SpottersWiki - User contributions [en]

SpottersWiki:Wanted Articles

2017-01-08T21:55:22Z

ABSpotting: Alphabetized list

'''''Use this page to list airports about which you'd like more information.'''''

Consider this list to be a wish list. If you're planning or considering a spotting trip, but you don't see any or much info on the article page, or if the airport has no article at all, list it here. If you have info to add to one of these articles, please do!

<hr>

*[[Barcelona International Airport]]
*[[Bratislava Airport]]
*[[Cancún International Airport]]
*[[Glasgow International Airport]]
*[[Goa International Airport]]
*[[Lehigh Valley International Airport]]
*[[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]]
*[[Louisville International Airport]]
*[[Pittsburgh International Airport]]
*[[Sao Paulo - Guarulhos International Airport]]
*[[Singapore Changi Airport]]
*[[Tampa International Airport]]
*[[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]]
*[[Tijuana International Airport]]

SpottersWiki talk:Wanted Articles

2017-01-08T21:52:01Z

ABSpotting:

-Not quite sure why Singapore(WSSS) is included on the list, it looks completed. Posting here before removing.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport

2017-01-08T21:50:22Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Port Columbus International Airport|
location=Columbus, OH|
iata=CMH|
icao=KCMH|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.port-columbus.com|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=CMH&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=39.997309,-82.887297&spn=0.062597,0.094156&t=h&om=1|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=132.7 257.8|
atcground=121.9 348.6|
atcclearance=126.3|
atcapproach=119.15(100-279) 125.95(280-099) 338.225 100-279 371.975 280-099 118.2 119.65 353.9|
atcdeparture=119.15(100-279) 125.95(280-099) 338.225 100-279 371.975 280-099|
atcatis=124.6|
atcunicom=|
psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-columbus/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

===Aircraft Observation Area===
Gravel parking lot located off of Hamilton Rd. at the Southeast corner of the airport, directly south of the end of runway 28L.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Parking Garage===
The North end of the garage provides good views of arrivals and departures on 28R, as well as the Concourse C ramp. South end provides a good view of the midpoint of runway 28L/10R, which can be good for rotation pictures or shots of planes rolling out on landing.

Level 6 of the main garage also can be good for spotting, but is not as close to the runway.

===94th Aero Squadron Restaurant===
The 94th Aero Squadron is just East of the airport fire station. It is good for close-ups of aircraft waiting to depart, although a fence separates the restaurant's patio from the airport perimeter road.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==
*'''Air Canada Jazz''' Dash 8
*'''American''' A319, MD-80
*'''American Eagle''' ERJ-135, ERJ-145
*'''Delta''' 737-800, MD-90
*'''Delta Connection''' CRJ-200, ERJ-135, ERJ-145, E-170
*'''JetBlue''' E-190
*'''Southwest''' 737-300, 737-700, 737-800
*'''United''' 757, A319, A320
*'''United Express''' ERJ-145, E-170

==Facilities and Transportation==

San Francisco International Airport

2017-01-01T02:28:52Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal G */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]](Seesonal)
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]](Seasonal)
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Airbus A350-900
|[[Singapore Changi Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]
*[https://www.flightradar24.com/37.62,-122.37/8 SFO on FlightRadar24]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-12-27T19:31:31Z

ABSpotting: /* External Links */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]](Seesonal)
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]](Seasonal)
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300, Airbus A350-900
|[[Hong Kong Airport]], [[Singapore Changi Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]
*[https://www.flightradar24.com/37.62,-122.37/8 SFO on FlightRadar24]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-12-27T19:28:20Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal G */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]](Seesonal)
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]](Seasonal)
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300, Airbus A350-900
|[[Hong Kong Airport]], [[Singapore Changi Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-12-27T19:23:15Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]](Seesonal)
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]](Seasonal)
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-12-27T19:22:29Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]](Seesonal)
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-07-02T18:28:59Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-07-02T18:25:15Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-17T03:58:25Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens (full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-06-15T05:05:15Z

ABSpotting: /* Facilities and Transportation */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air operates twice weekly flights to Sonoma County aboard an MD-83. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports along the west coast.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]]
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Sixt inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to and from [[Oakland International Airport]] and [[San Francisco International Airport]].

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-06-15T05:04:09Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air operates twice weekly flights to Sonoma County aboard an MD-83. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports along the west coast.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]]
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Sixt inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-06-15T05:02:29Z

ABSpotting:

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air operates twice weekly flights to Sonoma County aboard an MD-83. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports along the west coast.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]]
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

As of summer 2014, STS is expanding their main runway and improving their secondary runway. Once this project is finished, STS hopes to attract other airlines to the airport. With the expansion and upgrades of the runway, the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft like the CRJ series and other regional aircraft. Jon Stout, the airport manager, said in an interview with the [http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/1853328-181/sonoma-county-airport-expansion-expected Press Democrat], "The most promising developments include a future United Airlines flight to Denver, which is a major hub for east coast connections, and American Airlines service to Phoenix. Neither airlines have made commitments, though". This project will hopefully result in more traffic at STS.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Sixt inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-13T14:04:35Z

