General

Introduction:
Zurich Airport is one of the most spotter friendliy airports around the world because of great spots, not issues with the police and a friendly spotter community and environment.

Frequencies:
Listening to Air Traffic Communications is allowed in Switzerland and is - as always- a great tool to hear what's going on.

- ATIS: 128,525 (Arrival) & 129,000 (Departure)
- Tower: 118,100
- Final: 125,325
- Arrival: 119,700; 120,750; 118,000
- Delivery: 121,925
- Departure: 125,950

You can also listen to ZRH ATC via Liveatc.net or check the ATIS via telephone: (+41438162294)

Runway-Usage:
Due to political reasons, the runway usage at Zurich Airport mostly depends on the day and time.

Monday - Friday
06:00 - 07:00 Landing RWY34, Departure RWY32
07:00 - 21:00 Landing RWY14, Departure RWY16 and RWY28
21:00 - 00:00 Landing RWY28, Departure RWY32 and RWY34

Saturday, Sunday and Southern Germany Holidays
06:00 - 09:00 Landing RWY34, Departure RWY32
09:00 - 20:00 Landing RWY14, Departure RWY16 and RWY28
20:00 - 00:00 Landing RWY28, Departure RWY32 and RWY34

This Runway schedule is not used when strong winds and/or low visibility (Landing RWY14 all the time) are prevailing. Nevertheless, RWY10 and RWY32 will never be used for landings.

A good way to get most interesting movements on a whole day, start in the early morning with Spot 6, at 8 am (wintertime 9 am) use Spot 7 until they switch the runways to RWY14 arrivals. Then go to Spot 5 until approx. noon. Now move on to Spot 3 to shoot the heavy departures from RWY16. Finally you can photograph until sunset at spot 1. This sequence is based on the usual RWY schedule they use at ZRH as described above.

Traffic:
The official website of Zurich Airport offers a great service to see all arrivals and departures per day, and also to review the registrations of the aircrafts operating these flights. Click here to go to the schedule.

Photo - Locations

A interactive map with the following spotting points on it can be found here, using maps.google.com.

Spot 1 - Approach RWY 14

• General
  RWY14 is the main runway used for landings. So you will see almost all arrivals into ZRH here. You can choose your position at your convenience since there are a lot of small footpaths in the fields. There is also a big parking area with restrooms an a small snack hut.

• How to get there
  Check the spotting map., Check also for Spot 5.
  Just take the road that connects the two villages of "Bachenbülach" and "Oberglatt". You can't miss the spot, it's a big parking area just next to RWY14.
  By foot you can walk from the terminal, exit on the arrival floor of terminal A to the east, pass by the flight operation center and the cargo loading area. Then follow the path that runs along the airport fences (approx 1hour 15min).

• What equipment do you need:
  - No ladder required
  - Lens: approx. 100mm

• When to use this spot
  - From approx. 13:00 until sunset

• What kind of pictures can you take
  You can take side shots of the arriving planes, and when the visibilitiy is very good you can take pictures of the landing planes from behind with the alps as a background.

Example photo:

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Spot 2 - Lineup RWY28

• General
  This spot is on a parking area just under the final approach of RWY28. You can take pictures of the planes when they are entering RWY28, which is the runway mainly used for take-offs of all small and medium sized aircraft. Heavies usually depart from RWY16 / 34.

• How to get there
  Check the spotting map.
  By foot you can walk from the terminal, exit on the arrival floor of terminal A to the east, pass by the flight operation center and the cargo loading area. You will enter a parking area where you can choose your photo position. (approx 15min)

• What equipment do you need
  - 1m tall ladder might be useful, otherwise it's possible to shoot through the fence
  - Lens: approx. 200mm

• When to use this spot
  - From sunrise to approx. 11:00

• What kind of pictures can you take
  In the morning you have great light when the planes are entering RWY28. There is a fence (approx. 2,5m high). A ladder is useful, but it's also possible to take pictures through the fence.

