Los Angeles International Airport: Difference between revisions

{{categorybox|North America|United States|California}}

{{infobox|fullname=Los Angeles International Airport|location=Los Angeles, California|iata=LAX|icao=KLAX|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.lawa.org/welcomelax.aspx|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=LAX&ll=33.944143,-118.405838&spn=0.060406,0.118721&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=133.90 North <BR> 120.95 South <br> 119.80 Helicopters|atcground=121.65 North <BR> 121.75 South|atcclearance=121.40|atcapproach=124.30 Feeder <br> 124.50 Final & Feeder <BR> 124.90 Feeder <br> 127.40 (LEENA4)<BR> 128.10 (VISTA2)|atcdeparture=124.30 <br> 125.20<br>|atcatis=133.80 Arrivals <br> 135.65 Departures|atcunicom=128.55|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-los-angeles-lax/}}

The airport offers an airfield tour on the first Thursday of each month. For more information, see the [https://www.lawa.org/welcome_lax.aspx?id=766 LAX Community Relations web page].

===Jim Clutter Park (Imperial Hill)===

In the city of El Segundo. A small roadside park at the intersection of Imperial Avenue and Sheldon Street. A few tables and seats, for other facilities you need to walk west down the hill (towards the ocean) to the small shopping plaza. [http://www.redondo.org/depts/hbt/transit/beach_cities_transit/default.asp Beach Cities Transit] bus route 109 has a stop right at the park.

All movements on the South runways can be logged here although care must be taken not to miss those arrivals which turn off early. Some photography possible when traffic is westerly, few arrivals come far enough down although spectacular departure shots can be had with a long (300-400mm) lens, though shorter lenses work. A 200mm lens is sufficient for any aircraft larger than a 757. On the rare occasions traffic is landing to the East this is one of the finest locations in the land. Aircraft taxiing on taxiways B and C in the general vicinity of the American Airlines hangars, American Eagle remote terminal building, taxiways Q and S, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal can be photographed from here with a sufficiently powerful lens (300-400mm).

At the corner of Sepulveda and Westchester, 10-15 minutes walk from the airport. Small grass area across the road from which all movements on the Northern runways can be seen. Limited photography as arrivals are almost directly overhead, and you are facing South. When a small aircraft (CRJ, ERJ, 737, A320) isn't blocked by the trees, a 55mm or smaller size lens can be used for a nice shot. However, walking to under the approach lights and jaywalking across Lincoln Blvd. can yield some very nice shots of inbound aircraft. Parking in this area is limited (for those driving to the spot) depending on the time of day if you park on the street, and can be sparse during lunch hours (11:00am - 2:30pm).

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There is a multi-story car park with good views from the top floor. No photography signs are present, and you will likely be told to leave.

===Vicksburg Avenue Bridge===

Passing over Sepulveda Boulevard and about 500 yards south of the In-N-Out Burger spotting location is the Vicksburg Avenue bridge. This location gives an amazing view of north side (Runways 24R & 24L) arrivals as the aircraft pass above the parking lots to the east of Sepulveda Boulevard. A 200mm or 300mm lens is perfect for this location. This location will give both classic arrival shots (1st Example Photo) taken at around 250mm though 200mm will do as well as profile shots (2nd Example Photo) taken at just over 100mm for heavies and just over 150mm for smaller aircraft. This location is less than a 5 minute walk from In-N-Out. To get here from In-N-Out, cross Sepulveda Boulevard at the crosswalk and walk south to the bridge. It is about 500 yards down. Under the bridge is always a cool and shady spot especially useful on hot summer days. Going up onto the bridge using the stairs on the south side of the bridge will also give good shots at about the same angle though you must cross to the north side of the bridge. This spot on the bridge also gives a glimpse of aircraft lined up on 24L and 24R (3rd Example Photo) This spot can be used year round and all day.

Off Aviation Boulevard beside the approach to the Southern runways. Good landing shots but care must be taken to avoid lampposts and trees. Shots can be taken from both the parking lot, and from the "backyard" where the old planes are on display. A good lens is suggested.

 

To achieve shots similar to those taken by In-n-Out, walk north on Aviation Blvd. to under the approach path for 25L (you will see the ILS antenna). Be warned as there is no sidewalk, so caution is advised when going for a shot.

The Flight Path Learning Center is located at 6661 Imperial Hwy, and was formally known as the "Imperial Terminal". This building used to house some charter flights, and regular scheduled flights from MGM Grand Air. It sat empty for 10 years until it was re-opened as a learning center for LAX. The center contains information on the history of aviation, as well as several pictures of the airport (some notably from famed photographer Sam Chui) as well as aircraft scale models, flight attendant uniforms, and general airline shwag (playing cards, china, magazines, signs, even a TWA gate information sign). If you ask nicely, one of the fine docents (who are usually retired Flight Attendants who started work in the 1950's, or have been working at the airport for many years. Great conversations to be had), they will be glad to open one of the restricted access doors and allow you to stand out on the tarmac (behind a small fence) to get shots of the South side. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 3pm. While it does not provide the greatest shots, it is defiantly worth a visit.

===Dockweiler State Beach===

Along Vista Del Mar, there is a beach. On Vista Del Mar, there is parking along the streets and there are staircases that go down to the beach. You can watch takeoffs from both runways here either from your car, or down on the beach. You can stay as long as you want and since it is far enough from the airport, no one will yell at you for taking pictures. A good lens is suggested, and it may be busy in the summer.

 

About 3/4 mile West of the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda is a bridge over Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) that offers good views for aircraft arriving and departing on the 24s on the north side of the airport. During the winter, this spot is backlit with the sun to the south. The ideal time to utilize this location is summer evenings as aircraft use the 24s. When on this bridge you are very exposed to passing traffic and can make spotting in this location stressful or uneasy.

 

33.944125, -118.402426~Theme Building;

33.943431, -118.4091~Tom Bradley International Terminal;

33.930934, -118.411578~Jim Clutter Park (Imperial Hill);

33.953644, -118.39674~In-n-Out Burger;

33.935581, -118.377353~Proud Bird Restaurant;

33.931962, -118.405446~Flight Path Learning Center;

33.949672, -118.395982~Vicksburg Avenue Bridge;

33.953769, -118.411776~Westchester Parkway Bridge

| type=satellite

In some cases, airlines operate their check-in counters in a different terminal; this table reflects the terminal where the aircraft park.

|United Airlines

|CRJ-200 (SkyWest), CRJ-700 (SkyWest), E175 (SkyWest)

|A319, A320

===Cargo===

*AeroUnion (Airbus A300, Boeing 767-300)

*China Airlines Cargo (Boeing 747-400)

*Emirates Sky Cargo (Boeing 777-300)

*EVA Air Cargo (Boeing 747-400)

*FedEx (Airbus A300-600, McDonnell Douglas MD-10, McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Boeing 767-300)

*Lufthansa Cargo (Boeing 777-300)

*MAS Cargo (Boeing 767-300)

*Nippon Cargo Airlines (Boeing 747-8)

*Singapore Airlines Cargo (Boeing 747-400)

*United Parcel Service (Boeing 767-300)