ABSpotting: /* Fisherman's Park */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens(full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals. It is not the best area at mid-day times, due to the fact that you are shooting above you, but mornings and afternoons will yield great photos.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-13T03:06:21Z

ABSpotting: /* Spotting Locations Map */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens(full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
37.591958, -122.334662~ ~ ~ ~ ~Fisherman's Park
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-13T03:05:50Z

ABSpotting: /* Other Spotting Locations */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

===Fisherman's Park===
Fisherman's Park is a small area on the coast of the bay under the 28 approach path. The so-called "park" is really a gravel parking lot with small area by the water, used regularly by fishermen. This location is very similar to the popular Coyote Point Recreation Area location; the only differences being it is slightly closer to the threshold, but slightly farther south of the approach path. It is located on Airport Blvd. in Burlingame. A 400mm lens(full frame) will be more than sufficient for heavies, but a longer lens is needed for regionals.

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-10T16:42:15Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 450mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-06-08T17:16:59Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines. The small commuter plane is the largest aircraft at the airport on a regular basis. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]]
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

As of summer 2014, STS is expanding their main runway and improving their secondary runway. Once this project is finished, STS hopes to attract other airlines to the airport. With the expansion and upgrades of the runway, the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft like the CRJ series and other regional aircraft. Jon Stout, the airport manager, said in an interview with the [http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/1853328-181/sonoma-county-airport-expansion-expected Press Democrat], "The most promising developments include a future United Airlines flight to Denver, which is a major hub for east coast connections, and American Airlines service to Phoenix. Neither airlines have made commitments, though". This project will hopefully result in more traffic at STS.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Sixt inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-08T17:12:19Z

ABSpotting: /* Bayfront Park */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets, 4500mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-08T05:05:21Z

ABSpotting: /* Terminal 3 */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 600mm to get close to regional jets, 300mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-08T05:00:33Z

ABSpotting: /* Other Spotting Locations */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 600mm to get close to regional jets, 300mm should be good for the heavies). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

Oakland International Airport

2016-06-08T04:56:55Z

ABSpotting: /* External Links */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Oakland International Airport|location=Oakland, California|iata=OAK|icao=KOAK|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flyoakland.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=OAK&ll=37.723003,-122.224188&spn=0.057595,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=118.3 (North Field) 291.65 (North Field) 127.2 (South Field) 256.9 (South Field) 124.9|atcground=121.9 (North Field) 121.75(South Field)|atcclearance=121.1|atcapproach=125.35 133.95 134.5|atcdeparture= 120.9 (North-West) 135.1 (West)|atcatis=133.775 510-635-5850|atcunicom=122.95}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

=== San Leandro Marina ===

The San Leandro Marina gives great views of arrivals to Runway 29. It is best to come in the morning when the light is good or during an overcast day when the light is somewhat distributed all around. Southwest Airlines is the main carrier into OAK and you will mostly see that pretty much the entire day. The are has ample parking and the lot is hardly full during anytime of the day.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

==Facilities and Transportation==

==External Links==

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-02T22:45:47Z

ABSpotting: /* Terminal 2 */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], ¹[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-02T22:44:55Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways(Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-06-02T22:43:08Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-06-02T22:41:01Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines. The small commuter plane is the largest aircraft at the airport on a regular basis. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]]
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

As of summer 2014, STS is expanding their main runway and improving their secondary runway. Once this project is finished, STS hopes to attract other airlines to the airport. With the expansion and upgrades of the runway, the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft like the CRJ series and other regional aircraft. Jon Stout, the airport manager, said in an interview with the [http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/1853328-181/sonoma-county-airport-expansion-expected Press Democrat], "The most promising developments include a future United Airlines flight to Denver, which is a major hub for east coast connections, and American Airlines service to Phoenix. Neither airlines have made commitments, though". This project will hopefully result in more traffic at STS.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Sixt inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-05-25T02:50:59Z

ABSpotting: /* Facilities and Transportation */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines. The small commuter plane is the largest aircraft at the airport on a regular basis. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]] (Beginning May 26, 2016)
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

As of summer 2014, STS is expanding their main runway and improving their secondary runway. Once this project is finished, STS hopes to attract other airlines to the airport. With the expansion and upgrades of the runway, the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft like the CRJ series and other regional aircraft. Jon Stout, the airport manager, said in an interview with the [http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/1853328-181/sonoma-county-airport-expansion-expected Press Democrat], "The most promising developments include a future United Airlines flight to Denver, which is a major hub for east coast connections, and American Airlines service to Phoenix. Neither airlines have made commitments, though". This project will hopefully result in more traffic at STS.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Sixt inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-05-25T02:49:08Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines. The small commuter plane is the largest aircraft at the airport on a regular basis. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]] (Beginning May 26, 2016)
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

