SpottersWiki - User contributions [en]

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

2017-04-15T01:10:47Z

TFdude15: /* Regular Traffic */

{{categorybox|North America|United States|Virginia}}

{{infobox|fullname=Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|
location=Arlington, Virginia|
iata=DCA|
icao=KDCA|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.flyreagan.com/dca/reagan-national-airport|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=DCA&ll=38.851239,-77.041841&spn=0.028480,0.064579&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=119.1|
atcground=121.7|
atcclearance=128.25|
atcapproach=119.85 (West) 124.2 (East)|
atcdeparture=118.95 (West) 125.65 (East)|
atcatis=132.65|
atcunicom=122.95|
psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-washington-national/}}

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to our nation’s capital, as it is situated directly across the Potomac River from Washington DC. The airport handles over 20 million passengers a year.

==Official Spotting Locations==

There are no official spotting locations at DCA.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Gravely Point===
Spotters are blessed with an amazing vantage point just north of the airport, called Gravely Point. The south end of the park is about a quarter mile from the threshold of runway 19. This offers great shots of both departures and arrivals. The arrivals come in very low, so I recommend ear plugs for those who have sensitive ears. The park has its own free parking and you will be largely undisturbed, as this people have been taking pictures from there for years. Many times you will be standing among several tourists and sports players just watching the airport activity.
{{anetlink|1344187}} (MD-82 taking off runway 1 with approaching plane behind)

===Walking Paths===
There is a path going from Gravely Point to the south side of the airport and beyond that hugs the airport boundary. The path goes 200ft behind runway 15 (regional traffic runway) at its closest point, but a jet-blast/prop-wash wall blocks any good shots. At another point, the path goes up onto a bridge, which offers a good view of runways 15 and 19. There is another bridge farther south towards the US Airways gates of the new terminal. You will need a good lens to get decent shots here, due to the distance. You can make your way from the path up to the top of the parking garages for a different angle. This offers a good shot of the terminal.
At the south end of the airport, while still on the walking path, you can get a nice view of the GA terminal, though you will have to contend with cars in a parking lot.

''Be aware that the walking path does have a good deal of other people using it, to include bikers, skaters and other pedestrians.''

This is not so much of a problem until you get on the bridges, where there is limited space for the path.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Walking Paths===
As long as you stay in the Gravely Point Park area and blend in with other visitors of the park, you are unlikely to be approached by the police. However, if you move closer to the fence, especially when there are few people in the park (early morning) and especially along the walking path between the park and the terminal, you stand out and are more likely to be questioned, have your ID ready.

==Regular Traffic==
Most jet traffic uses the main runway 1-19. Landings to the south follow the Potomac river and make a 40° turn over the George Mason bridge. This unusual arrival procedure is similar to Kai-Tak's infamous IGS 13 approach but without heavy jets. Prohibited airspace north of the airport containing the White House and Capitol mandates this procedure. The Washington Monument also would be a hindrance to safe navigation. Commuter planes may often use the smaller runways 4-22 and 15-33. General Aviation and non scheduled charters were not allowed into Reagan National when the airport reopened after the 9/11 attacks. Beginning in October 2005 some general aviation aircraft have been allowed to return. They must have passenger manifests submitted 24 hours in advance. Pilots must be fingerprinted and undergo background checks. The plane, passengers and flight crew must be screened at a designated gateway airport and an armed marshall must be onboard. Due to the complex requirements general aviation traffic remains a rarity. Sports team charters on commercial airliners continue to use [[KIAD|Dulles]] because of these restrictions.

Aircraft include:
*Air Canada Express: ERJ-175
*Air Canada Jazz: CRJ-200
*Alaska: B737-800
*American: A319, A320, A321, B737-800, B757-200, ERJ-190
**American Eagle: CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, ERJ-145, ERJ-170/175, Q200
*Delta: A320, A321, B717-200, B737-800, MD-88, MD-90
**Delta Connection: CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, ERJ-170
*Frontier: A319, A320
*jetBlue: A320, ERJ-190
*Southwest: B737-700
*Sun Country: B737-700
*United: A319, A320, B737-700, B737-800, B757-300
**United Express: ERJ-145, ERJ-175
*Virgin America: A319, A320

While very rare, Business Jets can be seen fly in/out of KDCA. Government/Military Helicopters fly rather frequently in the area as well.

