Spotting @ Cardiff Wales Airport
Directions and information
Cardiff Wales Airport is situated to the east
of the village of Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, about 5 miles
west of Barry.
The easiest way to reach Cardiff Wales Airport
is by road, if you leave the M4 Motorway at junction 33, it is
well sign posted but if you do get lost head towards Barry then
follow the signs for Llantwit Major.
For those not lucky enough to own a
car the only way to reach Cardiff Wales Airport is by bus from
Cardiff or Llantwit Major. The buses running to and from these
destinations will take you to the Terminal building. The Terminal
has a viewing area but sometimes the balcony is closed to the
public. The Terminal offers a good view of the General Aviation
area to the North along with the British Airways facility at the
Northern perimeter of the field, it also offers a good view of
the runway and the apron in front of three of the Air bridges
for International Departures but phoning ahead to check if the
viewing area is open is recommended especially out of peak season.
The balcony is also useless for photography due to the safety
wire. At the southern end of the runway, halfway around a long
bend is a road to the left, the verge here offers a good view
of Aircraft taking off or landing depending on the runway in use.
Some Spotters near the Flying Club during the recent
Hineken Cup Airlift
For photography, a lot of people tend to park
on the verge of the roundabout by the cargo terminal, this offers
a view of some of the International flight apron. Since the recent
security alert, there has been a permenant Police presence and
cars parked on the side of the road have been moved on, also I've
seen the Police questioning people going up to the fence by Stand
1.
If you follow the road into Rhoose Village,
the Bus Service does run through the Village as well but check
first, by taking the third junction off the only roundabout in
the Village you can get to a tarmac area by the Flying Club, this
offers free Parking and a good view of the runway, the front of
the entire Terminal building and the Club apron, also the British
Airways facility.
The Flying Club I believe do Bar Meals and
the Village offers a Spar, a Bread shop and a Take away as well
as the nearest toilet, a Super loo that is only occasionally in
service and looks like it will not be in use for a long time.
Radio frequencies for Cardiff Wales are :-
Tower 125.00
Approach 125.85
Atis 128.825
Radar (when needed 124.10)
Servisair nationwide 130.60 AM
455.7000 NFM is the Tower repeater for ground crews
277.2250 AM is the repeater for Director/Approach
121.6000 AM is Fire crews, normally used aircraft to crew. Crew
talk to Tower on 455.7
129.7500 AM is British Regional ops but is nationwide so you hear
many calls to other airports
131.8500 AM is BA maintenance nationwide
The Tower also handle the traffic using
Bristol Lulsgate.
Click on image below for an Ordanance
Survey map of the Airport
For Civil Aviation Authority charts
in PDF format click here
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