As of summer 2014, STS is expanding their main runway and improving their secondary runway. Once this project is finished, STS hopes to attract other airlines to the airport. With the expansion and upgrades of the runway, the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft like the CRJ series and other regional aircraft. Jon Stout, the airport manager, said in an interview with the [http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/1853328-181/sonoma-county-airport-expansion-expected Press Democrat], "The most promising developments include a future United Airlines flight to Denver, which is a major hub for east coast connections, and American Airlines service to Phoenix. Neither airlines have made commitments, though". This project will hopefully result in more traffic at STS.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

2016-05-17T23:21:09Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport|
location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|
iata=STS|
icao=KSTS|
aptype=Commercial|
website= http://www.sonomacountyairport.org/|
mapurl=https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Charles+M.+Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma+County+Airport%2C+Airport+Boulevard%2C+Santa+Rosa%2C+CA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x80843c268ae86b6b%3A0xcf44a7ca4dce3264!3m8!1m3!1d5638969!2d-119.306607!3d37.2691745!3m2!1i1366!2i666!4f13.1!4m2!3d38.507681!4d-122.806646|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=118.500|
atcground=121.900|
atcclearance=|
atcapproach=|
atcdeparture=|
atcatis=120.550|
atcunicom=118.500/122.950}}

STS is a small airport in the city of Santa Rosa, California. Horizon Air operates the Bombardier Q400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines. The small commuter plane is the largest aircraft at the airport on a regular basis. STS serves as the main airport for the northern Bay Area for short flights to larger airports.
==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Rental Car Parking Lot===
Adjacent to the STS terminal, there is a small parking lot used to store rental cars for the companies in the terminal. West of the parking lot a small grassy area can yield good shots. One problem is that part of the chain link fence is blocked with green plastic weaved between the holes. This makes the view smaller and only allows photos to the north of the grassy area. If they are taking off to the south, the Horizon Airlines departure will taxi right and takeoff, right past this area. General aviation traffic taking off to the south will lift off the runway before they pass you and can yield good shots. Past 4pm, the area is shaded and will result with dark shots. This is a good location during the day for taxi and takeoff shots for all STS traffic.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Alaska Airlines(Horizon Air)
|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]]
|-
|Allegiant Air
|McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|[[McCarran International Airport]](Beginning May 19, 2016), [[Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport]](Beginning May 26, 2016)
|}

[http://www.kaiserair.com/ Kaiser Air] has a hangar on airport property. They charter Gulfstreams and Citations. Most of the traffic at STS consists of general aviation traffic.

As of summer 2014, STS is expanding their main runway and improving their secondary runway. Once this project is finished, STS hopes to attract other airlines to the airport. With the expansion and upgrades of the runway, the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft like the CRJ series and other regional aircraft. Jon Stout, the airport manager, said in an interview with the [http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/1853328-181/sonoma-county-airport-expansion-expected Press Democrat], "The most promising developments include a future United Airlines flight to Denver, which is a major hub for east coast connections, and American Airlines service to Phoenix. Neither airlines have made commitments, though". This project will hopefully result in more traffic at STS.

==Facilities and Transportation==

The only restaurant at STS is the [http://www.santarosaskylounge.com Sky Lounge Steakhouse & Sushi Bar]. It is located inside the main terminal.

Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National inside the main terminal.
The [http://airportexpressinc.com Airport Express] stops at STS and provides transportation to Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

==Events==

===Wings Over Wine Country Air Show===

Every year the [http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/ Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM)] organizes the [http://www.wingsoverwinecountry.org/ Wings Over Wine Country Air Show]. The air show is held in the late summer (late August to early September) and attracts a large gathering. The attractions for this year's show can be found through the link above. The air show is a great place to get close to many planes (flying and stationary), take great pictures, and even climb aboard a few.

San Francisco International Airport

2016-05-16T23:48:14Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal G */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300, Embraer 190
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-05-11T13:57:42Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal G */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-600
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]], [[Munich Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-05-11T13:56:33Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-200/300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A319/A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-200
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Boeing 787-9
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-04-04T21:36:53Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning May 6, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800 (seasonal), Boeing 777-300 (seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-200
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300 (for Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]] (future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-04-01T14:11:37Z

ABSpotting: /* Terminal 3 */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning May 6, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300(For Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]](Future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-04-01T14:11:05Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal G */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning May 6, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300(For Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]](Future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2016_03_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-04-01T13:41:01Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning May 6, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600, Airbus A330-300(For Manchester route: beginning spring 2017)
|[[London Heathrow Airport]] [[Manchester Airport]](Future route)
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-03-07T01:28:25Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning May 6, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Thomas Cook (Beginning May 25, 2017)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Manchester Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June 9, 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-03-06T04:26:01Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning May 6, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning June,9 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

