Argentina Aviation Adventure 2006
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Spotting at Aeroparque
In years past, the Argentine Air Force museum was situated on a sizeable plot of land to the south of the main terminal building, and this was an excellent place to view and photograph the proceedings. Expansion of the terminal building has displaced the museum which is no longer, but the Aeroparque still offers superb viewing and photography vantage points for enthusiasts. The entire airport is circled by a seven-foot high security fence. Don’t despair! The fence is made up of welded vertical bars and there is lots of room to poke a lens through, although panning is not easily possible.
Aeroparque’s best and most convenient viewing spot is from what the locals call “the little corner” which is on the north end of the terminal building, just outside the staff entrance doors by the Pluna check-in area. The “little corner” is just that, a 90-degree corner where the fences meet that offers superb views of the active ramp area looking towards the terminal, as well excellent views of the taxiway and runway. No ladder is required as it is easy to poke one’s camera through the fence bars. The only problem is that the area is naturally very popular with locals, who congregate here to meet and greet arriving relatives, or just stop by to watch the planes! The local spotters complain of having to strong-arm their way through the teeming crowds on weekends to access the 90-degree corner spot. Standing at the dead-center of the corner, you can easily photograph taxing and landing aircraft, as well as aircraft taxing and pushing-back from the gate areas. The “little corner” can only accommodate one or two photographers, so best not to travel with lots of friends!
One other important observation. Visitors from years’ past will notice that the security fence that circles the Aeroparque has been heightened. The few extra feet of added height was welded onto the old fence, so it is no longer possible pan aircraft with camera held in hand at foot level. As in years’ past, photography is possible through the fence, but panning is a challenge in some areas.
A word of caution and advice. Each and every time I arrived at the “little corner” with my cameras and gear, I always checked-in with the on-duty security supervisor just inside the terminal building through the staff entrance doors and down the first hall on the right. I presented my passport, and explained my interest, and was soon recognized as a regular. By doing this, I was not hassled by the ever present security guards inside and outside the fence. Although I was briefly questioned on a few occasions, after explaining that I had spoken with the security chief, all was OK. A basic understanding of Spanish is mandatory for the visiting spotter, as most airport security personnel do not speak a single word of English!
It is possible to walk around the entire airfield on foot, although this would eat valuable time and is not recommended. Suffice it to say, the light is best throughout the day on the easily accessible east side of the field, by the “little corner” at North end of the terminal building. Also, to encounter a problem with the security staff at a remote location more than a few paces away from the security office, this would result in wasted spotting time (after being told to move on, or being taken to the station for questioning). That said, the local spotters advise that it is rarely a problem to photograph through the fence at either approach end of the field.
During the hot Argentine summer months (November through March), it is best to visit the Aeroparque during the early morning, or late afternoon (and early evening hours) to avoid the sweltering heat and haze, and high sun. Most mornings I left the hotel at 6 am and returned in time for breakfast around 9 am, providing a solid two hours of early morning photography. I then returned at 5 pm for another two hours of late afternoon photography, and most days it was still in the mid-30s (Celsius) at 6 pm! If traveling with a wife, she will not likely object to spending a few hours on her own to explore the city and its many wonderful boutiques.
After a few visits to the Aeroparque the routine becomes apparent. All of the LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas fleets cycle through the airport several times a day, and they all come back to roost each night for their overnight maintenance checks (between midnight and 5 am). From a purely aviation perspective, only a few nice sunny days are required to soak up all the available action at the Aeroparque, although the city of Buenos Aires is the most elegant, beautiful and architecturally impressive city in all the Americas. To see the sights and soak up the atmosphere of this remarkable city and its fascinating neighborhoods, and allow enough time for visits to the Aeroparque, one should budget six to seven days in Buenos Aires.
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