==Facilities and Transportation==

Ronald Reagan Airport has direct rail service into the nation’s capital via the WMATA system, which has a Yellow/Blue Line Metro stop at the airport.

==External Links==

*[http://www.washbaltspotters.net/ WashBaltSpotters.net] - Washington Baltimore Spotters Group - containing information about the area airports, spotting guides, traffic, news and photos
*[http://www.flyiad.net/ FlyIAD.net] - Spotters Guide to Washington DC Area Arports
*[http://www.dctower.net/ DCTower.net] - Flight info, weather, photos, forums, and much more for DCA & IAD

Pittsburgh International Airport

2017-04-15T00:55:18Z

TFdude15: /* Regular Traffic */

{{categorybox|North America|United States|Pennsylvania}}

{{infobox|fullname=Pittsburgh International Airport|
location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|
iata=PIT|
icao=KPIT|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.pitairport.com|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=PIT&ll=40.491218,-80.239763&spn=0.055624,0.129158&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=|
atcground=|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=|
atcunicom=}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==
*Air Canada Express: CRJ-200
*Allegaint: MD80, A319
*American: MD80, A319, A320
**American Eagle: CRJ-200, CRJ-700, ERJ-145, ERJ-170/175,
*Delta: MD-88, MD-90,
**Delta Connection: CRJ-700, CRJ-900
*FedEx: A300-600
*Frontier: A319, A320
*jetBlue: ERJ-190, A320
*Southwest: B737-300, B737-700, B737-800
*United: A319, B737-700,
**United Express: CRJ-700, ERJ-145, ERJ-170/175
*UPS: A300-600
*Various Business Jets and General Aviation aircraft

==Facilities and Transportation==

Pittsburgh International Airport

2017-04-15T00:55:02Z

TFdude15: /* Regular Traffic */

{{categorybox|North America|United States|Pennsylvania}}

{{infobox|fullname=Pittsburgh International Airport|
location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|
iata=PIT|
icao=KPIT|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.pitairport.com|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=PIT&ll=40.491218,-80.239763&spn=0.055624,0.129158&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=|
atcground=|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=|
atcunicom=}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==
*Air Canada Express: CRJ-200
*Allegaint: MD80, A319
*American: MD80, A319,A320
**American Eagle: CRJ-200, CRJ-700, ERJ-145, ERJ-170/175,
*Delta: MD-88, MD-90,
**Delta Connection: CRJ-700, CRJ-900
*FedEx: A300-600
*Frontier: A319, A320
*jetBlue: ERJ-190, A320
*Southwest: B737-300, B737-700, B737-800
*United: A319, B737-700,
**United Express: CRJ-700, ERJ-145, ERJ-170/175
*UPS: A300-600
*Various Business Jets and General Aviation aircraft

==Facilities and Transportation==

Washington Dulles International Airport

2017-04-04T23:54:56Z

TFdude15: /* International Traffic and Aircraft */

{{categorybox|North America|United States|Virginia}}

{{infobox|fullname=Washington Dulles International Airport|
location=Dulles, Virginia|
iata=IAD|
icao=KIAD|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=IAD&ll=38.949530,-77.447090&spn=0.056755,0.125081&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=120.1 (1R-19L), 128.425 (1L-19R, 12-30)|
atcground=121.9 (East), 132.45 (West)|
atcclearance=135.7|
atcapproach=126.1, 124.65 |
atcdeparture=125.05|
atcatis=134.85|
atcunicom=122.95|
psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-washington-dulles/}}

Dulles International is one of three major airports serving the Washington D.C. area (the other two being [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA/KDCA)]] and [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI/KBWI)]]). It is by far the largest of the three, and serves as the main international gateway for the U.S. capital city. The airport serves as an international hub for United, and, until the airline went out of business, also served as the hub for ill-fated Independence Air. The airfield has four main runways: 1L/19R, 1C/19C, 1R/19L, and 12/30.

==Official Spotting Locations==

Unfortunately, the old observation deck at the base of the original control tower has been closed and covered up, due to Main Terminal renovations. It is still visible in the Google Earth photo.

The best on-site "official" spotting is provided by the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center, explained below.