2016-03-05T17:57:02Z

ABSpotting: /* Runway Usage */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Chicago O'Hare International Airport|
location=Chicago, Illinois|
iata=ORD|
icao=KORD|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/en/home/Pages/default.aspx|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=ORD&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=120.75(south) 126.9(north) 128.15(far north) 127.925 132.7|
atcground=121.675(metering) 121.75(outbound) 121.9(inbound) 124.125|
atcclearance=119.25 121.6|
atcapproach=119.0 128.45 121.15 124.35 125.7 133.625|
atcdeparture=125.0 125.4 126.625|
atcatis=135.4|
atcunicom=122.95|
psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-chicago-ohare/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There no official spotting locations. All non-official spotting locations are checked by airport security, Aviation Police or Police patrols.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===USG Parking Area===
The main spotting location is located at the USG Corporation on Scott St. which is close to the intersection of Mannheim Rd (US12/US45) and Lawrence Ave. You can park in their parking lot if it is the weekend but when the building is open you should park on the street. From here there is nice view of the south part of the airport and a full view of runways 28, 27L ,27R and 22L glidepaths. Also thru fences, taxiways Delta, Mike and Quebec are visible when aircraft are taxiing to Rwy. 22L for departure. To take photos of runway 28 operations, 80mm and larger lenses will work OK. This is a good spotting place all day when wind is coming from the west, southwest or northwest. The parking lot is in Schiller Park, but Scott Street is in Chicago as is Mannheim Rd which are both considered in the airport area. DO NOT continue far north on Scott Street past the red warning signs, or the aviation police will come and could confiscate your photo equipment or you could even be arrested for trespassing on airport property.

{{anetlink|1308441}}

Also you can take some shots from Hwy I-294 heading southbound directly under glidepath to Rwy 28 at your own risk (as we know 2 hrs standing limit)

{{jplink|5977943}}

===Balmoral Avenue===
When driving on north on Mannheim Rd take the exit to Balmoral Ave east. Pass the first stop sign and bridge over railroad, turn right twice and park at the Rosemont Metra Station parking lot. You may need to buy a ticket at pay station (sometimes Metra people or Rosemont police can check tickets, except on weekends, when the train is not operating) and go on the bridge. There is a nice view from the bridge, however you will need a camera that has a min. of a 300mm lens to get any decent photos. This is a great place to take pictures of taxiing aircraft to/from Rwy 22L or aircraft approaching Rwy 28 (summertime early morning).

{{jplink|6015512}}

{{jplink|6011991}}

===Cell Phone Lot===
Off of Mannheim Road south of Higgins/Touhy is the Airport's "Cell Phone Lot. You may park in this lot for free as long as you do not leave your vehicle unattended. There is an electronic arrivals board as well as an outhouse for emergency relief. Gives a nice view of approaches to 27R and 27L or departures from 9L and 9R.

===Allstate Arena===

The next good location is Allstate Arena area located at Mannheim Rd(US-12/US-45) between Higgins Rd (IL-72) and Touhy Ave. Full view of Rwy 22R all day (different places depend on where the sun is). From 9-10 am in the morning till 2-3pm a good place is the small parking lot opposite car wash just across Mannheim Rd.

In the summer, Sundays on the south side of Allstate Arena building is a flea market. You can walk between sellers, look for some good views and take shots. In wintertime, access to the parking is closed.

{{jplink|5960142}}

In afternoons, a good place is a huge parking lot between Target store and Touhy Ave (closer to Touhy).

{{anetlink|1272564}}

In late afternoons a good place is the back of the Allstate Arena parking lot close to Hwy I-90

{{anetlink|1267685}}

{{jplink|6091311}}

Also in this area you can find a spot to see arrivals at new Rwy 27R.

===Beeline Road===
Runway 10 operations can easily be seen from Beeline road in Bensonville. You can park on the side of the road and watch with no problems. This location is likely the closest you can get to landing planes as they come only a few hundred feet directly above the road. General photography isn't the best here though as you can only get direct head on shots of planes. As already said aircraft pass directly over the road so would only be able to see the bottom of the aircraft.
{{flickrlink|27044274@N06|6093376253}}

===14R/32L Spotting===
On the west side of the airport is York Rd/Elmhurst Rd which has several places where one can take photos. First is the Thorntons gas station area which is a good place to take shots of aircraft climbing out from Rwy 32L and approaching Rwy 14R, mainly in the afternoon. Likely in the next year this runway will be demolished.

{{anetlink|1269282}}

{{anetlink|1271223}}

Early mornings at sunrise you can stop at a small construction area with separated parking (with an orange fence around) north of Devon Ave heading north at east side. Approaching aircraft to Rwy 14R are clearly visible.

Departure 32L {{anetlink|1267769}}

Arrival 14R {{anetlink|1297954}}

Arrivals/departures at Rwy 14L/32R
Drive east on Touhy/Higgins, after crossing the railroad turn right at Mt Prospect Road towards employees airport gate. After 50-100 feet turn right on a small circle. A good place to take some shots , but sometimes Aviation Police can be there. This Rwy also will be closed in about two three years.

The best way to get around is a car. Without a car you can get one maybe two places but you'll never know the wind direction even if you check METAR.

