Des Moines International Airport: Difference between revisions

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


===Parking Garage===
===Parking Garage ($$$)===


The parking Garage at DSM gives you a view of most of the airport. You can walk from the North side to the South side, depending on where the traffic is approaching and departing. Fees are $1 USD/hour. Security usually leaves you alone, because this is the place they will refer you to go and they allow photography here. At most times, you would be the only spotter at this place. You can take good photos of aircraft landing on both runways 23 and 31. Park on the lowest level, and take the elevator, which is near the terminal drop-off area.
The parking garage at DSM gives you a view of landings on 23 and 31 and departures on 13 and 5. You can walk from the North side to the South side, depending on where the traffic is approaching and departing. Fees are $1 USD/hour. Security usually leaves you alone, because this is the place they will refer you to go and they allow photography here. At most times, you would be the only spotter at this place. You can take good photos of aircraft landing on both runways 23 and 31, as well as departures from runways 5 and 13. Park on the lowest level, and take the elevator, which is near the terminal drop-off area, or drive to the top.


<googlemap version="0.9" lat="41.533102" lon="-93.647418" zoom="18"></googlemap>
{{flickrlink|jchicken84|7604909516}} - Landing 23


==Locations to Avoid==
{{flickrlink|jchicken84|7000933914}} - Taxiing to Gate
 
{{flickrlink|jchicken84|7604896512}} - Departing 5
 
<display_points type="satellite" zoom="18">
41.533102, -93.647418
</display_points>
 
===Elliot Aviation Hangar (41.539198, -93.652294)===
 
This is a great place that allows you to see landings and departures from all runways. Keep in mind, you will be shooting through a fence at this spot.
 
{{jplink|9813714}} - Departing Runway 13
 
{{jplink|10192023}} - Taxiing to Runway 23
 
===Sw McKinley Ave (4800-5498 SW 42nd St)===
 
This spot gives great views of aircraft landing on 13 and departing on 31 and 13. It's best to bring a step ladder if you want a little bit more height over the fence. Make sure to call DSM Airport Ops before coming here. Also, please try to stay 10 feet back from the fence, otherwise the Airport Ops will not like it.
 
{{jplink|10136894}} - Departing Runway 31
 
{{jplink|10205674}} - Landing Runway 13
 
{{jplink|10170420}} - Departing 13
 
===Cell Phone Lot===
 
This area gives great views of aircraft landing on 31 and departing 13. When watching aircraft land on 31, make sure to stand on the concrete pillars to see over the fence. When watching aircraft depart 13, make sure to stand a ways back so you're not getting belly shots.
 
{{jplink|10095226}} - Landing Runway 31
 
===Dentist Office (2333 Sw McKinley Ave)===
 
This area is great for catching landings from 23. Please be respectful of the property however, as the business that is on here has granted us permission to spot here if we do not cause a mess.
 
(No example photos available at this time.)
 
===Electrical Power Products (41.518431, -93.677019)===


===Fence===
This is a great spot to watch aircraft land on runway 5. You can park in any of the available spots in the Electrical Power Products lot. For better views, walk a little bit to the hill right next to it to avoid trees and poles.


Avoid stading next to the fence, which draws suspicion to security. They will usually come check your ID, and look at your pictures to look at what you are taking pictures of.
{{jplink|10170071}} - Landing Runway 5


===SW 42nd St===
==Locations to Avoid==
The end of SW 42nd Street, north of Army Post Road, is a great spot to catch landings on runway 5. However, don't stay here long. Here's a Google Maps image of this spot:


<googlemap version="0.9" lat="41.52058" lon="-93.674862" zoom="16">
For the most part, the airport police at DSM are pretty cool with the spotters here. Just make sure to let DSM Airport Ops know if you go next to any of the places that are listed above with "Call DSM Airport Ops" at the bottom.
41.520856, -93.674282
</googlemap>


==Regular Traffic==
==Regular Traffic==


===Passenger===
===Commercial Airlines, Plane Type, and Concourse===


*AirTran Airways: Boeing 717 (Ending September 29, 2012)
{| class="wikitable"
*Allegiant Air: MD-80
|-
*American Airlines: MD-80
|'''Airline'''
*American Eagle: ERJ 135/145
|'''Aircraft'''
*Delta Airlines: CRJ-100/200/700/900, E170 (seasonal)
|'''Concourse'''
*Frontier Airlines: Embraer E190 (seasonal) Airbus A319
|-
*Southwest Airlines: Boeing 737 (Begins September 30, 2012)
|Allegiant Airlines
*United Airlines: Airbus A319/320
|A319, A320
*United Express: E170, E145, CRJ-200
|A
*US Airways Express: CRJ-200/900, E170 (Begins May 2, 2012)
|-
|American Airlines
|A319, A320
|C
|-
|American Eagle
|CRJ-700, CRJ-900, E145, E170, E175
|C
|-
|Delta Air Lines
|717-200, 737-800 (Occasional)
|C
|-
|Delta Connection
|CRJ-900, CRJ-700
|C
|-
|Frontier Airlines
|A320, A320NEO, A319 (Occasional)
|C
|-
|Southwest Airlines
|737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX8
|A
|-
|United Airlines
|A319, A320, 737-800, 737-900
|A
|-
|United Express
|CRJ-200, CRJ-550, CRJ-700, E170, E175,
|A
|-
|}


===Cargo===
===Cargo===
*Fedex: Boeing 727-200
*Fedex: Airbus A300, Boeing 757
*UPS: Boeing 757, Boeing 767 and Airbus A300
*UPS: Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767