===Udvar-Hazy Center Observation Tower===
The observation and viewing tower at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center provides fairly decent views of aircraft approaching the 1's, and departing the 19's, as the tower sits between the approach paths of the 1's.
This place is good ONLY to view airplanes on approach and departures for the morning heavy wave.

While good for viewing, you can get much better shots of arriving airplanes from the parking lot in front of the museum but you will have issues with the trees.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Purple Economy Lot===
The Purple Economy Lot offers a great vantage point directly under the approach/departure path, less than a half-mile away from the threshold of runway 19L. Parking there is $3/hr, and no more than $9/day, so if you stay more than three hours, you're almost getting free spotting. The lot tends to be sparse, so you may stick out. As long as you have an ID and are causing no trouble, you should be fine. After all, they're making money from you.

===Central Airport===
The Daily Garages offer a better vantage point for all three runways. Daily Garage I offers a spectacular view of the Main Terminal and Signature Flight Support. If you have a decent lens, you should be able to get decent shots, but this point is more for overviews because of the distance. Daily Garage II offers a great view of the south cargo ramp, which houses DHL and UPS. Further north is Fed-Ex. Occasionally, Piedmont-Hawthorne will put larger customers down here, such as the UAE's B747SP. You will need a decent lens to get good pictures of the north cargo ramp.

Both garages are $5/hr with a max of $15/day. Again, make sure you have an ID in case you are questioned. They may ask you to leave here, though, because these lots tend to be more popular.

===Udvar-Hazy Center Parking Lot===
The parking lot for the Udvar-Hazy Center is considered by many to be better than the observation tower itself, especially for 1R landings. From the entrance to the parking lot, proceed past the museum and park at the far end of the lot. Other spots may have more trees to contend with. Parking is $15/day; museum admission itself is free. Restrooms and food are available in the museum.

===Westfield High School===
The school is a good distance away (3.75mi from the threshold of runway 1L and 3mi from the threshold of runway 1R), but offers a decent spot for approaches to runways 1L and 1R. As long as school is not in session, security tends to be lax or non-existent. The student lot is often used by parents to teach their children to drive, along with other activities, so your presence will go largely unnoticed.

The school is off of Route 50 on Stonecroft Blvd.

==Locations to Avoid==
Avoid Signature Flight Support and Landmark Aviation. Both are very strict about security and do not like anyone except customers. This includes parking or even standing in their lots.

==Regular Traffic==
IAD gets some great rare (for the USA) airlines, such as Ethiopian. The airport is also visited occasionally by the German Luftwaffe, RAF and other foreign dignitaries.

===Domestic Traffic and Aircraft===

*'''American Airlines''': American has a large number of daily flights from its hubs. Several aircraft are used, including the 737-800s and MD-80s. Sometimes A319s are used as well
**'''American Eagle''': American Eagle operates flights using the CRJ-900.
*'''Delta Air Lines''': Delta is using A319s, A320s MD-88s, and B717-200s
**'''Delta Connection''': CRJ-200s and sometimes CRJ-700 or 900s
*'''JetBlue Airways''': JetBlue operates both A320s and Embraer 190s
*'''Frontier Airlines''': Frontier is starting to bring 10 daily flights on both A319s and A320s
*'''Porter Airlines''': 4 daily Q400s
*'''Silver Airways''': Frequent Saab 340s
*'''Southwest Airlines''': Southwest is using 737-300/700.
*'''United Airlines''': United has a hub at Dulles and operates many flights daily using several aircraft. This includes the B737-700, B737-800, B737-900ER, B757-200, B767-400, B777-200, B787-8, A319, and A320.
**'''United Express''': CRJ-700, ERJ-145, EMB-170, Dash 8-200s and Dash 8-300s.
*'''Virgin America''': A320