On summertime afternoons a good place is an abandoned fast food restaurant near Foster Ave.

Rwy 10 arrivals and 28 departures are visible from both locations.

===Irving Park Road===
A good place to take photos of aircraft arriving on 4R or departing from 22L is from an airline cargo facility right off of Irving park road.
When driving from the west on Irving Pk take a left on to seymour ave then then another quick left at the first lot entrance after the small curve in the road. Drive all the way down the road and then park in one of the spaces. Arrivals at 4R and 22L departures are clearly visible.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Cargo South===
Avoid the South Cargo Area. Aviation and Chicago Police frequent the area and sometimes you can meet an FBI patrol.

===West end===

At west end avoid private property between the manufacturers' shops. Also try to not block traffic on all streets around the airport.

Do not go near the hill that construction near runway 10 has created as it is airport property. If you are seen near or on the hill, you will be charged with trespassing on airport property, government property, and railroad property. This is a serious offense, do not go here as was stated before!

===Higgins/Mannheim===

Avoid the area around the General Aviation ramp near the North Cargo area.

===Cemetery===
You can still go to St. Johannes Cemetery to watch planes on 10/28 or see the Fedex ramp from very close however if you are seen with a camera the police will tell you you can't take pictures and they may ask you to leave.

==Regular Traffic==
Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Air Choice One, Air France, Air India, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon, American Airlines, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta Airlines, Etihad Airways, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch, Korean Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Spirit Airlines, SWISS, TACA Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Virgin America, and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

==Facilities and Transportation==
There is a Metro station (Blue Line) that will take you from the airport to downtown Chicago.

==Hotels==
There is a Hilton Hotel located on the airport.

==Runway Usage==
Here are some of the usual runway usage patterns.

Wind from the west - The optimal and preferred runway pattern for O'Hare when the winds are blowing in any direction under about 6mph or from the west is as follows. Arrivals use runways 28, 27L, and 27R and departures use 22L and 32L. Large aircraft such as A340s and 747s may depart from 28 depending on their weight.

Wind from the east - Arrivals use runways 10 and 4R and departures use runways 9R and 4L. If a lot of planes become stacked up in the air 9R will temporarily become a arrival runway.

Wind from the south - Runways 14R and 22R are used for arrivals and runways 14L and 22L are used for departures. Runway 10 also may be used for arrivals and heavy departures if the wind speed is not very high.

A good website to see a wind forecast for the airport is [http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?Submit=Go&sta=KORD&state=IL here].

London Gatwick Airport

2016-02-18T02:16:58Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

[[Category:England]]
{{categorywithregion|Europe|United Kingdom|England}}

{{infobox|fullname=London Gatwick Airport|location=London, England|iata=LGW|icao=EGKK|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.gatwickairport.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.152863,-0.177155&spn=0.030994,0.076484&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=124.225
|atcground=121.800
|atcclearance=121.950
|atcapproach=126.825
|atcdeparture=|atcatis=|atcunicom=
|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-gatwick/}}

==Official Spotting Locations==

===Roof Terrace===

Shut, probably indefinitely.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===08R Crash Gate===
Probably the most popular spot at Gatwick, it's excellent for shooting aircraft taxing and holding for departure from 08 (and as a result is only available 30% of the time). The spot provides several different angles depending on where along the crash gate you shoot from. If a ladder is used please take it down after you have taken your shot. If you are arriving here by car, do not attempt to park by the crash gate or under the flightpath as you will be asked to move it by security.

{{anetlink|517794}}
{{anetlink|933562}}
{{anetlink|941072}}

Around this area as well you are able to get good clear shots of aircraft on final approach, or climbing out from 26L. However, you cannot park anywhere in this area as security or the police will ask you to move - and they do regular checks. Best place to park is further along the road, opposite the Flight pub. There is a huge layby here and it is probably a 20 minute walk back towards the viewing location.

===08R field===
Just south of the 08R crash gate is a gate leading to a farmers field. In the winter months when there is nothing growing here you can use this field to obtain shots of 08R arrivals or heavy 26L departures. It is still possible to use this field in summer, but you must stick to the edge and not under any circumstances step onto the farmer's crop. This spot is north facing so is good for most of the day for photography.

{{jplink|6381801}}

===26L - Inner Perimeter Road===

The best place to be when 26L is in use, which is about 70% of the time. Provides good landing views and picture opportunities. Very limited shots of ground activity although it is possible through a fence with a long lens.

{{anetlink|1039387}}
{{anetlink|1015682}}
{{jplink|5703223}}

===08R - Lowfield Heath Crash Gate===

Situated about half way down the runway near the Travelodge hotel, this location is not really suitable for photography unless 08R is in operation. Even then you have to rely on planes rotating early in order to get them above the fence.

===South Terminal International Departure Lounge===

Only accessible if you are traveling. Situated upstairs in the departure lounge by the Sports Bar, it offers nice views across the airfield and runway. Windows seem to be generally clean so photos may be possible. Please note that this area is currently closed due to refurbishment.

