Mineta San José International Airport: Difference between revisions

→‎Other Spotting Locations: SJSU lot is fenced off
(→‎Other Spotting Locations: SJSU lot is fenced off)
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==Other Spotting Locations==
==Other Spotting Locations==
===San José State University Aviation Department===
San José State University maintains a facility at the airport for their aviation department, located at the corner of Airport Blvd. and Coleman Ave.  When classes are not in session it is generally not a problem to park and spot from here.  You can get excellent views of aircraft landing on 30L, as they will still be in the air and thus the fence does not get in your way.  30R is a little more difficult, as it is further away and you will need to get your camera lens over the fence.  Along Airport Blvd. there are some utility boxes that you can stand on top of that will get you closer to the runway and over the fence line, however you are close to the road and as a result police may get nervous (see below).  It is generally best to walk out there to get the shot you want, then go back to the parking lot.  This spot is best for photos with the sun behind you from mid day to sunset.
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===Airport Boulevard Spots===
===Airport Boulevard Spots===
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Anywhere along the Airport Blvd curve near the southwestern corner of the Airport, where there are no sidewalks and just a dirt shoulder.  There are ground-level utility boxes that provide a good place to keep your footing when taking photos.  The height of the road shoulder provides enough elevation to see over the fence.   
Anywhere along the Airport Blvd curve near the southwestern corner of the Airport, where there are no sidewalks and just a dirt shoulder.  There are ground-level utility boxes that provide a good place to keep your footing when taking photos.  The height of the road shoulder provides enough elevation to see over the fence.   


''HOWEVER'', police have regularly asked me to leave from this location and instead go to the SJSU parking lot just up the street (see "San José State University Aviation Department" above).  It's never been a big deal, but I've been told it's a safety issue with the proximity to the road and lack of sidewalk.  To avoid this issue (as stated in the above section), park in the SJSU lot, walk out onto Airport Blvd when it's time to get your photo, and then walk back to "safety".
''HOWEVER'', police have regularly asked spotters to leave from this location and instead go to the SJSU parking lot just up the street.  It's never been a big deal, but I've been told it's a safety issue with the proximity to the road and lack of sidewalk.  To avoid this issue, it was suggested park in the SJSU lot, walk out onto Airport Blvd when it's time to get your photo, and then walk back to "safety".  However, with the closure of the SJSU lot, alternative parking/waiting locations near this spot are unclear.


[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4631343354/ Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr]
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4631343354/ Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr]
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====The Dirt Hill====
====The Dirt Hill====


If you park in the SJSU lot (see above) and walk across Airport Blvd 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.


[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4444951438/in/photostream/ Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr]
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickrailfan/4444951438/in/photostream/ Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr]