Bristol Airport Spotting is pleased to announce the launch of its new Spotters Dashboard, an interactive online resource designed to help aviation enthusiasts plan their visits, follow activity at Bristol Airport and make the most of their aircraft spotting experience.
Available now at www.bristolairportspotting.co.uk/dashboard/, the new dashboard brings together a range of useful information in one easy-to-access location, combining flight movement information, local weather conditions, aviation weather reports and guidance on some of the airport’s most popular spotting locations.
Developed with the needs of the spotting community in mind, the dashboard provides a convenient overview of activity at Bristol Airport (EGGD), helping spotters make more informed decisions about when to visit and where to watch the action.
Everything spotters need, in one place
The new Spotters Dashboard introduces several features designed to support both experienced aircraft spotters and those who are just beginning their aviation spotting journey.
Flight movements and live flight board
The dashboard features a flight movement board displaying upcoming arrivals and departures at Bristol Airport, helping enthusiasts keep track of scheduled and expected activity throughout the day.
Users can view flight information including flight numbers, airlines, routes, timings and flight status, with dedicated filters for all movements, arrivals and departures.
By bringing this information together in one place, the dashboard gives spotters a convenient way to see what aircraft activity is expected at the airport over the coming hours.
Runway direction estimates
Understanding which runway direction is likely to be in use can make a significant difference to an aircraft spotting visit.
The dashboard includes a runway direction estimate based on the latest available wind observations at Bristol Airport. By considering the prevailing wind and the airport’s east–west runway alignment, the feature estimates which direction may be favoured by current conditions.
This provides a useful additional reference for spotters deciding which viewing location might be most suitable for their visit.
Runway direction is an estimate only. The actual runway in use is determined by air traffic control and may differ from the dashboard’s indication.
Local weather and hourly forecasts
Weather conditions play an important role in aircraft spotting, particularly for photographers looking to make the most of changing light, visibility and wind conditions.
The dashboard includes current local weather conditions and an hourly forecast, with information such as temperature, feels-like temperature and wind direction.
This helps spotters assess the conditions before setting off and plan their visits around the weather, whether they are looking for photography opportunities or simply hoping to spend time watching aircraft movements.
Aviation weather reports
Alongside general weather information, the dashboard provides access to aviation-specific weather reports for Bristol Airport.
These include the latest available METAR observation and TAF terminal forecast, giving enthusiasts a more aviation-focused view of current conditions and the forecast for the airport.
By bringing general weather information and aviation weather reports together, the dashboard offers spotters a useful overview of the conditions that may influence their visit.
These reports are provided for spotting reference only and are not intended for operational flight planning.
Spotting locations and guidance
Knowing where to go is just as important as knowing what to look for. The dashboard incorporates information on three established spotting locations around Bristol Airport, with links to the website’s more detailed spotting guides.
Featured locations include:
- Winters Lane North – A useful location for general viewing, particularly for aircraft arriving on Runway 27 and taxiing back towards the terminal, as well as departures using Runway 09.
- Winters Lane South – An established all-round spotting location offering views of aircraft on the apron, landing, taking off and taxiing.
- Felton Common – A popular viewpoint beneath the Runway 27 flight path, offering opportunities to view arriving and departing aircraft.
Each location includes a brief overview, with links to further information and directions to help visitors prepare for their trip.
The inclusion of location guidance alongside flight movements and weather information allows users to consider the different elements of a spotting visit without having to navigate between multiple pages.
Spotters are reminded to use appropriate public viewing locations, respect private property and follow all airport safety guidance.
Designed for the Bristol Airport spotting community
The launch of the dashboard represents another development in Bristol Airport Spotting’s ongoing commitment to providing useful information and resources for the aviation community.
Since its beginnings in 2013, Bristol Airport Spotting has grown into an established online destination for enthusiasts interested in aircraft spotting, aviation photography, airport news and spotting events.
The new dashboard builds on these existing resources by bringing together several key areas of spotting information in a dedicated, interactive format.
Whether planning a dedicated photography trip, checking which flights are expected during a short visit, or simply keeping up with activity at Bristol Airport, the dashboard aims to make essential information easier to find and use.
The dashboard is currently available in Beta, with its launch providing an opportunity to introduce the new resource to the community as development continues.
Explore the new dashboard
The Bristol Airport Spotting team invites aviation enthusiasts, photographers and anyone with an interest in Bristol Airport to visit the new dashboard and explore its features.
The Spotters Dashboard is available now, free to access online at:
https://www.bristolairportspotting.co.uk/dashboard
For further spotting information, airport news, location guides and updates on future spotting events, visit the main Bristol Airport Spotting website.