==Locations to Avoid==

===South Terminal Short stay Car Park===

This spot is fantastic for photographs of arrivals on 26L/26R late in the day, when the sun is to your right and behind you. It is possible to get some well lit, amazing photographs at close range, and at a similar height to the aircraft. However, discretion is the key at this location. You're very likely to be moved on by security from here if they see you. Best tips - do not park on the roof level. Instead, park on Level 4. It's still pretty high up but you're nowhere near as exposed. Stay in your car until something is on approach that you want to get a shot of. Get out of the car, take your photo, then get immediately back into your car and wait again. By doing this it is possible to stay there for a few hours, and get some lovely shots.

==Regular Traffic==

Usual for British Airports - i.e. British Airways Boeing 737s & Boeing 777s, easyJet Airbus A319s, Flybe BAe146s and Embraer 195s etc.. During the summer months (May-October) there is a large charter airline presence at the airport, including First Choice Airways, Monarch, Thomas Cook, and Thomsonfly.

Other carriers include Ghana International Airlines, Malev, Virgin Atlantic, Belavia, and Ethiopian Airlines

See here for more:[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatwick#North_Terminal]

==Facilities and Transportation==

There is a busy railway station situated at the South Terminal providing services from/to London and the South oast, plus east/west services from Horsham and Tunbridge Wells via Tonbridge. The Gatwick Express train service operates every 15 minutes direct to London Victoria station.
The station is a 50 minute train journey from Kings Cross Thameslink.

A transit train operates between the North & South Terminals. Each terminal has short stay parking (albeit quite expensive).

Coach services depart/arrive from locations around the country such as central London, Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge and Norwich. For those wanting to combine a Gatwick visit with a Heathrow one there is a direct link provided by National Express Coach 700 Service which operates every 15 minutes. Journey takes approximately 80 minutes.

If you want to get to The western end of the airport from the terminals. Take the G4 bus from either terminal (i believe it runs hourly, but check before you travel) to the village of Charlwood. You should then be only a 1 mile walk from the crash gate at the 08R end.

Palm Springs International Airport

2016-02-18T02:13:26Z

ABSpotting:

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

{{infobox|fullname=Palm Springs International Airport|
location=Palm Springs, California|
iata=PSP|
icao=KPSP|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.palmspringsairport.com|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=PSP&ll=33.829072,-116.508722&spn=0.060487,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=119.7 377.05|
atcground=121.9|
atcclearance=128.35|
atcapproach=126.7 370.95 (West-North) 135.275 251.1 (Northeast-Southwest)|
atcdeparture=126.7 370.95 (West-North) 135.275 251.1 (Northeast-Southwest)|
atcatis=118.25 760-327-2770|
atcunicom=119.7/122.95}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Abandoned Taxiway===
On the Southwest side of the airport, there is an abandoned taxiway that provides a great angle of arriving aircraft. The aircraft move right to left in front of you, as they descend to the 31s. This spot can be accessed from Kirk Douglas Way. You may park on the street on Airport Center Dr. and walk the short distance to the spot.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
33.818544, -116.501101~ ~ ~ ~ ~Abandoned Taxiway
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==

==Facilities and Transportation==

Palm Springs International Airport

2016-02-18T02:12:15Z

ABSpotting: /* Location */

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

{{infobox|fullname=Palm Springs International Airport|
location=Palm Springs, California|
iata=PSP|
icao=KPSP|
aptype=Commercial|
website=http://www.palmspringsairport.com|
mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=PSP&ll=33.829072,-116.508722&spn=0.060487,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|
mapsource=Google Maps|
atctower=119.7 377.05|
atcground=121.9|
atcclearance=128.35|
atcapproach=126.7 370.95 (West-North) 135.275 251.1 (Northeast-Southwest)|
atcdeparture=126.7 370.95 (West-North) 135.275 251.1 (Northeast-Southwest)|
atcatis=118.25 760-327-2770|
atcunicom=119.7/122.95}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

===Location===

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Abandoned Taxiway===
On the Southwest side of the airport, there is an abandoned taxiway that provides a great angle of arriving aircraft. The aircraft move right to left in front of you, as they descend to the 31s. This spot can be accessed from Kirk Douglas Way. You may park on the street on Airport Center Dr. and walk the short distance to the spot.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Location===

==Regular Traffic==

==Facilities and Transportation==

San Francisco International Airport

2016-02-15T17:26:46Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning May 6, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-02-14T04:51:50Z

ABSpotting: /* Bayfront Park */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)
{{anetlink|2760813}} (Another 28 arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-01-30T16:54:23Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal G */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Frankfurt Main Airport]]
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-01-30T16:53:53Z

ABSpotting: /* Terminal 2 */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]], [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|Frankfurt Main Airport
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-01-30T16:52:40Z

ABSpotting: /* Regular Traffic */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], Los Cabos International Airport, Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|Frankfurt Main Airport
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-01-30T16:51:20Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], [[Los Cabos International Airport]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], Los Cabos International Airport, Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|Frankfurt Main Airport
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]

San Francisco International Airport

2016-01-30T16:50:47Z

ABSpotting: /* International Terminal A */

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

San Francisco International Airport(KSFO/SFO) is an international airport located in Northern California. It is located 13 miles south of San Francisco near the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae. It is a hub for United Airlines and is their gateway to Asia. Virgin America is also based at SFO. It is the largest airport in Northern California and the second busiest airport in California, after [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. It features 4 runways, configured in pairs, perpendicularly.

