East Midlands Freight 05/05/21 / 06/05/21 Dave Rose
East Midlands reliance on freight has meant they have prospered during the pandemic, with a generally untouched schedule operating. However, the terminal and car parks are a ghost town, with zero passenger schedules operating, and plenty of Jet2 and Ryanair aircraft stored on the field.
UPS have now fully completed their large facility on the eastern side of the airport, and FedEx have a small depot between them and the passenger apron. From a spotting perspective, most aircraft can be seen when driving through, although photography is difficult on the airport complex, mainly as it is mostly "double red" lined with camera vans prowling.
I had some business meetings locally so booked into the Radisson Blu hotel, which has good views of the runway 27 threshold, although a bit far away for decent shots. Rooms facing the runway are 215-17-19-21-23 and 25, and the same for the 2 floors above, so 315 and 415 etc.The hotel is a high standard, and nothing will be missed from the room. I had 215 and below are shots from there -
As expected, most arrivals start late in the afternoon and continue till 22:00 ish, with departures going on during the night. Sunny spring/summer nights allow good shots once the sun goes round, as most spots are north side. I chose the East Midlands Gateway area, near the 27 threshold, and joined about 30 shooters here. Just turn sharp left at the new Gateway traffic lights and park on the road up to the crash gate. The picnic area here allows good shots on final approach -
If they are landing on 09, then a mound inside the Aeropark museum on the western perimeter can be used, and you can walk along the whole runway northside id you prefer touchdown shots. Although this is through the fence, so steps are needed.
Long haul freighters are UPS 767F (Daily, except Monday), Polar 767F (For DHL), Cargologic 744F (For DHL), Cargojet 767F, ABX 767F and DHL 767F. Other interesting stuff is Bluebird Cargo 734F, Aerologic 777F, FedEx 757F (day stops), CargoAir 734F, Icelandair 757F and lots of feeders from DHL, West Atlantic, and Titan. The excellent EMA Facebook group updates the expected movements each day, posting around 7am.
Another interesting part of EMA is the 2 paintshops, with Airborne Colours certainly the busiest. They use the large hangar in the central area, and usually have an aircraft in both ends. Once complete, they park close by, and offer good shots from the TUI car park, although you need to be quick to avoid security. I was lucky, and this had just left the southern part of the hangar -
A list of arrivals over the period is here -
| 5th May | |||
| C-FGSJ | Boeing 76739H(ER)(BCF) | 26256 | CargoJet Airways |
| D-AALE | Boeing 777FZN | 36198 | AeroLogic |
| D-AALI | Boeing 777F6N | 37708 | AeroLogic |
| D-AZMO | Airbus A300F4-622R | 872 | DHL Worldwide Courier Express |
| D-IBJJ | Cessna 525A | 525A-0125 | Elbe Air Lufttransport |
| EC-MNM | Boeing 7374Y0(SF) | 26071 | Swiftair |
| EI-OZL | Airbus A300B4-622RF | 717 | DHL Worldwide Courier Express |
| G-CLBA | Boeing 747428ERF | 32870 | Cargologicair |
| G-DHKR | Boeing 757223(PCF) | 29426 | DHL Worldwide Courier Express |
| G-JMCH | Boeing 737476(SF) | 24439 | West Atlantic UK |
| G-JMCO | Boeing 7373T0(SF) | 23569 | West Atlantic UK |
| G-NPTA | Boeing 73786N(BCF) | 32740 | West Atlantic UK |
| LZ-CGU | Boeing 737448(SF) | 24773 | Cargo Air |
| N346UP | Boeing 76734AF | 37868 | United Parcel Service Company |
| N643GT | Boeing 7673JHF | 37809 | Polar Air Cargo |
| N918FD | Boeing 75723A(SF) | 24290 | Federal Express |
| OY-SRG | Boeing 767219(ER)(BDSF) | 23328 | Star Air A/S |
| OY-SRH | Boeing 767204(ER)(BDSF) | 24457 | Star Air A/S |
| SE-LPS | British Aerospace ATPF | 2043 | West Air Sweden |
| TF-BBK | Boeing 7374Q8(SF) | 26302 | Bluebird Nordic |
| 6th May | |||
| D-AEAO | Airbus A300B4-622RF | 711 | DHL Worldwide Courier Express |
| EI-STN | Boeing 7374Q8(SF) | 25106 | ASL Airlines Ireland |
| EI-STS | Boeing 73748E(SF) | 25773 | ASL Airlines Ireland |
| G-DHKG | Boeing 757236(PCF) | 29946 | DHL Worldwide Courier Express |
| G-DHLG | Boeing 7673JHF | 37807 | DHL Worldwide Courier Express |
| G-ILBG | Cessna 525A | 525A-0461 | Catreus |
| G-LMRZ | Aerospatiale ATR 72212A | 570 | Loganair |
| G-OASL | Aerospatiale ATR 72202F | 265 | ASL Airlines UK |
| OO-SNC | Airbus A320214 | 1797 | Brussels Airlines |
| OY-SRH | Boeing 767204(ER)(BDSF) | 24457 | Star Air A/S |
| SE-MAJ | British Aerospace ATPF | 2038 | West Air Sweden |