===International Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Aer Lingus''': B757-200 or A330, depending on time of year
*'''Aeroflot''': Operates an A330
* '''Aeromexico''': B737-800s and B737-700s
* '''Air China''': B777-300ER
*'''Air France''': A380-800s, and 777-200/300/300ERs.
*'''ANA''': Operates a 777-300ER.
*'''Austrian Airways''': Operates a B767-300ER.
*'''Avianca''': Operates an A319
*'''British Airways''': A380-800s, B777-200 or B777-300ER, sometimes B747-400
* '''Brussels Airlines''': A330-200 and A330-300
* '''COPA''': Operates a B737-800
* '''Emirates''': Operates an A380-800
* '''Etihad''': Operates a B787-9
*'''Ethiopian''': Operates a B777-200LR
* '''Icelandair''': Operates a B757-200
*'''KLM''': Daily flight from Amsterdam using A330-200, and rare B777-200ERs
*'''Korean Air''': Operates 777-300ER.
*'''Lufthansa''': A330-300s and B747-8Is.
*'''Qatar Airways''': B777-300ER
*'''Saudi Arabian Airlines''': Operates a 777-300ER.
*'''South African Airlines''': A340-600
*'''SAS''': Daily flight from Copenhagen using an A330-300. Rare A340
*'''TACA''': Operates an A319, A320, A321.
* '''Turkish Airlines''': Operates a Tyrolean A330-300 daily
*'''Virgin Atlantic Airways''': Operates an A330-300s and occasional A340-300 or A340-600s

===Cargo Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Airborne Express (now DHL)''': 767-200.
*'''FedEx''': Operates the B757-200F, A300-600, A310, and DC-10.
* '''FedEx Feeder''': Cessna 208 Caravan
*'''UPS''': B757-200F and A300-600.
*'''Volga-Dnepr''': AN-124

===Military Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Lufwaffe''': Daily C-160, A310.
*'''RAF''': C-130, VC-10.

==Facilities and Transportation==

==External Links==
*[http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-washington-dulles/] - Plane Spotting Hotels-Hotels with views of the airport at Washington Dulles and Airports worldwide.
*[http://www.washbaltspotters.net/ WashBaltSpotters.net] - Washington Baltimore Spotters Group - containing information about the area airports, spotting guides, traffic, news and photos
*[http://www.flyiad.net/ FlyIAD.net] - Spotters Guide to Washington DC Area Arports
*[http://www.dctower.net/ DCTower.net] - Flight info, weather, photos, forums, and much more for DCA & IAD

Washington Dulles International Airport

2017-04-04T22:49:06Z

TFdude15: /* International Traffic and Aircraft */

{{categorybox|North America|United States|Virginia}}

{{infobox|fullname=Washington Dulles International Airport|
location=Dulles, Virginia|
iata=IAD|
icao=KIAD|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=IAD&ll=38.949530,-77.447090&spn=0.056755,0.125081&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=120.1 (1R-19L), 128.425 (1L-19R, 12-30)|
atcground=121.9 (East), 132.45 (West)|
atcclearance=135.7|
atcapproach=126.1, 124.65 |
atcdeparture=125.05|
atcatis=134.85|
atcunicom=122.95|
psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-washington-dulles/}}

Dulles International is one of three major airports serving the Washington D.C. area (the other two being [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA/KDCA)]] and [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI/KBWI)]]). It is by far the largest of the three, and serves as the main international gateway for the U.S. capital city. The airport serves as an international hub for United, and, until the airline went out of business, also served as the hub for ill-fated Independence Air. The airfield has four main runways: 1L/19R, 1C/19C, 1R/19L, and 12/30.

==Official Spotting Locations==

Unfortunately, the old observation deck at the base of the original control tower has been closed and covered up, due to Main Terminal renovations. It is still visible in the Google Earth photo.

The best on-site "official" spotting is provided by the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center, explained below.

===Udvar-Hazy Center Observation Tower===
The observation and viewing tower at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center provides fairly decent views of aircraft approaching the 1's, and departing the 19's, as the tower sits between the approach paths of the 1's.
This place is good ONLY to view airplanes on approach and departures for the morning heavy wave.

While good for viewing, you can get much better shots of arriving airplanes from the parking lot in front of the museum but you will have issues with the trees.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Purple Economy Lot===
The Purple Economy Lot offers a great vantage point directly under the approach/departure path, less than a half-mile away from the threshold of runway 19L. Parking there is $3/hr, and no more than $9/day, so if you stay more than three hours, you're almost getting free spotting. The lot tends to be sparse, so you may stick out. As long as you have an ID and are causing no trouble, you should be fine. After all, they're making money from you.