{{infobox|fullname=San Francisco International Airport|location=San Francisco, California|iata=SFO|icao=KSFO|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.flysfo.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=SFO&ll=37.619534,-122.385035&spn=0.057675,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=120.5 269.1|atcground=121.8|atcclearance=118.2|atcapproach=134.5 135.65 133.95|atcdeparture=120.9 (NW-E) 135.1 (SE-W)|atcatis=|atcunicom=122.95|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-san-francisco/}}



==Official Spotting Locations==

There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then.

However, the [http://www.flysfo.com/museum/aviation-museum-library San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum] is within International Terminal A Side. It is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, temporary rolling exhibitions exist security within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 2 and 3. Public art from the San Francisco Arts Commission is on display throughout the terminals.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===Bayfront Park===

Bayfront Park is located at the end of Millbrae Ave. along Bayshore Hwy. It affords good views of all four runways, but it is somewhat distant (about one mile) from 10R/28L and 10L/28R, so you'll need a long lens for photos (about 700mm to get close to regional jets). 1R/19L and 1R/19R are closer, however, a chain link fence was recently built next to the runways that limits photography.
{{anetlink|694555}} (1R departure, before the fence was built)
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival)

To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets.

Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival]

If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

===New Long Term Parking===

The new long term parking lot (operated by SFO) is near the north end of 10/28. It offers good side views of heavy departures off the 28's. As you will be facing southwest, the lighting is best in the morning. This location is a long distance from the rotation point, but heavy aircraft will be very close when they're putting their gear up. With good binoculars or telephoto, it also offers a good overview of the north side of the airfield, including the United maintenance hangars and the cargo ramp.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295067941/ Air France A340 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/295069526/ NWA 757 departing 28, from Long Term Parking]

Although the roof is covered in security cameras, the turret-style stairway is notably lacking. Being chased away by security in this blind spot is rare. If you feel guilty, park in the lot and pay the fee -- it is only a few dollars for an afternoon.

If you are traveling by air or BART, go to the arrivals level at SFO and board a free SFO long term parking bus. They run at a five minute frequency and they will drop you off right where you need to be. Use the same bus to return.

===Cell Phone Lot===

The cell phone Lot is located near the new Long Term Parking garage and directly under the path for 28R. It is slightly closer to the runways, and it is free to park in. The only downside is that you must stay with your vehicle and you may only park there for an hour. Here are the official rules for [http://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ the cell phone lot]. You will not be able to see airport operations from here, due to the fact that it is not raised like the long term parking garage. You will, though, be able to get good shots of aircraft just after rotation, as they are putting their gear up. If the Shoreline Seven departure is in use, aircraft will make a sharp right turn over the lot and it will make for good photos. 200mm with a 1.6x crop factor will be sufficient for this spot.

* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/18586234326/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Delta 737 making a sharp turn off of 28R, from Cell Phone Lot]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/121119895@N06/17991903833/in/album-72157651930709243/ A Virgin Atlantic 747 making a straight out departure, from Cell Phone Lot]

===San Bruno Ave Overpass===

Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain.

Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality.

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave]

If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway.

If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain.

===Within the airport===

Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views:

'''Parking Garage G''' -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! {{anetlink|2747465}}

'''Parking Garage A''' -- Good shots of the west ramp of International Terminal A {{anetlink|2675995}}

''' AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line)''' -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty.

'''AirTrain approaching terminal 1''' -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, etc).

'''AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road''' -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx).

'''Terminal 2 Air Train stop''' -- Good rotation shots of the 28s, although there will be no warning-bring a scanner. At each end of the stop there is an opening so you do not have to shoot through glass. The opening on the north side of the station gives good shots of rotation and the SFO water towers. The south side will give shots of the thresholds of the 28s (with a long lens), the beginning of the 1s, and Terminal 2 ramp shots. {{anetlink|2739252}} {{anetlink|2416532}}

==Locations to Avoid==

Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet.

==Spotting Locations Map==

<display_map>
37.605265,-122.376661~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bayfront Park
37.635894,-122.400111~ ~ ~ ~ ~New Long Term Parking
37.631529,-122.401141~ ~ ~ ~ ~San Bruno Ave Overpass
37.616748, -122.384576~ ~ ~ ~ ~Terminal 2 Air Train Stop
37.633222,-122.400178~ ~ ~ ~ ~Cell Phone Lot
37.613781, -122.391982~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage A
37.615855, -122.392617~ ~ ~ ~ ~Garage G/BART
37.628242, -122.401189~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rental Car Facility
</display_map>

==Regular Traffic==
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R.

