San Diego International Airport: Difference between revisions

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

{{infobox|fullname=San Diego International Airport<br />(Lindbergh Field)|location=San Diego, California|iata=SAN|icao=KSAN|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.san.org|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.734801,-117.190175&spn=0.020131,0.038242&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=118.3 338.225|atcground=123.9|atcclearance=125.9|atcapproach=119.6 (West)<br />124.35 (East)|atcdeparture=119.6 (West)<br />124.35 (East)|atcatis=134.8<br />619-298-0997|atcunicom=122.95}}

San Diego International Airport is the primary commercial airport for San Diego County. No airline maintains a hub there, and Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier, followed closely by Alaska Airlines. The vast majority of scheduled flights are to points within North America including the Hawaiian Islands. In terms of international service, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, and WestJet operate to respective destinations that include Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary with Air Transat soon to be starting flights to Montreal. Swoop was supposed to begin service to Abbotsford and Edmonton, however, the grounding of the 737 MAX has affected previous plans to begin both flights in October 2019 so they have pushed back start-up to Summer 2020. Alaska, Southwest, and Sun Country (seasonally) operate the airport's only flights to Mexico: Puerto Vallarta (AS/WN) and San Jose Del Cabo (AS/SY/WN). British Airways, Japan Airlines, and Lufthansa provide intercontinental wide-body service with flights to London-Heathrow, Tokyo-Narita, and Frankfurt, respectively. Edelweiss provides seasonal wide-body service to Zurich during the summer.   

 

The airport has only a single runway, 9/27, and normal operations call for arrivals and departures on runway 27. Runway 9 usage is uncommon. They will use runway 9 if the cloud ceilings are below 600 feet from airport elevation due to non-precision only approaches for runway 27 and if the visibility is reduced to less than 1 1/2 miles. In addition, easterly winds known as "Santa Ana" winds will force runway 9 operations if strong enough; and conditions are usually clear which is rare for reverse operations. Runway 9 has an operating ILS which can account for the lowered ceiling and visibility.  

The airport has a small free parking lot at the intersection of Harbor Dr. and Laurel St. for spotting.  From here you will see aircraft arriving and departing on runway 27.  You will need a ladder or tall vehicle to get camera lenses above the fence line for departure and taxi shots, though this may still be difficult as there is a second fence separating the shuttle bus access road from the ramp. However, you can photograph arrivals from street level with a long enough lens but you won't be able to get the "classic San Diego shot" with Mission Hills in the background nor the touchdown.  Posted signs prohibit unattended vehicles. Avoid the adjacent Solar Turbines parking lot, but the sidewalk along Laurel St. should be okay.  Lighting is best in the early afternoon, before 6:00, during summer.  In the winter, light is typically good all day, though you may need to vary the angle of your shot as the sun moves across the sky.  If you need a snack or drink, there is a convenience store at the Shell gas station located at the intersection of Laurel and Pacific Hwy (about a 5-10 minute walk).

 

{{jplink|8203370}} (final to runway 27, shot over the fence)

===Columbia Street and W Nutmeg Street===

===Aladdin Parking Garage===

Located on the top floor of this massive structure, this spot provides breathtaking views of the bay as well as a clear view of the touchdown of aircraft. This was the premier spot until a sign was listed on top of the roof stating "employees only." From then on, spotters usually tended to avoid this area. No further spotting was noted after the sign was put up.

===Ivy St. and Albatross St.===

===W Palm St. Pedestrian Overpass===

This pedestrian bridge over the 5 freeway offers excellent side shots framed by the downtown skyscrapers during final approach and fair views of landing/taxing. The bridge is accessible from both Kettner Blvd and India St, street parking is available nearby and the Middletown trolley station across Kettner also offers affordable parking. Most of the bridge's length is covered by a 6-7 foot high grated fence, so to achieve the classic San Diego shot from the median with eight lanes of freeway traffic stretching arrow straight towards the cylindrical Four Points hotel you'll need a lens small enough to poke through the grating or a stepladder.

==Locations To Avoid==

This lot is next to the official observation area at Laurel St. and Harbor Dr.  It is tempting because it gets you closer to the action than the official area.  However, it is private property and Solar Turbines security does patrol the lot and has asked spotters to leave.  If you stay on the public sidewalk outside the lot along Laurel Dr., you should be okay.

This is the multi-story parking structure that aircraft fly over just before landing on runway 27.  While tempting because of the possibility of down-the-runway views of the airport and belly shots of landing aircraft, there are signs posted that taking photos and videos are prohibited, and that they can have you arrested for trespassing for doing anything other than being actively engaged in the parking of vehicles.

{{#display_map:

32.73339,-117.171553~Columbia St and W Nutmeg St;

32.7307,-117.1728~Aladdin Parking Garage;

32.7362,-117.2116~NTC Park;

32.7283,-117.1791~Laurel and Harbor Lot;

32.736631,-117.182220~Rental Car Facility;

32.728233,-117.165725~Ivy and Albatross;

32.733750, -117.173429~W Palm Street Pedestrian Overpass

Spotters visiting SAN may wish to consult the Flight Planner accessible at the San Diego International Airport website for exact and up-to-date information.  Keep in mind also that many cargo flights do not operate a regular schedule on weekends or holidays.

