GUIDE TO PLANE SPOTTING
Western U.S.
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| "Plane watching in the Golden Heart City is not a sport
for wimps or the weak at heart. Mosquitos the size of kumquats in the summer
and -40F in the winter make this activity challenging at times.
There are two very good (under the approach path) viewing points for FAI: 1L - Go to the South end of the terminal, and proceed down Airport Road until it turns to gravel. Follow it around for another mile, and you'll find yourself approximately 500' from the threshold. 19R- The parking lot of West Fred Meyers is a good place, and provides the opportunity to run in for another Coke(tm). Slightly closer is the Golden North Motel (bring your own sheets). You are about 1500' from the threshold here." Contributor: Dean Tabor
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| Tower: 118.7 |
| "An outstanding place to watch small commercial passenger
jets, as well as all types of general aviation. Drive to the intersection
of Sherman Way and Vineland Avenue. Park in the parking lot of Price Club,
which is adjacent to Runway 7, the IFR runway. Walk down about 100 yrds
on Vineland, and you will be standing centerline on runway 7. You can feel
the push of air coming off the wing as an airliner passes over you to touch
down. It is especially exciting to do this at nighttime!"
Contributor: Tom Keliher Back to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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ATIS:133.8
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| There's a great spot in LAX known as Imperial Hill. It's
located along Imperial Highway. There's a great view of the entire airport,
and take offs are right in front of you!
Contributor: Dan Benci
"At LAX, a great spot to watch landings is on a little knoll at the east side of Sepulveda Blvd. (close to where it intersects with Lincoln). You are right below the planes and lined up nicely with the runway. The "inner marker" is just to the east of you!" Contributor: Rohit Shukla
"Further spots are on the Tom Bradley International terminal car-park roof, which gives good views on both sides of the airfield, but... especially the international gates. Also,...there is the Theme building - you get a good view from here of the entire airport. Another excellent spot is one of the employee parking lots on the south side of the airport, which gives excellent photo-opportunities of traffic landing on the left runway of the south complex (25L). It's the first lot as you drive from east to west along the freight buildings. It's actually adjacent to a security checkpoint for vehicles entering the airport, and is directly opposite the road (airside) which runs past the end of the runway. The actual lot is adjacent to the undershoot area for this runway. We received no unwanted attention from the security guards, and indeed it seemed quite a popular place for local photographers, with quite a number turning up at weekends." Contributor: Andrew Hutchings
"One of the best spots in LA is off 96th ST, where all the rental cars, and airport vans are parked. Off the RWY 25 complex, the birds fly overhead at no more than 40 ft. One can actually hear & feel the wake turbulence. A real treat on foggy nights, the tip vortices are clearly visible and fascinating to watch." Contributor: BIZAV8R@aol.com Back to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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| ATIS:124.25 |
| Tower:120.6 |
| Runways: 8R/26L - 8L/26R |
| "Follow the road past the terminal, towards the UPS facility,
at the extreme southern end of the airfield. This is at the other end of
the runway from the terminal, and the road has numerous stopping point
where landing/departing traffic can be seen."
Contributor: Andrew Hutchings Back to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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| ATIS:126.0 |
| Tower:126.8 |
| Runways: 1R/19L - 1L/19R |
| "I usually...watch takeoffs in a back parking lot (usually
empty) of a business that is across from the fire station on Campus Drive,
between Quail and Dove streets. The Cessnas from 19L will fly right over
or to either side. The heavies on 19R will swing around toward the terminal
after landing within good view of that place. If one has a car to stand
on, they can take photos without the annoying chain-link fence in the way.
For watching landings,...the best place is at the end of Airport Loop Drive, south of the 405 fwy. The end of this street has a gate that gives access to a road north of the end of the runway--a great place to watch touch downs." Contributor: Ryan Farnes Back to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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| Tower:123.7 |
| "Palmdale International is the home of the SR-71's the
Air Force is reactivating. It is located about 80 miles north of L.A. on
Highway 14. The runway runs East-West and ends about 1/4 mile east of Hwy.
14. Palmdale is an excellent place to watch 'exotics' do touch-and-go's.
Take I-5 north out of L.A. and get on the 14 (Sierra Hwy.) Continue north
about 70 miles until you get to Palmdale's Avenue P. The airport is directly
to the east."