===Central Airport===
The Daily Garages offer a better vantage point for all three runways. Daily Garage I offers a spectacular view of the Main Terminal and Signature Flight Support. If you have a decent lens, you should be able to get decent shots, but this point is more for overviews because of the distance. Daily Garage II offers a great view of the south cargo ramp, which houses DHL and UPS. Further north is Fed-Ex. Occasionally, Piedmont-Hawthorne will put larger customers down here, such as the UAE's B747SP. You will need a decent lens to get good pictures of the north cargo ramp.

Both garages are $5/hr with a max of $15/day. Again, make sure you have an ID in case you are questioned. They may ask you to leave here, though, because these lots tend to be more popular.

===Udvar-Hazy Center Parking Lot===
The parking lot for the Udvar-Hazy Center is considered by many to be better than the observation tower itself, especially for 1R landings. From the entrance to the parking lot, proceed past the museum and park at the far end of the lot. Other spots may have more trees to contend with. Parking is $15/day; museum admission itself is free. Restrooms and food are available in the museum.

===Westfield High School===
The school is a good distance away (3.75mi from the threshold of runway 1L and 3mi from the threshold of runway 1R), but offers a decent spot for approaches to runways 1L and 1R. As long as school is not in session, security tends to be lax or non-existent. The student lot is often used by parents to teach their children to drive, along with other activities, so your presence will go largely unnoticed.

The school is off of Route 50 on Stonecroft Blvd.

==Locations to Avoid==
Avoid Signature Flight Support and Landmark Aviation. Both are very strict about security and do not like anyone except customers. This includes parking or even standing in their lots.

==Regular Traffic==
IAD gets some great rare (for the USA) airlines, such as Ethiopian. The airport is also visited occasionally by the German Luftwaffe, RAF and other foreign dignitaries.

===Domestic Traffic and Aircraft===

*'''American Airlines''': American has a large number of daily flights from its hubs. Several aircraft are used, including the 737-800s and MD-80s. Sometimes A319s are used as well
**'''American Eagle''': American Eagle operates flights using the CRJ-900.
*'''Delta Air Lines''': Delta is using A319s, A320s MD-88s, and B717-200s
**'''Delta Connection''': CRJ-200s and sometimes CRJ-700 or 900s
*'''JetBlue Airways''': JetBlue operates both A320s and Embraer 190s
*'''Frontier Airlines''': Frontier is starting to bring 10 daily flights on both A319s and A320s
*'''Porter Airlines''': 4 daily Q400s
*'''Silver Airways''': Frequent Saab 340s
*'''Southwest Airlines''': Southwest is using 737-300/700.
*'''United Airlines''': United has a hub at Dulles and operates many flights daily using several aircraft. This includes the B737-700, B737-800, B737-900ER, B757-200, B767-400, B777-200, B787-8, A319, and A320.
**'''United Express''': CRJ-700, ERJ-145, EMB-170, Dash 8-200s and Dash 8-300s.
*'''Virgin America''': A320

===International Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Aeroflot''': Operates an A330
* '''Aeromexico''': B737-800s and B737-700s
* '''Air China''': B777-300ER
*'''Air France''': A380-800s, and 777-200/300/300ERs.
*'''ANA''': Operates a 777-300ER.
*'''Austrian Airways''': Operates a B767-300ER.
*'''Avianca''': Operates an A319
*'''British Airways''': 777-200s, 747-400s, and occasionally 767-300s.
* '''Brussels Airlines''': A330-200 and A330-300
* '''COPA''': Operates a B737-800
* '''Emirates''': Operates a 777-300ER
* '''Etihad''': Operates an A340-600
*'''Ethiopian''': Operates a 767-300 and an occasional 777-300ER and 787-8
* '''Icelandair''': Operates a B757-200
*'''KLM''': Daily flight from Amsterdam using A330-200, and rare B777-200ERs
*'''Korean Air''': Operates 777-300ER.
*'''Lufthansa''': A330-300s, A340-600s and B747-8Is.
*'''Qatar Airways''': B777-300ER
*'''Saudi Arabian Airlines''': Operates a 777-300ER.
*'''South African Airlines''': A340-600
*'''SAS''': Daily flight from Copenhagen using an A330-300.
*'''TACA''': Operates an A319, A320, A321.
* '''Turkish Airlines''': Operates a Tyrolean A330-300 daily
*'''Virgin Atlantic Airways''': Operates an A330-300s and occasional A340-300 or A340-600s

===Cargo Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Airborne Express (now DHL)''': 767-200.
*'''FedEx''': Operates the B757-200F, A300-600, A310, and DC-10.
* '''FedEx Feeder''': Cessna 208 Caravan
*'''UPS''': B757-200F and A300-600.
*'''Volga-Dnepr''': AN-124

===Military Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Lufwaffe''': Daily C-160, A310.
*'''RAF''': C-130, VC-10.

