Mineta San José International Airport: Difference between revisions

→‎Airport Blvd Shoulder: Added information for San Jose State (basically the entire first half).
(→‎Airport Blvd Shoulder: Added information for San Jose State (basically the entire first half).)
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===Airport Boulevard Spots===
===Airport Boulevard Spots===


====Airport Blvd Shoulder====
====Former San Jose State Aviation Department / Airport Blvd Shoulder====
 
Small parking lot near the corner of Coleman Ave. and Aviation Blvd. is the best spotting location for SJC.  San Jose State University (SJSU) Aviation Department used to be located here, so you will hear this spot referred to as the SJSU lot or the San Jose State lot.  Lighting is good from the early afternoon to evening.  There is no charge for parking.  It is recommended that you stay in the parking lot and do not walk out to the street shoulder unless for something special (see note below)
 
Excellent photos of Runway 30 landings can be taken here.  About 100 mm is sufficient for 30L MD-80 landings and about 300 mm is required for 30R B737 landings.
 
{{anetlink|2139615}} 30L landing
{{anetlink|2239256}} 30R landing will typically get you a view with the hill in the background
 
Taxiway W shots can also be taken here.  FBOs are located on the west side of the airport, so you can see pretty much all business, private, and charter aircraft departure.  Departing traffic from the FBOs will taxi out in front of you here, provided if they do not use an intersection for departure.
 
{{anetlink|2216685}}
{{anetlink|2211391}}
 
All departing traffic requires photography through the fence, or a walkout to the shoulder on Airport Blvd.


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 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.
''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".   


*[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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