You can use this time to go and eat something and then leave the airport. If you want you can stop at the Heligrill to take a pic of the Emirates A340-500 departing on Rwy16 at 15.45 - or you go to Rwy14 and see the two Tokyo-Flights, JAL747 and Swiss A340 landing. Anyway you should go to the approach Rwy14 (Point 8) in the late afternoon, as the amount of traffic is getting higher, climaxing in the two Swiss A340 from Cairo and Tel Aviv at 19.10 . Now you can move in the area between spotting points 8 and 9 to take pics in the nice evening light. At 8pm runways are changed again, landing rwy will be Rwy28. In midsummer you will have one hour of sun left, so you can, if you have a car, go to runway28 and continue spotting. If you can't move so fast it's best to go back to the airport where you can have dinner. If you are still alive and still hungry for planes you can then go to parkings 3 or 6 and try a few nightshots. Well done, you just spent 15 hours at Zurich airport!! (8.) Where to stay Of course I don't know the following hotels from own experiences. They were only recommended by some friends. Welcome Inn Zürich-Kloten The Welcome Inn is situated in Zurich-Kloten, the town beside the Airport. So it is only about 500 meters from the terminal. (>>Map<<) Good middle class hotel with a free shuttle bus to the airport. Other spotters liked it. The fares:: Single room: 108-128CHF (about 70-85 Euro) Double room: 141-158CHF (about 95-100 Euro) Official Homepage: www.hotel-welcomeinn.ch Formule1 Zürich-Seebach Cheap hotel in Zurich-Seebach, near the airport. Fares: 1 to 3 person room: 62CHF (about 40 Euro) Official Homepage: click!