During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather.

Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope.

===International Terminal A===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aeroméxico
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Mexico City Airport]], [[Guadalajara Airport]]
|-
|Air Berlin (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Düsseldorf Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada Rouge
|Airbus A319
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|-
|Air France
|Airbus A380-800(seasonal), Boeing 777-300(seasonal)
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|-
|Alaska Airlines
|Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900
|[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Palm Springs International Airport]], Los Cabos International Airport, [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|-
|Asiana Airlines
|Boeing 777-200
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Avianca
|Airbus A320
|[[El Salvador Intl.]]
|-
|British Airways
|Airbus A380-800, Boeing 747-400
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|Cathay Pacific
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Hong Kong Airport]]
|-
|China Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
|-
|China Eastern
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Shanghai Airport]]
|-
|China Southern
|Boeing 787-8
|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]]
|-
|Emirates
|Airbus A380-800
|[[Dubai International Airport]]
|-
|Etihad Airways
|Boeing 777-300(Jet Airways)
|Abu Dhabi
|-
|Fiji Airways (Beginning June 16, 2016)
|Airbus A330-200
|Nadi International Airport
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|-
|Japan Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Haneda Airport]]
|-
|jetBlue
|Airbus A320, Airbus A321
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Long Beach Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
|-
|KLM
|Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-200
|[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]]
|-
|Korean Air
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Philippine Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]]
|-
|Qantas
|Boeing 747-400
|[[Sydney Airport]]
|-
|Sun Country Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin Atlantic
|Boeing 787-9, Airbus A340-600
|[[London Heathrow Airport]]
|-
|WestJet
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Calgary International Airport]]
|-
|WOW Air (Beginning Summer 2016)
|Airbus A330-300
|[[Keflavik International Airport]]
|-
|XL Airways France
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 1===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300, Airbus A320
|[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]], [[Detroit Metro Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]],
|-
|Frontier
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-700
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Bob Hope Airport]], [[John Wayne-Orange County Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]], [[Denver International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]], [[Chicago Midway International Airport]], [[Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport]]
|}

===Terminal 2===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|American Airlines
|Airbus A321, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 767-300
|[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Miami International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[Philadelphia International Airport]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|-
|Virgin America
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[San Diego International Airport]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], [[Portland International Airport]], [[Honolulu International Airport]], [[Kahului Airport]], [[McCarran International Airport]], Los Cabos International Airport, Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, [[Cancún International Airport]], [[Austin Bergstrom International Airport]], [[Dallas Love Field Airport]], [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]], [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], [[Logan International Airport]], [[New York John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York La Guardia Airport]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], ¹[[Denver International Airport]], ²[[Palm Springs International Airport]]

¹Service beginning March 15, 2016

²Seasonal Service

|}

===Terminal 3===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, United 787-9
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_NA_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

===International Terminal G===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|'''Destinations'''
|-
|Aer Lingus
|Airbus A330-200
|[[Dublin Airport]]
|-
|Air Canada
|Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 767-300
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|-
|Air China
|Boeing 747-8i
|[[Beijing Capital Airport]]
|-
|Air India
|Boeing 777-200
|Indira Gandhi International Airport
|-
|Air New Zealand
|Boeing 777-200/777-300
|[[Auckland Airport]]
|-
|ANA
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Tokyo Narita Airport]]
|-
|Copa Airlines
|Boeing 737-800
|[[Tocumen Intl.]]
|-
|EVA Air
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]
|-
|Lufthansa
|Airbus A380-800
|Frankfurt Main Airport
|-
|SAS
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Copenhagen Kastrup Airport]]
|-
|Singapore Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Incheon International Airport]]
|-
|Swiss
|Airbus A340-300
|[[Zurich Airport]]
|-
|Turkish Airlines
|Boeing 777-300
|[[Atatürk International Airport]]
|-
|United Airlines
|Airbus A320, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8
|https://www.united.com/CMS/Documents/pdfs/route-maps/UAL_WORLD_Map_2015_10_01.pdf
|}

*Routes as of January 1, 2016

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transportation===

The [http://www.bart.gov BART] rapid transit rail system maintains a station at the terminals, and provides service to San Francisco and cities in the East Bay. It also provides connections to [http://www.caltrain.com/ Caltrain] commuter rail service to San Jose and Gilroy via the Millbrae Station.

Three [http://www.samtrans.org samTrans] bus routes serve the airport terminals. Route 292 serves a route from San Mateo to downtown San Francisco. Route 397 and Express Route KX serve a route from Palo Alto to downtown San Francisco.

The [http://www.airportexpressinc.com/home.html Airport Express] provides transportation to Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa.

The [http://www.marinairporter.com/ Marin Airporter] provides transportation to multiple locations in Marin County including San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.

==External Links==

*[http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSFO SFO on FlightAware]