Dublin Airport (DUB) - 11 June 2025

At the end of an 18-day trip around Ireland with the wife, she gave me her blessing to spend a few hours doing what I enjoy most and where my passion for aviation photography started in the early 1980s. Many happy hours were spent at the parking area adjacent to the old Rwy 24 threshold. How things have changed at DUB since we left in 1986.

As I drove towards the airport, I could see that Rwy 10R was being used for departures, which scuppered my plans to base myself on the mound at the Rwy 28L threshold. This location is not great for Rwy 10R take-off photos as the aircraft are already well into their climb-out as they pass the mound, showing mostly their undersides.
Plan B took me to the opposite end of this runway adjacent to the Rwy 10R threshold. This is a location that I used before, many years ago, in similar circumstances and, at that time, seemed to be popular with spotters. There was no one else there today and when I climbed the grassy slope to the area that overlooks the Rwy 10R threshold, it was obvious why this place has fallen out of favour. The area is totally overgrown now and as a consequence, the view of the runway is very restricted. There is a small gap in the bushes, which allows a clear view of aircraft as they approach the end of the taxiway and turn on to the runway, but once they start their take-off roll, they disappear very quickly. Not really a good place for photography. Oddly, there was a lone chair placed in the middle of this small secluded area. To make matters worse, it was a hot, sunny day which caused photos of aircraft on the taxiway, approaching Rwy 10R to be degraded by heat haze. It was a little better once they were lined up on the runway.
I was tempted to move across to the road directly opposite (it's still the R108) but there is no way of shooting over the fence without a ladder and in any case, from that location, you are shooting into the sun. Accordingly, I decided to make the best of where I was.
Despite the frustrations, I still enjoyed my few hours at DUB.
As I was leaving, I decided to follow the road around the new 10L/28R Rwy to see what photography opportunities existed. There are odd places to park along the road but there is still the high fence problem. On the very northside of the airfield, there appears to be some formal parking areas but again, there are the issues of the high fence and shooting into the sun (assuming it is shining)
P.S. Just seen that DAA has been granted planning permission for a new Aircraft Observation Facility on Old Airport Road at the site of the existing informal ‘airport viewing point’ (the mound). Looking forward to seeing that in the future.
flyinginireland.com/2025/06/planning-permission-granted-f...