Trip Reports Forum | Trip report- OST BRU and AMS.

We decided to have a trip to one of our favourite airports as we wanted to see the new carriers and aircraft now operating into AMS. As we live in the south of England, we decided to go by car as the cost of flights for 3; car parking and car hire for 3 days was dearer than the ferry and fuel. So of we set on Thursday mid-morning and we duly arrived in Calais at 15:30. We set of to OST to find 2 World MD-11s and 2 DC-8-63s being worked on at the hanger, both of Meridian, a few shot of these and the 2 stored DC-8s. at 17:00 we set off to BRU for the evening. We found a nice spot on a mound of sand to the northwest of the 07L threshold. We managed to bag some great shots of the aircraft leaving BRU. We stayed until about 21:30 we arrived in AMS and the Etaps Hotel near the MacDonalds at Schipol North at 23:30. Looking across to the Martinair ramp we noticed that a Martinair B744 was back in service but that was the last we saw of her. The B777 of BA which had the engine failure near Moscow was being worked on in the hanger as was the MedEx B742F and a TNT B744F but these did not leave in the 2 days we were there.

07:30 start and up to catch the early movements and this is where the decisions have to be made, either 36R or 06 for arrivals or 36C or 36L for departures. 36L was chosen but that meant we missed out on the China Southern B77F and Garuda A332 departing off 36C much to our annoyance. We later found out that the aircraft departing to the east normally depart off 36C, We were parked by the west of 36L(point C on the guide) when the police came and told us to move the car, as parking is no longer allowed there. This is due to the farmers complaining that the spotters were damaging the crops, there is a car park for some retail outlets further down the road but it is a 5-10min walk and there is no guarantee it will stay open for spotters.

While the sun was directly south we decided to get some arrivals shots on 06 and parking the car near the bus stop walked the 200m towards the runway. We met some Dutch spotters we had arranged to meet and they explained that although spotters are well catered for, beware of upsetting the residents and farmers; the Dutch guys say that the police are clamping down on the unauthorised spots. They also explained the usage of the runways and that gave us some useful info for the next day early departures.

We departed to 36L (Point D) mid afternoon and to the car park and cycle path. We shot many rotational shots but as we wanted to see the China Southern and Korean B777s arrival the Dutch spotters offered to show us where the best spot was, a place which I had no knowledge of due to the extensive road changes south of Schipol, but due to being delayed by a member of the Dutch spotters wanting to take a picture of a departing KLM B737(!) we missed their arrival, much to my and the others annoyance. However we bagged the LH MD11 and Atlas B744F amongst others.

We decided to go back to 36C for the departure of the B777s as sunset was about 22:00 we would just be able to make it. However they shut 36C and so a mad dash to the south of the Taxiway, you cannot park here long, and they were duly bagged as was the Jade B744F then we left. we decided to go for some food and back to the hotel. The Dutch spotters told us that the A4 motorway services have some good restaurants, so it proved.

The next day was again bright and sunny but the road to the threshold of 36R was closed so we missed the Garuda arriving again!! By the time we had driven round and grabbed breakfast it was 09:00, We decided that we would go to 06 but the Qatar B77F was due to depart at about 09:30 so we decided that 36C departures would be the best spot for us. We duly bagged some great shots, however 36C closes mid morning and 36L becomes the only departure runway. You can tell when 36C closes as the aircraft cross it to the north of 09 to get to 36L, so we moved to a spot north of the taxiway to 36L near the canal. Great place as a 100mm lens for a B747 is full frame. But you need to be aware that the field is full of crops so do not go into the field. Once this location became backlit we moved over to 36L via the petrol station and coffee shop. There we stayed until 17:00 and the start of the trip home.

AMS has still some unique visitors and PIA send in their A310, as well as Jade, Great Wall, Atlas, Southern, Qatar freighters and China southern, Korean B777 and Garuda A330 amongst others. We spent £120 each, plus food and drink for 2 and a half days spotting and photos. (One of us hit 5500 photos). Journey time was 3:30 from AMS to Calais. Well worth it we thought.

Great read that Northern Boy, I'd like to have a trip back to AMS sometime, you really do get some great aircraft in there.