Here are four breathtaking beach locations where planespotting is even more spectacular than it already is today.
When it comes to vacations, the only thing that can top a trip to the beach is one that includes outstanding opportunity to get up close and personal with airplanes. As long as they are ready to possibly endure the scorching sand-blasting sensation of standing behind a jet as it takes off from less than 100 meters away, aircraft fans who are anxious to locate the greatest beach planespotting places throughout the world have a lot of alternatives to choose from. (I can assure you that you will both lose your hat and your sunglasses.)
Which place is ideal for plane-spotting?
When it comes to planespotting, Maho Beach on the island of St. Maarten, which is located in the Caribbean, is the most well-known beach. Despite the fact that the beach’s great position adjacent to Princess Juliana International Airport is the reason for its appeal, it is not the only sandy site for those who are interested in watching flights.
There are beaches in a number of other nations that also provide spectacular views of airplanes landing or taking off. These beaches give opportunity for people who are ready to make the journey to take photographs and experiences that are really unforgettable. The Larnaca Airport (LCA) in Cyprus has a coastline that offers breathtaking views of the European and Middle Eastern flight traffic that is arriving at the airport.
The beach known as “The Beach” in Sydney (SYD) is a location that is often ignored by aviation enthusiasts who are interested in taking photographs of a variety of planes, including the enormous Airbus A380. In addition, Phuket, Thailand (HKT) has two large beaches that provide guests with excellent views of planes; nevertheless, the country’s stringent safety rules restrict the experiences that visitors may have there.
Phuket, Thailand (HKT)
Lovely vistas with a stringent enforcement of the rules. It is situated on the northwest shore of Phuket Island in Thailand, which is where Phuket Airport (HKT) can be found. The bridge that connects the well-known tourist island to the mainland of Thailand is only a short distance away from the airport.
The beach of Nai Yang can be found on the west coast of Phuket, just south of Mai Khao Beach, and is situated very next to the airport. There is a perspective position at the airport that is comparable to the iconic Maho Beach, and it is located between the two prominent beaches.
When they visit Nai Yang Beach, tourists have the opportunity to see the arrival of aircraft at runway 09 flying directly above or to feel the intense jet blast that is produced by airplanes taking off from the runway. A broad range of narrow and widebody aircraft types are among those that are often seen at the airport. These aircraft include:
A Boeing 737 and a Boeing 777
Airbus A319, Airbus A220, and Airbus A320 are the aircraft in issue.
On the other hand, it is essential that tourists be aware of the stringent restrictions that Thailand has in place restricting the seeing of airplanes at this area. It is not feasible to take photographs of airplanes that are queuing up for runway 09 without climbing a hill and seeing over a high fence, as stated by Wandering Journal. Doing so is against the law and will result in serious consequences.
According to statements made by Airport Chief Wichit Kaeothaithiam to the Bangkok Post in 2019, visitors to Nai Yang and Mai Khao Beaches are required to comply with rules in order to safeguard the safety of individuals both on the ground and in the aircraft of the airport. According to his statement, those who violate these laws are subject to a variety of sanctions, including hefty fines and prison terms of up to twenty years. In addition, he made a fairly frightening remark in his warning.
“The maximum penalty that can be imposed is the death penalty.”
Larnaca, Cyprus (LCA)
Visit Mackenzie Beach to see aircraft flying over the Mediterranean. The airport known as Larnaca International Airport (LCA) can be found on the southeastern coast of Cyprus, which is an island nation situated in the eastern Sea of Mediterranean. In addition to being the most important international entry point to Cyprus, the airport is the larger of the two commercial airports that are located on the island.
Hermes Airports reports that LCA has a single runway that is 2,994 meters in length and measures 9,823 feet in length (04/22). The airport is often used as a layover by flights coming from Europe and the Middle East, and it also serves as a destination for tourists flying to the beautiful Mediterranean island.
Mackenzie Beach, which is located just off the northeast end of the airport, is an excellent spot for visitors who are searching for a fantastic view of aircraft landing and taking off from the airport. In accordance with the Spotter Guide, runway 22 is used 95% of the time, and the sandy beach is an ideal location for monitoring arrivals on this runway.
Visitors at Mackenzie Beach have the opportunity to see airplanes landing directly above, including Boeing 777s and Airbus A320s, despite the fact that LCA is a very tiny airport. Those who are interested in capturing the greatest photographs of leaving aircraft may climb up on the enormous concrete block that is located near the airport’s fence. This will provide them with an uninterrupted view of the jets that are lined up for runway 22.
St. Maarten, Caribbean
The pinnacle of all possible planespotting settings. There is a beach on the island of Saint Martin, which is located in the Caribbean Sea, that is considered to be the most popular beach planespotting site in the whole globe. Maho Beach may be found on the Dutch side of the island, inside the province of Sint Maarten, and is situated in close proximity to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).
In spite of the fact that the airport only has one runway that is currently in use and a terminal that is only equipped with four jet bridges, it experiences an astonishing quantity of aviation traffic. When it comes to airplanes, Visit St. Maarten reports that smaller aircraft are more likely to arrive in the morning, while bigger carriers start to arrive in the early afternoon. Despite the fact that the Boeing 747, often known as the “Queen of the Skies,” has landed at SXM in the past, the following are some of the biggest aircraft that tourists are likely to see today:
Delta’s Boeing 757s and Boeing A330s belonging to KLM
Flights operated by a variety of airlines, including JetBlue’s Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s
When they are at Maho Beach, tourists get the opportunity to see incoming planes only a few meters over their heads, which causes many of them to duck because of the close proximity. Visitors to the beach are greeted by departing airplanes with a forceful and scorching jet blast, which causes many of them to take a tumble down the sandy shoreline.
Because Maho Beach is such a popular area for planespotting, the Sunset Beach Bar near the beach publishes daily arrivals and departures for guests to check. Additionally, the bar provides cuisine and beverages with an aviation theme, and it has its very own live camera that broadcasts airplanes at SXM. Visitors to this one-of-a-kind location will not only have the opportunity to take pleasure in the beach’s pristine white sands and azure seas, but they will also have the chance to join part on the planespotting adventure of a lifetime.
Sydney, Australia (SYD)
South of the equator, at “The Beach” In addition to being the busiest airport in Australia, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) is also the principal hub for Qantas services. Furthermore, the airport is situated right next to Botany Bay and has three runways.
The beach, often known as “The Beach,” is located to the east of the airport and is a stretch of sand that is often neglected. Planespotters who are wanting to get views of airplanes arriving or leaving runway 16R/34L will find this one-of-a-kind site along the bay to be an outstanding place. According to Secret Sydney, the beach is a little bit difficult to get there, but the reward plus the fact that there aren’t too many people there makes it worth the effort.
Rapid enthusiasts who are equipped with the appropriate photographic equipment are able to take fantastic photographs of aircraft ranging from corporate jets to the enormous Airbus A380. This is despite the fact that fences and trees may hinder camera views. Those who are interested in visiting this site should be aware that Sydney has a curfew that is imposed by the government from 23:00 to 06:00 and should make plans to be at The Beach from 13:00 until sunset in order to have the finest views of the airplanes.