Chicago O'Hare International Airport: Difference between revisions

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There no official spotting locations. All non-official spotting locations are checked by airport security, Aviation Police or Police patrols.

===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.

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.

===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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

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.

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.

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There is a Metro station (Blue Line) that will take you from the airport to downtown Chicago.

There is a Hilton Hotel located on the airport.

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.