Example photo:

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Spot 3 - Heligrill

• General
  At this spot you are very close to the action just at the intersection of RWY16/34 and RWY28/10. Additionally there are restrooms, a parking area and a snack hut. For the photographers there are big holes cut into the fence, but on a busy day they might all be occupied (bring a ladder)

• How to get there
  Check the spotting map.
  From the terminal follow the street signs to "Oberglatt". The street will lead you to the west side of ther airport. Look out for a small sign "Heligrill" that will lead you to the spot. It is also possible to go there by foot since there is a footpath all around the whole airport.

• What equipment do you need
  - 1m tall ladder might be useful, otherwise it's possible to shoot through the fence
  - Lens: approx. 70mm

• When to use this spot
  - From 12:00 until sunset for RWY16, for RWY28 from 10:00 - 17:00

• What kind of pictures can you take
  You can take pictures of both aircrafts departing on RWY28 / RWY10 or of departures from RWY16 / RWY34. The heavy planes departing from RWY16 will rotate just in front of you.

Example photo (Take-off from RWY16):

Example photo (Take-off from RWY28):

Example photo (Taxiing for take-off from RWY10):

Example photo of the holes in the fence:

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Spot 4 - Midfield

• General
  The spot is the observation deck on the Midfield Terminal. It is ony accesable with a bus that departs from the observation deck on Terminal B (see Spot 7). The fares and the schedule of that bus can be found here.

• How to get there
  Check the spotting map.
  The only way to acces the observation deck is to use the visitor shuttle bus that departs from observation deck on Terminal B (see above).

• What equipment do you need
  - No ladder required
  - Lens: approx. 70mm

• When to use this spot
  - Sunrise to approx. 15:00

• What kind of pictures can you take
  You can take pictures of the planes taxiing by and of those parked at the midfield terminal (mostly widebodies). You also have a good view on RWY28 but the light is not good because you are facing south. But you can also see the planes landing and departing from RWY34 and RWY16 in the morning hours.

Example photo:

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Spot 5 - Approach RWY 14

• General
  Another nice parking area from where you can take pictures of RWY14 arrivals in the morning hours.

• How to get there
  Check the spotting map.
  Again take the road between Oberglatt and Bachenbülach. When you arrive from the east (Bachenbülach) follow the first signs to a parking area to the left. If you arrive from the west (Oberglatt) take the second parking area to your right. (The first one is for Spot1). To go there by foot see description for Spot 1.

• What equipment do you need
  - No ladder required
  - Lens: approx. 70mm

• When to use this spot
  - Sunrise until 12:00

• What kind of pictures can you take
  RWY14 is the main runway used for landings. So you will see almost all arrivals into ZRH here. This is the morning spot for RWY14 arrivals. Check Spot 1 for the afternoon.

Example photo:

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Spot 6 - Approach RWY 34

• General
  The spot is on the 10th. floor of the P3 parking garage. The parking fees can be found here. It's also very easy to acces by foot because there is a direct connection to the terminal. Food and restrooms are available inside the terminal. Unfortunately you have to photograph through a fence of vertical fins about 30cm apart. But when you are used to it it's no issue at all.

• How to get there
  Check the spotting map.
  By car follow the signs at the terminal area to P3. By foot follow the signs inside the terminals that will lead you to an elevator. Go to the 10th floor.

• What equipment do you need
  - No ladder required
  - Lens: approx. 120mm

• When to use this spot
  - Sunrise until 11:00

• What kind of pictures can you take
  You can see all RWY34 arrivals and especially in the morning the light is great. Since you are standing on a parking garage you will be at approximately the same level with the planes. You can vary you angle of view and have either the old Zurich Control Tower and the rural landscape, or the alps as a background.

Example photo:

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Spot 7 - Dock B

• General
  This spot is the observation deck on the old Terminal B. Restrooms, snacks are available. Check fees and opening hours here.

• How to get there
  Check the spotting map.
  Follow the signs inside the terminals to reach the observation deck.

• What equipment do you need
  - No ladder required
  - Lens: approx. 70mm

• When to use this spot
  - Sunrise until 11:00

• What kind of pictures can you take
  The pictures from this spot ar very similar to those descibed und Spot 6, when RWY34 is used for landings. Additionaly you are very close to the planes taxiing by. You can also shoot departures from RWY16 in the morning. Since there is not much traffic at Terminal B I only recommand this spot as an alternative solution to Spot 6.

Example photo of taxiing planes:

Example photo (landings RWY34):