*'''Air Canada Express (Jazz)''': CRJ-705, CRJ-900

*'''Air Canada Rouge''': A319-100, A321-200

*'''Air Transat''': 737-800, A321-200 (seasonal, begins June 15, 2020)

*'''Alaska Airlines''': 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, A319-100, A320-200, A321neo (summer seasonal)

**'''SkyWest Airlines''': ERJ-175

*'''American Airlines''': 737-800, 757-200, A319-100, A320-200, A321-200

**'''American Eagle (Compass Airlines)''': ERJ-175

**'''American Eagle (SkyWest Airlines)''': CRJ-200, CRJ-700

*'''Delta Air Lines''': 737-800, 737-900ER, 757-200, 757-300, A319-100, A320-200, A321-200, A330-300 (service only between 3/11/20 and 3/31/20)

**'''Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines)''': CRJ-900

*'''Frontier Airlines''': A319-100, A320-200, A320neo, A321-200

*'''Hawaiian Airlines''': A321neo (A330-200 replaces A321neo on the Honolulu flight beginning May 21, 2020)

*'''Japan Airlines''': 787-8

*'''JetBlue Airways''': A320-200, A321-200

*'''SkyWest Airlines''': CRJ-200, CRJ-700

*'''Southwest Airlines''': 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8 (Currently Grounded)

*'''Spirit Airlines''': A319-100, A320-200, A320neo

*'''Sun Country Airlines''': 737-700, 737-800

*'''Swoop''': 737-800 (summer season only, begins May 8, 2020)

*'''United Airlines''': 737-700, 737-800, 737-900ER, 737 MAX 9 (Currently Grounded), 757-200, A319-100, A320-200

**'''United Express (SkyWest Airlines)''': CRJ-200, CRJ-700, ERJ-175

*'''Atlas AIr/DHL Cargo''': The 767-200s that are operated by Atlas Air are parked on the northside of the field have been nicknamed "the sleeping giant" by SAN spotters because they hardly ever seem to move.  Many of the 767-200s on this flight are painted in full DHL colors.  It typically arrives at approximately 7:00AM and departs to Phoenix, Arizona between 5:50PM and 7:00PM. Occasionally, this flight will be operated by a 767-300F.

*'''Ameriflight''': Ameriflight operates the Beech Airliner 99 and the Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner to SAN in the early evening, with arrival times from El Centro, California between 5:00PM and 7:00PM and are on the ground for less than 40 minutes usually before departure back to Ontario, California.  

*'''FedEx Express''': FedEx is the largest cargo carrier at SAN, with the longtime regular A300 and MD-10 flights largely replaced by the 757 and 767. Three flights usually arrive in the very early morning, before 6:00AM, and normally have all departed by 8:00AM. A second set of two flights typically arrives between 4:00PM and 6:30PM.  These usually depart again between 7:00PM and 8:30PM.  One of the Friday afternoon flights, typically arriving at approximately 5:00PM and departing after dark, and one of the Saturday morning flights, typically arriving at 5:30AM and departing between 7:00AM & 8:00PM, are usually operated by 767equipment. MD-11's are still somewhat rare, but made some appearances during the 2015 Christmas season. The 757 only operates at in the early morning and at night, so they are a bit hard to photograph.  

**'''FedEx Feeder (Westair)''': A series of Cessna 208B Cargomaster flights arrive between 6:00PM and 7:00PM from El Centro supplying cargo for the larger FedEx aircraft flying out of SAN. They depart usually in the morning around 6:30AM to 9:00AM

*'''United Parcel Service (UPS)''': UPS operates two weekday flights on a somewhat variable schedule, generally using 767s.  A morning flight usually arrives at approximately 5:00AM and departs around 6:30AM. A 767 arrives from the their mega hub in Louisville, Kentucky most weekday afternoons between 4:30PM and 5:30PM. Departures occur between 6:30AM and 7:30AM and in the evening between 7:30PM and 8:30PM. UPS does not operate on the weekends.

==Facilities and Transportation==

There is a [http://www.san.org/sdia/parking/cell-phone_lot.aspx "cell phone" parking lot] which offers up to one hour free parking for visitors waiting to pick up a passenger from an arriving flight, adjacent to the SAN Park Harbor Drive long term parking lot.  Unlike the previous cell phone lot, it does offer views of the airport, however it is still not optimal for spotting as the paid long term parking lot is between this area and the taxiways. The cell phone lot has a couple of portable toilets and vending machines, along with monitors showing arriving flight information. However, if you're looking for video, this is the place to be (it will be even better if you bring a latter or stand on your car to fully see the touchdown as the spot is located abeam the threshold).  

San Diego Transit bus [http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/Route.aspx?r=992 Route 992], sometimes known as the Flyer, and [http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/Route.aspx?r=923 Route 923A] provide service to the airport terminals.  The lines originate in downtown San Diego, with several stops including one near the official observation lot at Laurel and Harbor.  Connections to these routes can be made at various locations in downtown San Diego to other bus routes as well as the [http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp San Diego Trolley], [http://www.gonctd.com/coaster Coaster], and [http://www.amtrakcalifornia.com/index.cfm/routes/pacific-surfliner/ Amtrak Pacific Surfliner] trains.