6
edits
San Francisco International Airport: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
m (minor clarification) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
==Official Spotting Locations== | ==Official Spotting Locations== | ||
There are currently no official spotting locations at SFO. The previous spotting locations at the approach end of RWY 01 was closed after 9/11, and the terminal observation decks were closed even before then. | |||
However, there is an [http://www.sfoarts.org/about/alm.html airport/aviation museum] within International Terminal A. It is open daily except Saturday. Their collection is surprisingly extensive, though not all of it is on display. It's worth stopping in if you're there when it's open. Also, better than average art exhibits exist within the International Terminal as well as air-side Terminal 1 and 3. | |||
==Other Spotting Locations== | ==Other Spotting Locations== | ||
| Line 17: | Line 19: | ||
{{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival) | {{anetlink|950203}} (28L arrival) | ||
To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. | To reach the park, take the Millbrae Ave. exit off US-101, and head north-east, towards the bay. At the end of Millbrae Ave., make a right turn. You will see the park on your left; the first left turn you can make takes you into the park's small, free parking lot. The large, divided section of the lot is a pay lot for the Marriott Hotel. There is alternate free parking across the street at the Westin, though it is only a few spaces (turn into the Westin parking lot, and take an immediate left before the lobby circle). If all else fails, you can park nearly anywhere on the side-streets. | ||
Once you have parked your car, you may want to walk towards the airport to the north end of the park for good views of 1L/19R and 1R/19L. If your objective is to watch 10R/28L and 10L/28R, you can go pretty much wherever you like in the park. If you want the San Francisco skyline in your photos, try walking south on the Bay Trail beyond the Marriott; at least 400mm (1.6x crop factor) will be required to get good skyline photos. | |||
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3279660961/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 19 arrival] | |||
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/3264941872/ San Francisco skyline photo with RWY 28 arrival] | |||
If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave. Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. | If you are traveling by BART or Caltrain, get off at Millbrae Station and walk east approximately one mile on Millbrae Ave (about 15 minutes walk). Use the south side of the street, as the north side has no sidewalk across the US-101 over-crossing; be cautious of traffic, this is not a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. | ||
===New Long Term Parking=== | ===New Long Term Parking=== | ||
| Line 36: | Line 43: | ||
Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain. | Between McDonnell Road and San Bruno Ave, immediately east of US-101, there is a small grassy area that is well-positioned at the end of 10L/28R. This is the longest runway at SFO, so in good weather, it is the first choice for departing large aircraft. When 28R is in use, aircraft will pass very low above this spot; when 10L is in use (generally only in marginal weather), this spot has a good view of aircraft as they wait for the runway. Runway 28L/10R is also visible, but is significantly obstructed by the rental car facility and the end of AirTrain. | ||
Unfortunately this location is spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. | Unfortunately this location is almost nearly spoiled for the good photography because of numerous fences and light poles. You can still get some good shots, with effort. Note that because there is a lot of traffic in this area, you will be seeing through a lot of jetwash. Anything more than about 500mm will be useless because of air quality. | ||
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave] | * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2132591716/ JAL 747 departing 28L shortly after rotation, from San Bruno Ave] | ||
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/exxonvaldez/2716419890/ Light trails of departures from the RWY 28's] | |||
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave] | * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2131825267/ Closeup of JAL 747 departing 28L from San Bruno Ave] | ||
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave] | * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/midendian/2221488237/ Various aircraft waiting for 10, from San Bruno Ave] | ||
If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway. If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass. | If you are traveling by car, take US-101 to the San Bruno Ave exit, go west of the freeway, and park on the street in the residential neighborhood, then walk over the freeway. | ||
If you are arriving by air or BART, take the free SFO long term parking bus from the arrivals (upper) level at SFO, get off at long term parking (see above), and walk south on Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave, then west to the freeway overpass (overall about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take AirTrain (Blue line) to the rental car center and walk north to the overpass (see map); this path is seemingly easier but takes just as long as long term parking due to various fences you have to walk around. On the upside, you get to see the Internation G and cargo ramps from AirTrain. | |||
===Within the airport=== | ===Within the airport=== | ||
Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views: | Various locations within the airport, but outside security, offer reasonable views: | ||
* Parking | * Parking Garage G -- 28 departures, and some ramp / taxiway A views. Take AirTrain to Garage G/BART and take the elevator up to parking level 9. You will not have warning of RWY 28 departures, but you will be able to see them just after rotation -- bring a radio! | ||
* AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line) -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty. | * AirTrain station at the rental car facility (blue line) -- Very good views of runway 10 arrivals on bad weather days; however the windows are often very dirty. | ||
* AirTrain approaching terminal 1 -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin America, Air France, etc). | * AirTrain approaching terminal 1 -- View of aircraft at the International A gates (Qantas, Virgin America, Air France, etc). | ||
* AirTrain | * AirTrain Blue Line, between International G and West Field Road -- Views toward International G / United gates, and some parts of the cargo ramp (DHL, FedEx). | ||
==Locations to Avoid== | ==Locations to Avoid== | ||
Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds | Obviously, do not loiter on streets within the airport grounds -- you will be stopped and questioned. Occasionally police may interfere at San Bruno Ave and Garage G, but it has never been severe. Also some reports of being harassed in the Signature FBO area, even if you have real business there. Be discreet. | ||
==Spotting Locations Map== | ==Spotting Locations Map== | ||
| Line 67: | Line 77: | ||
Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R. | Normal traffic flow has most departures using runways 1L/1R and arrivals using 28L/28R. European and trans-Pacific depart 28L/28R. | ||
During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. | During times of winds out of the south or southeast, arrivals use 19R while departures use 10L/10R. When the crosswind component for 10L/R exceeds 20kts, departures use 19L/R. This is most often during rainy winter weather, but also occurs on the day just after rainy weather. | ||
Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. | Occasionally during strong northerly winds, aircraft will fly the approach to 28L/R and circle to 1R. This happens approximately twice a year, so don't hold out hope. | ||
==Facilities and Transportation== | ==Facilities and Transportation== | ||