==Facilities and Transportation==

==External Links==
*[http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-washington-dulles/] - Plane Spotting Hotels-Hotels with views of the airport at Washington Dulles and Airports worldwide.
*[http://www.washbaltspotters.net/ WashBaltSpotters.net] - Washington Baltimore Spotters Group - containing information about the area airports, spotting guides, traffic, news and photos
*[http://www.flyiad.net/ FlyIAD.net] - Spotters Guide to Washington DC Area Arports
*[http://www.dctower.net/ DCTower.net] - Flight info, weather, photos, forums, and much more for DCA & IAD

Washington Dulles International Airport

2017-04-04T22:47:28Z

TFdude15: /* Domestic Traffic and Aircraft */

{{categorybox|North America|United States|Virginia}}

{{infobox|fullname=Washington Dulles International Airport|
location=Dulles, Virginia|
iata=IAD|
icao=KIAD|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=IAD&ll=38.949530,-77.447090&spn=0.056755,0.125081&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=120.1 (1R-19L), 128.425 (1L-19R, 12-30)|
atcground=121.9 (East), 132.45 (West)|
atcclearance=135.7|
atcapproach=126.1, 124.65 |
atcdeparture=125.05|
atcatis=134.85|
atcunicom=122.95|
psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-washington-dulles/}}

Dulles International is one of three major airports serving the Washington D.C. area (the other two being [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA/KDCA)]] and [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI/KBWI)]]). It is by far the largest of the three, and serves as the main international gateway for the U.S. capital city. The airport serves as an international hub for United, and, until the airline went out of business, also served as the hub for ill-fated Independence Air. The airfield has four main runways: 1L/19R, 1C/19C, 1R/19L, and 12/30.

==Official Spotting Locations==

Unfortunately, the old observation deck at the base of the original control tower has been closed and covered up, due to Main Terminal renovations. It is still visible in the Google Earth photo.

The best on-site "official" spotting is provided by the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center, explained below.

===Udvar-Hazy Center Observation Tower===
The observation and viewing tower at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center provides fairly decent views of aircraft approaching the 1's, and departing the 19's, as the tower sits between the approach paths of the 1's.
This place is good ONLY to view airplanes on approach and departures for the morning heavy wave.

While good for viewing, you can get much better shots of arriving airplanes from the parking lot in front of the museum but you will have issues with the trees.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Purple Economy Lot===
The Purple Economy Lot offers a great vantage point directly under the approach/departure path, less than a half-mile away from the threshold of runway 19L. Parking there is $3/hr, and no more than $9/day, so if you stay more than three hours, you're almost getting free spotting. The lot tends to be sparse, so you may stick out. As long as you have an ID and are causing no trouble, you should be fine. After all, they're making money from you.

===Central Airport===
The Daily Garages offer a better vantage point for all three runways. Daily Garage I offers a spectacular view of the Main Terminal and Signature Flight Support. If you have a decent lens, you should be able to get decent shots, but this point is more for overviews because of the distance. Daily Garage II offers a great view of the south cargo ramp, which houses DHL and UPS. Further north is Fed-Ex. Occasionally, Piedmont-Hawthorne will put larger customers down here, such as the UAE's B747SP. You will need a decent lens to get good pictures of the north cargo ramp.

Both garages are $5/hr with a max of $15/day. Again, make sure you have an ID in case you are questioned. They may ask you to leave here, though, because these lots tend to be more popular.

===Udvar-Hazy Center Parking Lot===
The parking lot for the Udvar-Hazy Center is considered by many to be better than the observation tower itself, especially for 1R landings. From the entrance to the parking lot, proceed past the museum and park at the far end of the lot. Other spots may have more trees to contend with. Parking is $15/day; museum admission itself is free. Restrooms and food are available in the museum.

===Westfield High School===
The school is a good distance away (3.75mi from the threshold of runway 1L and 3mi from the threshold of runway 1R), but offers a decent spot for approaches to runways 1L and 1R. As long as school is not in session, security tends to be lax or non-existent. The student lot is often used by parents to teach their children to drive, along with other activities, so your presence will go largely unnoticed.