Contributor: Gary McFarlane Back to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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| "There is a popular site for watching small planes just
off the north end of the runway at Palo Alto (California). Mostly Cessnas,
Pipers and the like but if you're not careful, they'll give you a haircut
on the way by."
Contributor: John Cross
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| ATIS:126.75 |
| Tower:125.7 |
| Runways: 16R/24L - 16L/34R |
| "Sacramento Metro Field (SMF) is not a very big and busy
airport but you can get fairly close to the runway. Take the levee road
to the west side of the airport and find the turn off closest to the south
end of the runmay. There is a small firestation on this road. Drive to
the end of the road and you are a few hundred feet from the beginning of
the runway. You can even see the pilots from this distance."
Contributor: Rick Nadeau
"Get on Highway 99 near the airport, turn toward the Airport on "Elverta" Road. Keep on heading west, You will come upon a cross road. There will be a 4 way stop. Keep heading west. You will see the begining of Runway 16L at the 4-way stop. Keep going and you will see 16R which is the most commonly used runway." Contributor: subzero@sierra.net
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| ATIS:134.8 |
| Tower:118.3 |
| Runways: 9/27 |
| Drive to Balboa park. Enter by taking a left turn off
of Sixth ave. at El Prado. If you turned right, it would be Laurel, and
you'd head smack dab into the airport. Continue down El Prado, and hang
a right by the fountain. Park by the San Diego Aerospace Museum. Walk behind
the museum, and look up, because about every 5 minutes, a plane will pass
about 200 feet overhead. Because of winds coming off the ocean, planes
land this way about 85 percent of the time. I've noticed that when it rains,
or whe One of the best times is at around 4:00 pm, both because traffic
really picks up, and you should be able to see a FedEx DC-10, and a British
Airways DC-10. Several times I've also spotted what I believe is a UAL
777. This is the only opportunity to see some "big stuff." The rest of
the day you will mostly catch Southwest 737's or DC-9's and 727 from American,
Reno, and Alaska. If you are lucky, you will see one of Southwest's "SHAMU"
planes, painted like the famous Killer Whale at Sea World.
This is a really nice quite spot. There is a big grassy area, with a terrific view of downtown and the Coronado bridge. With planes roaring overhead, who could ask for more? Contributor: Daniel Lieb
"From Interstate 5 take the Sassafras Street offramp. When you reach that road turn down the hill and go to the T intersection at Pacific Highway.Turn left onto Pacific Highway, getting into the far right-hand lane, as you will quite quickly need to make a right turn, which is at Laurel Street. As you make this turn you can see on your right a blast shield which protects traffic from planes that are starting their takeoff rolls. As you proceed down Laurel, you will see on your right a parking lot. This is parking for employees of Solar Turbines (across the street) ONLY. Do not enter this lot. Laurel terminates at Harbor Drive. The right-hand lane of Laurel bears right and merges into Harbor. Stay in this lane. Just at the point this lane meets Harbor you will see on your right an opening in the curb. Turn into this opening and continue turning right about 45 degrees. This will point you at the designated plane watching area for the airport. NOTE: When leaving the area, the exit back onto Harbor Blvd. requires a right-hand turn. If necessary, a U-turn can be taken at the next few intersections that are signal controlled. Contributor: Jeff Craig
Check out the top floor of the parking garage for a great view of short-final landings. Contributor: D.P.
"There is a restaurant... on the second story of a long industrial looking building which borders the north perimeter of the airport property and is located just a long stone's throw northeast of the blast fence. It was used in filming Top Gun, for the airport scene when Maverick and Charlie have their "goodby" when he thinks he's quitting. Anyway, you can have some chow or a beer outside on the second story terrace and have a clear view of approaching air traffic at the east end with a view the full length of the runway. Aircraft landing from the east touch down practically in front of this vantage point, and it is hardly ever crowded. The only draw back is parking is sometimes difficult.
The Laurel St. Parking Ramp is located on the eastward extended center line of the runway. Aircraft arriving from the east pass directly over this ramp approximately 100 to 150 feet above.What a place from which to watch airplanes pass close overhead. You can't miss picking out this building when watching air traffic approach from the east. It is the building that sticks up highest on the approach path of arriving traffic and the structure to which the airplanes come closest." Contributors: Don and Paula Moxham
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| ATIS:113.7 |
| Tower:120.5 |
| Runways: 1R/19L - 1L/19R - 10R/28L - 10L/28R |
| "At the San Francisco International Airport, there is
a parking area that was built just for plane-watchers. It is located near
the end of runways 1L and 1R. From Highway 101, Take the Millbrae Ave.
exit toward the bay, go until it dead ends (about 100 yards), and turn
left. The entrance to the parking area is on the right. The Millbrae Ave.
exit is about a mile south of the main airport exit.
