Hi to all, I suggest to yours the spotting and photography situation available at Bologna Guglielmo.Marconi International , Italy after opening held on July 2nd. 2004 after working to extend the runway to 2800m increasing the range of operations to 5000-6000nm. To reach Bologna is very easy via the surface links such as the motorways (A1 from Milan, A13 from Venice-Padua, A1 from Florence, A14 from Rimini/Ancona). Same thing and origin via the railroads that stops at Bologna railway station that with the motorway constitute most important junction in Italy. The airport is located 6.4 km northwest from the city of Bologna, very close to the ring road that runs together with the motorway. Map of the airport and photopoint is just available on www.spottersunited.com and checking Bologna in the spotting airport list: The single runway (12/30) have the terminal positioned in the south east side. There isn't a roof terrace. An observation point can be found in the refreshment area where a self service restaurant opens during the day. The access is from Terminal A at the second floor after climb from departure floor via stair or by lift. Here there is a bar, the self service restaurant and a Spizzico pizza corner. The entrance is free, tinted green glasses protect from the launch of dangerous objects into the apron. Good for spotters but not for photographers, 100% of the scene about movements can be monitored. Surface around 1000 square metes All around the perimeter there are various viewpoints where it is very easy to spot or shoot pictures. A car is necessary to allow the movements from a spot point to another. Spot 1- Lippo di Calderara is a small town placed on the other side of the runway opposite to the terminal. Leaving the terminal area you can drive to the left following the road turn all around the threshold of runway 30 and then when you join the first cross take to the left and at the center of the town enter up a road called 'Via Surrogazione'. At the end of that road there is a security emergency gate. Here photography is fine in summer from 0600am to 1000am. Aircraft are in brake action in the runway, but with recent works are very slow in the run to go to leave it. There is an opportunity aircraft take the new high speed taxiway. In the various opportunity you have to use a lens from 100m to 300m. Generally if they continue to taxi on the runway a 140mm is good for a MD82. Differently if they join the new taxiway the distance is a bit longer but the angle increase the light opportunity to midday. At 50 meters from the crash gate there is a hotel, the name is Hotel Emi. It is also a pizzeria/restaurant. Hotel Emi Via Surrogazione 45 40012 Calderara di Reno Italia Tel: +39 051726108 Spot 2 - Reno River embarkment, on the way to go to Lippo di Calderara to the left there is an embarkment, on the top of it you are exactly in front of the threshold 30. From here is fine to use a lens in the range from 150mm to 300mm. The position is a little bit elevated. Spot 3 - In front to the Reno River embarkment due to the road runs a little bit down of the level of the airport there is the opportunity of access to the fence of the airport. Caution can be made for the presence of military personnel that patrol the perimeter from the internal. But the position is fine especially for the holding point for runway 30 and the lens necessary is from 100mm to 300mm. Spot 4 - Before reaching the terminal passenger area, 400-500m from the photopoint nr. 3 the fence is exactly close to the road. This is a good spot when aircraft take off from runway 30. You are very close to the taxiway. A 70mm lens is necessary for a A330-200. Nice from midday to 5pm in summer, close to sunset in winter. The only problem is the cockpit area not in light in summer after 4pm. Spot 5) Runway 12 side: To go to this spot follow a secondary road that leaves the terminal area to the right and take the first road on the right. This is the way to go to the flying club where in the past a roof terrace was available but this is now closed. At the crossing with signs showing right for the flying club you must go ahead, continue ahead until a railroad cross and take a right following a road called 'Via della Salute'. After the left turn to the right you note the airport area and then an emergency gate. From here is possible to shoot but do not park the car in front of the crash gate!!. To the right on the old embarkment and to the left there are some hills. From the right the close position limits to shoot planes until 737 (50mm), a small stair is needed, along the embarkment it turns and walking ahead the distance from the taxiway will increase and is fine to shoot until an A300 with 50mm. To the left of the crash gate when climbing the hill you have the possibility to shoot with a wide range of distance lenses until the size of a A300/B767 (50mm) Caution should be taken when army personnel patrol the perimeter especially with camera, but compared to the past the situation has improved. From these positions with a 180mm an MD83 is possible to shoot in landing on the runway. Spot 6) Another photopoint is at the holding point runway 12 taxiway A, from here, from the fence, a stair is necessary, the size of planes is very limited due to the short distance. 45mm for an A320. Another hill allows to shoot bigger planes. Position nr. 5 and 6 are fine from midday to 6pm in summer, from 11am to sunset in winter. Spot 7) For position nr. 6 and 7 you have to drive ahead for further 400m from the crash gate position. There is a railroad cross with in the area a limited possibility of parkings for cars. Another car park is available in the other side of the rail road cross. Walking ahead, following the footpath and looking the fence there are a pair of hills, not permanent at the moment. Situation can change when construction works are finished. From this angle not parallel to the runway because the taxiway before to join the runway runs oblique for more then 150 meters its excellent to shoot the planes in taxi from 3.30pm to sunset. Another hill is present in the other side of the field for runway 12 line up morning shots but wasn't yet inspected until now. Traffic: Various Alitalia traffic except widebody, in the weekends charters. Tyrolean - Austrian Arrow DHC8-300,-400/CRJ Air One B737 Air Dolomiti ATR42/72 SAS B737/800/MD87/MD83 British Aw B737/EMB145 Air France B737/F100/BAE146/EMB135 Lufthansa A320/B737-CRJ-AVRO SN Brussels BAE146-ARJ85-ARJ100 KLM F70/100 Portugalia F100 Albanian AL BAE146 rarely Hemus TU154 MERIDIANA MD82 ALITALIA MD82 ALITALIA EXPRESS ATR72/EMB145/ ATR42 IBERIA MD87 Germanwings A319 AIR NOSTRUM CRJ MALEV CRJ CSA ATR72 AER LINGUS B737/A320 RAM B737 Carpatair/Moldavian SF340/ SAAB2000 Club Air BAe146 Volare A320 EasyJet B737 BLUE PANORAMA 767 Cargo flights A300 Channel Express for UPS WDL F27 for TNT Traco, BAE146/200-300 TNT in the night Charter flights especially on Saturday, Sunday, Monday in winter and also busy days in summer, with other ITC flights in the peak season in all the days of the week, with destination the Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands, Red Sea, U.K, Ireland, Sweden, C.S.I., Romania and Ukraine. Blue Panorama has 2 B737/400's permanently based here and Eurofly has an A320 based. Further charters are Spanair MD83/A320/A321, Futura B737/400-800, Iberworld A320, Volar A320/A321, Aegean B737, Sunexpress B737/800, Fly Air, Atlas Jet, Free Bird, Braathenns B737/400, BMI EMB145, Olympic B737/400, Islandsflug B737/400, Nouvelair Tunisie A320/MD83, Tunis Air B737/A319/A320, Karthago Airlines B737, LOTUS A320/A319, AMC MD83, Volare A320, Alitalia A321, Eurofly MD82, Neos B737/800, Livingston A321, Lauda B767/A330. Charter operators sometimes depends from the week. That's all for today, Best Regards, Marco