Airports, in general...

Kristie

Kristie

Mama Bear....
Staff member
What airports are best for viewing takeoff's and landings (either from inside or outside)? Are any outside visual areas still open at any of the major airports (you know, for *parking*.. yea, that's it)?
 
Manchester, NH (MHT) really has some great areas where you are on the property of a true parking lot and standing on a dirt hill and the jets are very close to you. Specifically runway 24.

35

24

24

The terminals of DCA are great for watching all three runways since they are so close to them. Last time I was there only pax were allowed down them and it's probably still the same. Doug might know.
 
I think most commercial airports are good for spotting planes, but you have to be at the right place to get a good look at them.
 
Vegas south side of McCarren has a cool spot to watch T/Os and landings. I think you can also dial Tower on the AM or FM not sure about it though

Million Air in SLC when the KC 135's T/O

John Wayne @ the FBO not signature but the other one
 
Apparently LAX has a few good places for spotting, airports in Europe and Asia usually have places that are specially made for that. Lately you have to deal with a lot of people (especially police) asking questions. Which I think is good, but some of them go overboard and tell people that its illegal to sit around and watch planes, especially if you're takin pictures.
 
DFW has an awesome park on the south side of the airport built just for viewing planes coming in to land. The best time to go is when the wind is out of north. They even have spotting scopes there for you to use for free!
 
...and if you get off I-95 at Ft. Lauderdale airport, they have a pretty good viewing area, with a broadcast of the tower freq. I found our recently that they close this parking/viewing area at sunset. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
If you're up for spending a little cash (about $80 a night) the Concourse Renaissance at ATL is a great, great place. The hotel is right on the runways. Just make sure to ask for a room with a view of the hotel.

Naunga
 
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I think most commercial airports are good for spotting planes, but you have to be at the right place to get a good look at them.

[/ QUOTE ]yeah, i know.. but i'm looking for the ones where you can just sit and watch the planes without security wondering what the heck your doing?! I know orlando took out their "spotting area" because of security and it seems like so many airports are doing the same thing.

What I'd like to do is take a few trips to these airports, take some photo shots and just sit and watch the planes coming in/go out during rush hour....
 
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Tampa Intl, Roof Parking garage, great place to "Park" and see planes, at night is the best.

[/ QUOTE ]ahhh yes.. the only problem is that you have to pay to sit there and watch.. gets expensive after a while considering it's the main garage!!
 
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in NYC has a great viewing area. On the other side of the Grand Central Parkway, opposite Rwy 4, there is a place called Planeview Park. Aircraft landing on Rwy 4 seem to come like 50 feet from your head! I've been a couple times. It's amazing! No police trouble either.
 
Cleveland still has an observation deck at the end of the B terminal. You can't go outside anymore, for obvious reasons, but it still offers a great unobstructed view of the field from inside the deck.
 
Yeah, I'm the curse on this one. MCO took their's away, and I got chased off by security at MEM the other day. I was gonna volunteer my fav in LAS, but someone already mentioned that one. ORL has an okay place if you wanna watch the smaller planes t/o and land.
 
[ QUOTE ]
yeah, i know.. but i'm looking for the ones where you can just sit and watch the planes without security wondering what the heck your doing?! I know orlando took out their "spotting area" because of security and it seems like so many airports are doing the same thing.

What I'd like to do is take a few trips to these airports, take some photo shots and just sit and watch the planes coming in/go out during rush hour....

[/ QUOTE ]


Then you need to go to LAX. Get some "In N Out" which happens to be right under 24R, and then set up camp on the grassy knoll that the City of LA has provided. I have on a couple occasions brought some lawn "lazy Boy" chairs, my scanner, and gotten Some Grub from In N Out and made a whole afternoon of it.

Also if you like watching mass amounts of Corporate stuff, they you should head over to Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Van Nuys has a very nice viewing place that is open from 8 in the morning till 10pm, and you are right off of the taxiway. There are some nice seats and ample shade. Van Nuys at certain times of the day will be busier than LAX. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bandit.gif
 
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