This spot has a good view of planes taking off on runways 1L and 1R. Most of the time planes land on 28L and 28R, which is several thousand feet away. You can still get a good view of them, especially with binoculars. The tower frequency is 120.5, and ground is 121.8." Contributors: Kyle Smith and Doug Ely
"While I was living in San Francisco (I moved to Santa Fe a few months ago) I did do some watching from the viewing area off to the side of 1R and 1L, but found a better spot... If you drive into long term parking and proceed to the very back of the lot, you will be a few hundred feet from runway 28R... excellent viewing of 747 passenger and freighter planes taking off... literally right above you... with the ground shaking, and all the car alarms going off, it is a sight to behold... However, 1 to 3 hours in long term parking is a min. of $6." Contributor: Mike B.
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| A really good place for plane watching is San Jose International
in the Bay Area of California. In fact, I like it even more than San Francisco's
airport. Although you won't see as many jumbos, you can get closer to the
action. There is a lot of traffic too!
From I-880, take the Coleman Ave exit near downtown San Jose, go north one block to the parking lot of San Jose State University's School of Aviation. It is on the right side of Coleman Ave. Drive to the chain link fence, (the airport boundry) and park in the small lot next to the fence. Parking is free! You will be about 300 feet from the main runway, and very close to the runway threshold. The engines will shake your car because you are so close, and you have an unobstructed view of the runway! (except for the short chain link fence) You can get excellent photographs if you will stand on your car. No one will care if you want to bring a ladder. If you are not taking pictures, the view through the fence is just grand! Contributor: Dave
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| ATIS:132.65 |
| Tower:119.7 |
| Runways: 7/25 - 15L/33R - 15R/33L |
| "I noticed that someone said that you don't get a chance
to see any large aircraft at Santa Barbara but it's not totally true. At
the field their is a aircraft refurbishing business called Santa Barbara
Aerospace. They work on everything from Citations to B747s. And they only
have 3 or 4 hangars so often you can see aircraft outside (you can get
a good view from the observation area that someone else mentioned). For
instance, right now they've got 2 or 3 DC-10s, 2 DC-9s, and what appears
to be a A320. And over the summer months they worked on 2 B747s. It's quite
a sight to see a 747-200 takeoff and land on a 6,052 foot runway. If you're
lucky you can catch them making a test flight. (However, it is fairly rare
to catch one of Santa Barbara Aerospace's planes taking off or landing)
If you go, you should bring binoculars. And while you watch them work on
the jumbos, you can still watch 737s, BAe 146s, and commuter aircraft comming
in and going out."
Contributor: Aaron
"There is a bike path that goes along on the west side of the airport. Perfect spot, although not a lot of large traffic there." Contributor: Abe Simpson
" The best place is the East end of the airport. There is a vista parking spot off of Fowler Road right at the run-up area for runway 25. You can't get any closer than this. You can almost reach across the fence and touch the planes. Airline traffic always departs this way unless conditions are bad and the localizer for runway 7 is in use, which is rare." Contributor: AndrewAir@aol.com
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| "Best place I ever watched planes was at Santa Ynez, CA.
Get there early and watch the fog lift. The mountains in the background
will be uncovered at the predictd time providing and incredible view. This
airport hosts everything from ultralights to corporate jets. Very friendly
place and plenty of places to watch from. Take a handheld and listen to
the pilots above the ealy morning overcast as they wait for it to clear
for landing."
Contributor: Bill Coleman
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| The Torrance airport is difficult to drive onto if yu
are not a local operator, but it is easy to get onto by foot.