The school is off of Route 50 on Stonecroft Blvd.

==Locations to Avoid==
Avoid Signature Flight Support and Landmark Aviation. Both are very strict about security and do not like anyone except customers. This includes parking or even standing in their lots.

==Regular Traffic==
IAD gets some great rare (for the USA) airlines, such as Ethiopian. The airport is also visited occasionally by the German Luftwaffe, RAF and other foreign dignitaries.

===Domestic Traffic and Aircraft===

*'''American Airlines''': American has a large number of daily flights from its hubs. Several aircraft are used, including the 737-800s and MD-80s. Sometimes A319s are used as well
**'''American Eagle''': American Eagle operates flights using the CRJ-900.
*'''Delta Air Lines''': Delta is using A319s, A320s MD-88s, and B717-200s
**'''Delta Connection''': CRJ-200s and sometimes CRJ-700 or 900s
*'''JetBlue Airways''': JetBlue operates both A320s and Embraer 190s
*'''Frontier Airlines''': Frontier is starting to bring 10 daily flights on both A319s and A320s
*'''Porter Airlines''': 4 daily Q400s
*'''Silver Airways''': Frequent Saab 340s
*'''Southwest Airlines''': Southwest is using 737-300/700.
*'''United Airlines''': United has a hub at Dulles and operates many flights daily using several aircraft. This includes the B737-700, B737-800, B737-900ER, B757-200, B767-400, B777-200, B787-8, A319, and A320.
**'''United Express''': CRJ-700, ERJ-145, EMB-170, Dash 8-200s and Dash 8-300s.
*'''Virgin America''': A320

===International Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Aeroflot''': Operates a 767-300 and occasional A332/A333s
* '''Aeromexico''': B737-800s
* '''Air China''': B777-300ER
*'''Air France''': A380-800s, and 777-200/300/300ERs.
*'''ANA''': Operates a 777-300ER.
*'''Austrian Airways''': Operates a B767-300ER.
*'''Avianca''': Operates an A319
*'''British Airways''': 777-200s, 747-400s, and occasionally 767-300s.
* '''Brussels Airlines''': A330-200 and A330-300
* '''COPA''': Operates a B737-800
* '''Emirates''': Operates a 777-300ER
* '''Etihad''': Operates an A340-600
*'''Ethiopian''': Operates a 767-300 and an occasional 777-300ER and 787-8
* '''Icelandair''': Operates a B757-200
*'''KLM''': Daily flight from Amsterdam using A330-200, A330-200 and rare B747-400s
*'''Korean Air''': Operates 777-200ER.
*'''Lufthansa''': A330-300s, A340-600s and B747-8Is.
*'''Qatar Airways''': B777-300ER
*'''Saudi Arabian Airlines''': Operates a 777-200.
*'''South African Airlines''': A340-600
*'''SAS''': Daily flight from Copenhagen using an A330-300.
*'''TACA''': Operates an A319, A320, A321.
* '''Turkish Airlines''': Operates a Tyrolean A330-300 daily
*'''Virgin Atlantic Airways''': Operates an A330-300s and occasional A340-300 or A340-600s

===Cargo Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Airborne Express (now DHL)''': 767-200.
*'''FedEx''': Operates the B757-200F, A300-600, A310, and DC-10.
* '''FedEx Feeder''': Cessna 208 Caravan
*'''UPS''': B757-200F and A300-600.
*'''Volga-Dnepr''': AN-124

===Military Traffic and Aircraft===
*'''Lufwaffe''': Daily C-160, A310.
*'''RAF''': C-130, VC-10.

==Facilities and Transportation==

==External Links==
*[http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-washington-dulles/] - Plane Spotting Hotels-Hotels with views of the airport at Washington Dulles and Airports worldwide.
*[http://www.washbaltspotters.net/ WashBaltSpotters.net] - Washington Baltimore Spotters Group - containing information about the area airports, spotting guides, traffic, news and photos
*[http://www.flyiad.net/ FlyIAD.net] - Spotters Guide to Washington DC Area Arports
*[http://www.dctower.net/ DCTower.net] - Flight info, weather, photos, forums, and much more for DCA & IAD