Viewing terrace and a "new" terminal. 2015.05.23

After more than two years of construction work, the "new" terminal has been opened on the 22nd of May 2015. Or rather reopened. Now the entire airport area is one. No longer do parts dramatically differ from each other. It is clean, spacious with lots of chairs to sit or lay on. The opening added baggage belts to the 5 existing ones at the arrivals level and also check-in counters, stores and shops for departing passengers. A McDonald has been opened both air- and land-side for the first time in Warsaw Airport history. You can still see the decorations (mostly balloons) which accompanied the opening ceremony. Together with the grand opening a new website for the airport has been officially launched and some changes have been made in the organization of car movements at the terminal (detailed maps at the bottom).
Also, a viewing terrace has been reopened. Although in a different form than before and in a slightly different spot it is good news for families and people who just want to simply have a look at the planes. The terrace has a glass wall, but you still are a bit on fresh air because the wall isn't connected with the roof. The glass surely will be a problem when photo-shooting, it will get dirty, it will reflect other lights, it will get greasy and it is at an angle to the floor. Heat haze will be disturbing for those wanting a quality photo or two. The location has been also moved away from the tarmac so you are unable to see planes standing near the terminal. The only things you'll be able to photograph in a way are: planes landing and departing, planes taxiing and planes standing at apron 5B. For the thirsty ones there is a bar and a souvenir shop located beside the terrace. Also, for your convenience there are screens with the timetable and a screen with the radar situation around the airport.
The entrance is located near the exit from the railway station. There is no direct passage to the terminal itself.

Entrance overview

Austrian 767 experience

OS64 (1125LT-1550LT)
22nd September 2014, the alarm goes off (well, a 777  flies by to be exact), I have around five hours to my flight. The weather outside is bad, foggy (or smoggy), little sun. While laying in bed a couple of rare planes (and liveries) land just outside my window but I was too lazy to grab my camera. With Clint Eastwood talking in the TV I finish packing my bags. Check out. A bus to the terminal and a scoop of ice-cream for a goodbye. As I have checked in for my flight on-line I don't have to stand in the long queue, always spares me a lot of hassle. A couple of photos of the terminal, security check, emigration, a train to the gates and woah, the terminal seems empty, I've been prepared for a lot more people. A quick round around the gates to see what is there to photograph, not much as a matter of fact (some of it may be found in the post about spotting in Beijing). A little shopping (breakfast was desired) and with two new bags in my hand boarding for my flight has commenced. It only is a matter of time when I get on the plane, find my seat and install all electronic devices. First impression of the interior? Quite nice, I like the composition of colors. The seat is alright, the PTV works great. Soon push-back has started and after a while, with some stopping in line for departure, we taxied onto runway 01. Full thrust and we are airborne. Well, it would be more fun if you could see something through the windows. a couple of minutes flying through smog and clouds when finally we get to see the sun and a sea of fluffy clouds which goes on all the way to Mongolia. The flight goes on pretty smoothly, overflying cities like Kyzyl, Nizhny Novgorod and Warsaw (under clouds) time flies pretty fast. The main, a chicken, was good, 4/6 is what I'd give it. An hour before landing we get a hot sandwich with ham and cheese. Landing on time, in some post-rain weather. Good to be back in Europe and at an airport that I really like flying to. A visit to the cockpit and a chat with the friendly crew summed up the flight. Now all I have, after the very smooth immigration control, is to wait around 3 hours for my flight back home. Luckily I found a fantastic, quiet spot.

Overall the combination of Austrian Airlines and the Boeing 767 is really fantastic and I do recommend it to everyone. Videos between the photos. Flight review video at the end.

Beijing Capital Airport spotting; ZBAA/PEK 21.09.2014

Both before departing to North Korea and after arriving back to China I have had a couple of opportunities to spot a bit at Beijing Capital Airport. I can divide them into 4 parts where part 1: before departure from PEK for FNJ; part 2: after landing in PEK from FNJ; part 3: the main spotting part; part 4: before departure from PEK to VIE. Part 1 and 4 feature photos mainly made from the terminal area while part 3 is the more standard "beside the fence" spotting.
During my stay winds were mostly southernly thus runway 36L, 36R and 01 in use. Unfortunately I would not say that the weather was great. I'd rather say it was more of a typical Beijing aura with smog around.
For some detailed information about spotting locations in Beijing visit spotterguide

An Air China A330 landing at 36R (B-6079)

Queue from both sides to depart from 36R