Just park at the General Aviation Center next to the control tower, then walk through the GA Center to the ramp. As long as you are careful, you can walk all over the airport. the best bet is to head for the East T-hangars. There you will find many homebuilts (T-18's, Lancair's, Glasair's, Sherwood Ranger, RV's, Scratchbuilts, etc...), Lot's of antiques, classics, and warbirds (Travel Air's, Stearman's, Fairchild's, PT-22, T-6, P-51, AT-11, Staggerwing, P-40, Pitts, Luscombe's, T-craft's, J-3's, etc.....) There are even a couple of old jet trainers. Most of the people are really friendly and appreciate having interested visitors. Contributor: Dan Nelson Back to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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| ATIS:118.45 |
| Tower:119.3 |
| Runways: 16R/34L - 16L/24R |
| "Van Nuys in California is the busiest general aviation
airport in the country. To get a good look at both incoming and departing
planes on Runwy 16, go west from the 405 freeway on Roscoe to where the
railroad crosses the street (about 1.5 miles). Park anywhere and walk along
the RR track until you're directly under the incoming planes. Just about
anything could and does land here eventually, although I've never seen
a 747 yet! Lots of small single engine planes but also plenty of smaller
jet aircraft and some vintage planes too."
Contributor: Bill Horst Back to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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| "When going to the airport take Nimitz Hwy, not H-1. Once
on Nimitz, go south (towards the ocean) on Lagoon Drive. Stay on Lagoon
Drive until it ends at a small parking lot. Perfect place to view incoming
and outgoing planes. Also along Lagoon drive leading to the parking lot
there are several classic planes parked in various lots. The other side
of the street is Keehi Lagoon with scattered sunken ships put there for
artificial reefs. It's a very unique place!"
Contributor: lhart@pixi.com
"If you can get on Hickam with a visitor pass (should be easy to do, say you are going to the golf course etc), then this is THE BEST place in the country to watch planes. Drive through the base to the reef golf course. Get a map at the gate with your pass. Two spots are the best. The first is directly under the left East/West Runway. I forget the number. You can park all by yourself and be 50 feet under the planes as they come in. Mid to late afternoon is the best time when the big guys come in from the mainland. The other spot is on the North West side of the same runway just over a small hill. There are a few trees for some shade. Bring a chair if you can. Great view of the same runway plus great view of the taxiway to the takeoff/reef runway. Bring a Camera!" Contributor: Robert Williams
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| ATIS:132.4
Tower:119.9 Runways: 1R/19L - 1L/19R - 7R/25L - 7L/25R |
| "There is a spotters parking lot in the south-east corner
of the airfield, adjacent to the touch-down point for runway 25L. Further
spots along this road further to the east give views of the aircraft as
they are in the final stages of descent and flare. There is an area close
to the Scenic Airlines terminal from which you can see the holding point
of runways 19L/R."
Contributor: Andrew Hutchings
"If you're in the observation parking lot for 25L, you can tune your AM radio to 1610 (I think that's the frequency) and hear tower operations. There's a sign in the lot that tells you the correct AM frequency. unfortunately, it's an extremely short range channel (you won't receive it a few hundred feet out of the lot)." Contributor: James Chambliss, Jr.
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| Tower:132.55 |
| Runways: 3R/21L - 3L/21R |
| "If you go up Las Vegas Blvd North past the airbase, it
goes up into the hills before curving west to the Interstate. You can turn
around and park facing south, looking right down the main north-south runway.
Planes on a straight-in approach from Tonopah come right over this spot;
it's also where planes turn from base leg to final when landing to the
south. Really a treat when the AF Thunderbirds aerobatic team makes a formation
turn directly overhead. Good spot to see Stealth fighters, as well as all
sorts of other experimental stuff."
Contributor: Steve Guty
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| ATIS:135.8 |
| Tower:118.7 |
| Runways: 7/25 - 16R/34L - 16L/34R |
| "At Reno International Airport in Reno, NV, there is an
Aircraft Observation Park that is maintained by the Washoe County Airport
Authority. It is located on the south side of the airport, just southweast
of the approach end of runway 34L, which is the runway primarily used for
commercial traffic. It has a large grass area, a few picnic tables, and
lots of parking."
Contributor: Bill Fennemore
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| ATIS:128.45 |
| Tower:118.5 |
| Runways: 3/21 - 12/30 - 17/35 |
| "At the Roswell Industrial Air Center (RIAC) there are
three runways. The longest, 21/3, favors prevailing winds and both ends
are within 300 feet of the barrier fence. There are ample places to park
at both ends. Approaching traffic to land, usually on 21, will pass overhead
at about 50-75 feet. Military traffic is more fun to watch at the departure
end of runway 3. They are always coming in for touch and goes. Boeing,
Lufthansa, United and McDonnell Douglas test aircraft here frequently.
