Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: Difference between revisions

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==Official Spotting Locations==
==Official Spotting Locations==
===Aircraft Viewing Area===
===Aircraft Viewing Area===
FLL's official spotting location is located on SW 39th Street (from SB I-95 exit on Griffin, turn left on S Perimeter Rd and follow the signs). The spotting location is a small parking lot adjacent to the 9L threshold which features loudspeakers playing the airport's local control frequency. For photography, this can be used for 27R departures and 9L operations.  For operations on 9L, the airport's fence will obstruct your view from ground level.  Many locals bring stepladders or stand atop their vehicles in the parking area to shoot over the fence.  The sunlight is decent for photography year round, best during the winter. Runway 9 operations are ideally photographed during the morning, while 27 is best for evening, but you can make due with either operation at most times of the day. For most traffic no more than a 150mm lens is required.
FLL's official spotting location is located on SW 39th Street (from SB I-95 exit on Griffin, turn left on S Perimeter Rd and follow the signs). The spotting location is a small parking lot adjacent to the 10L threshold which features loudspeakers playing the airport's local control frequency. For photography, this can be used for 28R departures and 10L operations.  For operations on 10L, the airport's fence will obstruct your view from ground level.  Many locals bring stepladders or stand atop their vehicles in the parking area to shoot over the fence.  The sunlight is decent for photography year round, best during the winter. Runway 10 operations are ideally photographed during the morning, while 28 is best for evening, but you can make due with either operation at most times of the day. For most traffic no more than a 150mm lens is required.


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===Hibiscus Garage===
===Hibiscus Garage===
At the top of the Hibiscus parking structure is another official viewing area where it faces the space between Terminal A and B. This is a good location for aircraft landing/taxiing to 27R as well as 9L departures.
At the top of the Hibiscus parking structure is another official viewing area where it faces the space between Terminal A and B. This is a good location for aircraft landing/taxiing to 28R as well as 10L departures.


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===Airport Greenbelt===
This old south side viewing spot can now be used for the airport's newest re-constructed runway, 10R-28L.  The Airport Greenbelt is now one of the most comfortable, beautiful, and easiest spotting spots in the U.S.! 
Enter at the intersection of Griffin Road and NW 10th St, between I-95 and US 1 highways. The park is elevated, giving an unobstructed view of the runway action.  In other words - no ladder required! The park runs parallel to the runway for about 2/3 of the length from the west, giving you options for different angles. As an added bonus, trees dot the entire length of the park providing shade from the hot Florida sun.  Sun angle is good all day outside of the summer season.
Only 100 mm (full frame) is needed for a side shot of an A320 on the runway!
There no police hassles, as this is an official city park. Joggers, dog walkers, and families enjoying airport views all frequent this park.  Hours are sunrise to sunset.
Traffic - expect to see majority of departures and some arrivals for Terminal 4 - JetBlue, Spirit, and some of the international carriers. Majority of the arrivals remain on the northern runway so there can be slow times here. Bizjets, private aircraft, and float plane charters that operate from Sheltair can also be seen here.
Parking lot and viewing platform are located on the western end of the park.  Again, there are trees providing shady parking.
<gallery>
Image:FLL Greenbelt 2985-copy.jpg|Greenbelt Parking Lot
Image:FLL Greenbelt 2992-copy.jpg|Dedicated Viewing Platform
Image:FLL Greenbelt 2987-copy.jpg|View of the Path
</gallery>
Views from the viewing platform (western end - 10R approach and line up):
<gallery>
Image:FLL Greenbelt 0758-copy.jpg
Image:FLL Greenbelt 0748-copy.jpg
Image:FLL Greenbelt 7369-copy.jpg|Afternoon sun
</gallery>
Further east from the parking lot:
<gallery>
Image:FLL Greenbelt 7685-copy.jpg|Taxi out to 10R with skyline
</gallery>
{{anetlink|2600295}} 10R landing
{{anetlink|2598646}} Rolling for takeoff 10R
Even further to the east gives 10R touchdown views:
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Same spot as above - climbout from 28L (examples of early morning views):
<gallery>
Image:FLL Greenbelt 7999-copy.jpg
Image:FLL Greenbelt 7978-copy.jpg
</gallery>
Same spot as above - landing traffic on 28L will turn off at intersection J5. Position yourself further east of this location so you don’t get a backlit shot such as this in the morning:
<gallery>
Image:FLL Greenbelt 7988-copy.jpg
</gallery>
Rotation shots from 9R can be had about halfway east from the parking lot.
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Viewing across the runway gets city skyline and tails in the background.  Though heat haze can be a problem.
<gallery>
Image:FLL Greenbelt 7897-copy.jpg
</gallery>
<display_map>
26.063780, -80.157083~ ~ ~ ~ ~Airport Greenbelt
26.074217, -80.164873~ ~ ~ ~ ~Aircraft Viewing Area
26.071782, -80.141680~ ~ ~ ~ ~Hibiscus Garage
</display_map>


==Other Spotting Locations==
==Other Spotting Locations==
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