Bolzano

1Viewing area

Following the signs to the airport, you will reach this area just before the main parking lot. There are some benches and a medium high fence, offering a good view on the northern part of the runway, most of the main civil apron and the military area on the other side. There is ample free parking space available and small steps suffice to take photos from above the fence and below the concertina on top of it. This is generally the best spot if you are here for the numbers and the preserved AB206 can be seen across the runway.

2Terminal

Taking a look from inside the terminal, with another free parking lot right in front of it, may yield a few extra IDs of aircraft parked close to the building. Behind security, the business lounge on the first floor offers a panoramic view of the airport.

3Carabinieri

The gate of the police helicopter unit is just south of the terminal, past the flying club. Their preserved AB47 sits in the 'front garden' but chances are that taking out any form of camera, including a phone, will quickly have you be told by someone from the building that this is a military area and therefore photography is forbidden. With luck, you might spot an operational helicopter on the apron behind the building. The less troublesome option is to wait and hope for them to fly, while staying at a relaxed location.

4North view and approach 19 am

From the side walk of the Via Loris Musy the northern part of the field is visible, especially when using (small) steps to look over the shrubberies. This is also the spot to catch arrivals on runway 19 in the air. The light for the latter will be best in the morning, and generally not very good for photos looking towards the field of course. The spot lies in a no-stopping zone for vehicles but the main airport parking lot is just 600m away. Therefore, the best way to get here is to park near spot 1, walk towards the airport exit and go left at the crossroads.

5Runway 19 pm

This spot along the fence lies opposite the main civil hangar and overlooks the beginning of runway 19. There is little room to take position but you will be able to photograph anything in front of you, to which bringing steps will help. Take-offs from the beginning and landings will be fine, aircraft near or in the hangar are mostly doable as well. Larger aircraft landing from the other side might vacate at the end and also pass in front of you.

To get here from the previous spots, drive past spot 4 and then take first left onto the SS12, towards the autostrada/Autobahn. Continue until the first roundabout, take the third exit ('left') and do the same at the next roundabout. At the T junction turn left again and then right, onto the narrow road along a wall and fences. This ends at a somewhat open space where you can park and take position along the fence.

6Military gate

When leaving spot 5, turn left onto the Via Agruzzo/Grutzenweg and left again at the next crossroads, where a small sign points to the Aeroporto Militare/Militärflughafen. This will bring you to the military gate, behind which you can just see the preserved AB205 under the trees. Hanging around here is obviously not advised.

7Runway 01 pm

For a place to view activities on runway 01 and have the sun behind you in the afternoon, use this spot. Since the latest runway extension, the Via Alessandro Manzoni has been detoured along the new southern perimeter and the disused part has been closed off with fences with concertina on top. There is some room to park near this barricade but to look over it, larger steps are needed. Alternatively, you could walk south to obtain at least an unobstructed view on landings from this side. Getting here from the previous spots is easy: follow the fences and walls counter-clockwise around the field. The distance from spot 6 is 1.8km.

8Threshold 01 am

At this point, where the Via Alessandro Manzoni continues east on its original path as a restricted access road, you are abeam the beginning and turning pad of runway 01. If you park here where there is room to do so and bring steps, you will have a splendid view on landings on 01 and departures from the beginning. The light will of course be best in the morning. Just keep following the fence from the previous spot to get here.

9Runway 01 am

With northerly winds, this spot offers a very close view to the flying operations on both the main runway and the glider strip. The light for photos on the paved runway is best in the morning and even with runway 19 in use, you may have aircraft make a 180° turn after landing close to where you are. Additionally, this spot is at the end of a farm road where you are less likely to be in the way of other traffic while parking. Follow this farm road between the fence and vineyards to the end, some 300m from spot 8, to get here.