We get to see many new designs before they are made available."
Contributor: Mike Lee
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| "Portland International has three runways, but most of
the commercial traffic uses 10R-28L and 10L-28R. The airport is on the
Columbia River, but N.E. Marine Drive runs right along the edge of the
river. It parallels 10L-28R and has an unobstructed view of the entire
runway (and it will always be unobstructed--the three parallel transportation
venues, runway-road-river, are so close as to leave little room for anything
else). Although the road is heavily traveled, with traffic moving at a
good clip, the powers that be provided several pull-offs, with plane-watching
seemingly in mind. Nothing fancy--not even paving. But the largest would
hold 30-50 cars easily, and on our last visit there was even a food vendor
doing business there out of the kind of truck you see at fairs and such
(and this was on a weekday yet, which suggests that more than a few Portlanders
are plane-watchers). I do not know of any other airport with such an accessible
view of an entire major runway.
Planes approaching and departing the other runway (10R-28L) are not visible while actually on the runway, but you can see them almost until touchdown or just after lifting (they are farther away, however). We got to N.E. Marine Drive from the Marriott near the airport (an EXCELLENT plane-watching hotel, BTW... right between the 28 R & L final approaches). It appears the "normal" way would be via I-5, getting off at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and heading east just a short distance to Marine Dr. Another good plane-watching spot if you brought your binoculars is atop Rocky Butte Park not far south of the east end of the airport (consult a streetmap for more precise instructions). This park is known for its panorama--everything from Portland's downtown to Mt. Hood. From it you can watch planes approach past Mt. Hood and continue down to the airport--in short, you can watch the last 15-20 miles of a flight. As each flight lands, it passes in front of distant Mt. St. Helens, which makes a great photo if you've got a long lens. And, of course, both 28R and 28L planes are seen equally well." Contributor: Gerry Grzyb
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| There is an excellent place to see general aviation aircraft
at Auburn Municipal Airport in Auburn(of course). There's a 4' chain link
fence around the strip. At the end of runway 34 this fence is only about
50' from the threshold. Access is via 15th ST. NW. From 15th ST. turn into
the park and ride across from the Dairy Queen(an added bonus). Drive to
the back right hand side of the parking lot. There's always ample parking.
You'll be looking right at the runway. Walk across the grass field in front
of you to the fence. Bring a blanket. Stop at the DQ on the way in !!!
The aircraft are so low "you can almost touch 'em". And it's perfectly
legal !
Contributor: MLM2326@aol.com
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| ATIS:118.0 |
| Tower: 119.9 |
| Runways: 16R/34L - 16L/34R |
| "There is a great spot on the north side of the runway
to see planes coming in for a landing..The best way way to get to the northern
end of the runway is to follow directions to the cargo drop-off/air freight
terminal but instead of turning into these areas stay on the main road
heading north.This runs parallel to both runways. Eventually you will come
to a stop light. Turn left(you will be heading west) and immediatley on
the right there will be a turn out next to several large light towers..You
will see planes coming directly toward you..There is a wire fence blocking
access to the light towers but the turn out provides plenty of space to
set up cameras or just watch."
Contributor: Javathehut@aol.com
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| ATIS:127.75 |
| Tower:120.6 |
| Runways: 13R/31L - 13L/31R |
| "A great place to watch aiplanes is at the approach end
of runway 13L, and even have lunch while you are at it! Once a week I meet
with some of my flight instructor friends at a strange little restaurant
at the north end of the airport right on the approach path of 13L. The
name of the restaurant is the Nudge Cafe - great barbeque sandwiches! It
is pretty spectacular to sit there as the new 777 flies over, it blocks
out the entire sky and makes you duck for fear of getting hit by the landing
gear. It is really fun to watch the big guys land on days when there is
a crosswind, you can really see the jets crabbing into the wind on those
days and kick the tail over after touchdown."
Contributor:Tom Gwilym
"Another viewing location at Boeing field is at the end of 31L. Take the entrance to the Museum of Flight and park along the side of the fence at the back of the parking lot. This particular spot is never occupied and it is approx. 150' to the left of the runway. Especially nice is the fact that this the long runway which is used primarily for the large aircraft and corporate jets." Contributor:Roy Grannell and Maria Bate
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