FINLAND
HELSINKI (EFHK/HEL)
A good place is to walk round to the end of the domestic area of the terminal to see the day stopping freighters (left of the terminal I think) and the GA and biz - any visitors that park side on can be read off with binoculars. Simply walk through the International Terminal, following signs for the Domestic Terminal, go through the connecting passageway and right through the small Domestic Terminal to the end of the building and take the last door out onto the road outside. Then simply follow the road along the perimeter fence to log what is there. There are also good views in the International terminal at the viewing area next to the Fly Inn – it’s on the top floor, up a small escalator on departures level, just follow the signs for the Fly Inn Restaurant outside which is the viewing area. The viewing area has a few stools by the window and a few more comfy sofa-type chairs set further back. The view is out over a small part of the International ramp, with one of the runways (and taxiways) close in front of you and another somewhat in the distance in front. The third runway is pretty much out of sight to your right behind the terminal building, and departures from here are pretty much impossible to read. However, you shouldn’t miss anything as everything either lands on the near runway in front of you or on the far runway and taxis down to the terminal. The only real possibility of missing anything is if a freighter night stops and then departs from the runway to your right, but a check of the freight area will prevent this problem. The MD11s and A340s park just to your left - they are visible, but possibly unreadable, as either obscured by the front aircraft in the line or by the distortion caused by the double glass. There are also views from outside at the far end of the domestic terminal, including cargo. By walking airside to the extreme end of domestic you have a view of the biz parking. You can walk through the Hilton car park toward the maintenance area, and you will probably find a few Finnair & Blue 1 aircraft parked, especially at weekend. The Holiday Inn Garden Court, which has a free shuttle bus departing the airport every 30 minutes from Stand 11 outside the International Terminal Arrivals Level.
Updated 25 September 2007