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Mineta San José International Airport: Difference between revisions

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====The Dirt Hill====
====The Dirt Hill====
This spot signed as a '''Restricted Area'''.  Spot here at your own risk (even on foot).  Not recommended.


Across Airport Blvd from the former SJSU parking lot, at Coleman Ave, there is a slight dirt hill that is in the middle of the curve made by Airport Blvd, near the I-880 ramps.  Park a chair here and watch planes takeoff and land from both runways.  You used to be able to drive a car up onto the hill but they caught onto it and chained off the driveway, however it is still open to pedestrians.
Across Airport Blvd from the former SJSU parking lot, at Coleman Ave, there is a slight dirt hill that is in the middle of the curve made by Airport Blvd, near the I-880 ramps.  Park a chair here and watch planes takeoff and land from both runways.  You used to be able to drive a car up onto the hill but they caught onto it and chained off the driveway, however it is still open to pedestrians.
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===Terminal A Parking Garage===
===Terminal A Parking Garage===


With an appropriate lens (200mm +), the top level of the Terminal A garage affords fairly good views of activity on the runways.  Unfortunately, due to the terminal building being in the way, it is difficult to shoot anything which is closer to you than Runway 30R/12L.  This location is best in the mornings, as you're facing west-southwest.
With an appropriate lens (200mm +), the top level of the Terminal A garage affords fairly good views of activity on the runways.  Unfortunately, due to the terminal building being in the way, it is difficult to shoot anything which is closer to you than Runway 30R/12L.  This location is best from sunrise to mid-morning, as you're facing west-southwest.  This is also the only morning spot at SJC.


===Long Term Parking Lot (Brokaw Rd)===
{{anetlink|2217454}}
 
{{anetlink|2134549}}
'''This spot is now closed!'''
{{anetlink|1984629}}
 
The Long Term parking lot has excellent views of both runways along their entire length.  You are also within a couple feet of the taxiway that most (if not all) private jets and general aviation aircraft use.  Park along the chain-link fence and use either a step-ladder or truck bed to see over it.  Parking is $1.00/20min.  Security/police will usually question what you are doing, ask if you are paying for parking, and then usually will let you be.  Don't park outside to avoid the parking fees, since they will ask you to leave if you aren't a paying customer.  Late-afternoon/evening lighting is best for photos, and a long lens (200mm+) is recommended.
 
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4540195502/ Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr]
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4539561689/ Example Photo 2 by Nick George on Flickr]


===Guadalupe Park===
===Guadalupe Park===
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==Regular Traffic==
==Regular Traffic==
''Info current as of July 2010.''  For the latest listings, please check FlightAware.com's KSJC Flight Tracker page, [http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSJC here]. 
On a normal day, one might see the following aircraft.  Large or notable aircraft are in '''bold''':


===Passenger===
===Passenger===


''Alaska Airlines'': B737-700, B737-800, '''B737-900'''
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
''All Nippon Airways'': '''B787-8'''
|'''Airline'''
 
|'''Aircraft'''
''American Airlines'': MD-82/83, B737-800
|'''Terminal'''
 
|-
''American Eagle'': ERJ140
|Alaska Airlines
 
|737-800, 737-900, 737 MAX 9
''Continental'': B737-800
|B
 
|-
''Delta Air Lines'': A319, A320, B737, '''MD-90'''
|Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air)
 
|E-175
''Hawaiian Airlines'': '''B767-300'''  ''(Departs Mid-Morning, Arrives Late Evening)''
|B
 
|-
''Horizon Air'': Bombardier Q400
|Alaska Airlines (SkyWest Airlines)
 
|E-175
''JetBlue'': A320
|B
 
|-
''SkyWest (incl: Delta Connection, United Express)'': EMB-120, CRJ200, CRJ700
|American Airlines
 
|737-800, 737 MAX 8, A321-200
''Southwest Airlines'': B737-300, B737-500, B737-700
|A
 
|-
''United Airlines'': A319, A320, '''B757-200'''
|American Eagle (Envoy Air)
 
|E-175
''US Airways'': A319, A320
|A
 
|-
''Volaris Airlines'': A320
|Delta Airlines
 
|737-900, A220-100, A319-100, A320-200
''US Airways'': A319, A320
|A
 
|-
''Volaris'': A320
|Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines)
|E-175
|A
|-
|Frontier Airlines
|A320-200
|A
|-
|Hawaiian Airlines
|A321neo
|B
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8
|B
|-
|Spirit Airlines
|A320neo, A321neo
|A
|-
|United Airlines
|737-700, 737-800, A320-200
|A
|-
|Volaris
|A320-200
|A
|-
|ZIPAIR
|787-8
|B
|}


===Cargo===
===Cargo===


All cargo flights arrive during the early evening hours (4-6pm) and depart during the mid-evening hours (6pm-8pm), making for some great shots.   
Cargo flights generally arrive during the early evening hours (4-6pm) and depart during the mid-evening hours (6pm-8pm), making for some great shots.   
 
''FedEx Express'': '''A300-600''', '''MD-10''', '''MD-11'''


''UPS Airlines'': '''A300-600''', '''B767-300''', '''B757-200'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Airline'''
|'''Aircraft'''
|-
|FedEx
|767-300
|-
|United Parcel Service
|767-300
|}


===Private Jets and General Aviation===
===Private Jets and General Aviation===
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==Map of Spotting Locations==
==Map of Spotting Locations==


<display_points type="satellite">
{{#display_map:
37.36337, -121.935786|Long Term Parking Lot
37.36337,-121.935786~Long Term Parking Lot;
37.351456, -121.921034|SJSU Parking Lot and Grass Area
37.351456,-121.921034~SJSU Parking Lot and Grass Area;
37.351473, -121.91995|Airport Blvd Shoulder
37.351473,-121.91995~Airport Blvd Shoulder;
37.350731, -121.919467|"The Dirt Hill"
37.350731,-121.919467~"The Dirt Hill";
37.370004, -121.928812|Terminal A Parking Garage
37.370004,-121.928812~Terminal A Parking Garage;
37.343797, -121.906067|Guadalupe River Park
37.343797,-121.906067~Guadalupe River Park
</display_points>
| zoom=14
| type=terrain
}}


==Locations to Avoid==
==Locations to Avoid==
===Long Term Parking Lot (Brokaw Rd)===
'''This spot is now closed!'''
The Long Term parking lot has excellent views of both runways along their entire length.  You are also within a couple feet of the taxiway that most (if not all) private jets and general aviation aircraft use.  Park along the chain-link fence and use either a step-ladder or truck bed to see over it.  Parking is $1.00/20min.  Security/police will usually question what you are doing, ask if you are paying for parking, and then usually will let you be.  Don't park outside to avoid the parking fees, since they will ask you to leave if you aren't a paying customer.  Late-afternoon/evening lighting is best for photos, and a long lens (200mm+) is recommended.
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4540195502/ Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr]
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4539561689/ Example Photo 2 by Nick George on Flickr]


==Facilities and Transportation==
==Facilities and Transportation==
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