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San Diego International Airport: Difference between revisions
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{{infobox|fullname=San Diego International Airport<br />(Lindbergh Field)|location=San Diego, California|iata=SAN|icao=KSAN|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.san.org|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.734801,-117.190175&spn=0.020131,0.038242&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=118.3 338.225|atcground=123.9|atcclearance=125.9|atcapproach=119.6 (West)<br />124.35 (East)|atcdeparture=119.6 (West)<br />124.35 (East)|atcatis=134.8<br />619-298-0997|atcunicom=122.95}} | {{infobox|fullname=San Diego International Airport<br />(Lindbergh Field)|location=San Diego, California|iata=SAN|icao=KSAN|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.san.org|mapurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.734801,-117.190175&spn=0.020131,0.038242&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=118.3 338.225|atcground=123.9|atcclearance=125.9|atcapproach=119.6 (West)<br />124.35 (East)|atcdeparture=119.6 (West)<br />124.35 (East)|atcatis=134.8<br />619-298-0997|atcunicom=122.95}} | ||
San Diego International Airport is the primary commercial airport for San Diego County. No airline maintains a hub there, and Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier, followed closely by Alaska Airlines. The vast majority of scheduled flights are to points within North America; currently British Airways, Japan Airlines, and | San Diego International Airport is the primary commercial airport for San Diego County. No airline maintains a hub there, and Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier, followed closely by Alaska Airlines. The vast majority of scheduled flights are to points within North America; currently British Airways, Japan Airlines, and Lufthansa provide intercontinental service with flights to London-Heathrow, Tokyo-Narita, and Frankfurt, respectively. Edelweiss provides summer seasonal service to Zurich. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines also provide transoceanic service with flights to Hawaii. | ||
The airport has only a single runway, 9/27, and normal operations call for arrivals and departures on runway 27. Runway 9 usage is uncommon. They will use runway 9 if the cloud ceilings are below 600 feet from airport elevation due to non-precision only approaches for runway 27. In addition, if the visibility is reduced to less than 1 1/2 miles, runway 9 will be used. Runway 9 has an operating ILS which can account for the lowered ceiling and visibility. Rarely will runway 9 be operated during clear days. | The airport has only a single runway, 9/27, and normal operations call for arrivals and departures on runway 27. Runway 9 usage is uncommon. They will use runway 9 if the cloud ceilings are below 600 feet from airport elevation due to non-precision only approaches for runway 27. In addition, if the visibility is reduced to less than 1 1/2 miles, runway 9 will be used. Runway 9 has an operating ILS which can account for the lowered ceiling and visibility. Rarely will runway 9 be operated during clear days. | ||
The airport is notable for its approach to runway 27, which due to the airport's close proximity to Downtown San Diego, allows spotters a view of many aircraft flying level to the roofs of the downtown skyscrapers. | The airport is notable for its approach to runway 27, which due to the airport's close proximity to Downtown San Diego, allows spotters a view of many aircraft flying level to the roofs of the downtown skyscrapers. | ||
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===Harbor & Laurel Parking Lot=== | ===Harbor & Laurel Parking Lot=== | ||
[[Image:Nw320san-375nc.jpg|left|thumb|Northwest A320 on final approach to 27, photographed from the Harbor & Laurel lot at street level]] | [[Image:Nw320san-375nc.jpg|left|thumb|Northwest A320 on final approach to 27, photographed from the Harbor & Laurel lot at street level]] | ||
The airport has a small free parking lot at the intersection of Harbor Dr. and Laurel St. for spotting. From here you will see aircraft arriving and departing on runway 27. You will need a ladder or tall vehicle to get camera lenses above the fence line for departure and taxi shots, though this may still be difficult as there is a second fence separating the shuttle bus access road from the ramp. However, you can photograph arrivals from street level with a long enough lens but you won't be able to get the "classic San Diego shot" nor the touchdown. Posted signs prohibit unattended vehicles. Avoid the adjacent Solar Turbines parking lot, but the sidewalk along Laurel St. should be okay. Lighting is best in the early afternoon, before 6:00, during summer. In the winter, light is typically good all day, though you may need to vary the angle of your shot as the sun moves across the sky. If you need a snack or drink, there is a convenience store at the Shell gas station located at the intersection of Laurel and Pacific Hwy (about a 5-10 minute walk). | The airport has a small free parking lot at the intersection of Harbor Dr. and Laurel St. for spotting. From here you will see aircraft arriving and departing on runway 27. You will need a ladder or tall vehicle to get camera lenses above the fence line for departure and taxi shots, though this may still be difficult as there is a second fence separating the shuttle bus access road from the ramp. However, you can photograph arrivals from street level with a long enough lens but you won't be able to get the "classic San Diego shot" with Mission Hills in the background nor the touchdown. Posted signs prohibit unattended vehicles. Avoid the adjacent Solar Turbines parking lot, but the sidewalk along Laurel St. should be okay. Lighting is best in the early afternoon, before 6:00, during summer. In the winter, light is typically good all day, though you may need to vary the angle of your shot as the sun moves across the sky. If you need a snack or drink, there is a convenience store at the Shell gas station located at the intersection of Laurel and Pacific Hwy (about a 5-10 minute walk). | ||
{{jplink|8203370}} (final to runway 27, shot over the fence) | {{jplink|8203370}} (final to runway 27, shot over the fence) | ||
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===Columbia Street and W Nutmeg Street=== | ===Columbia Street and W Nutmeg Street=== | ||
You need a tall car or a tall ladder to reach this spot in order to go over the fence. It will give you spectacular shots of short finals with the San Diego | You need a tall car or a tall ladder to reach this spot in order to go over the fence. It will give you spectacular shots of short finals with the San Diego Bay in the background. You can also get the touchdown. On the down side, this spot is not balanced (it is located on an incline plane part of the street) so getting level shots may be a challenge. | ||
===Aladdin Parking Garage=== | ===Aladdin Parking Garage=== | ||
This garage has amazing opportunities for capturing landings and taxiing to the runway. Takeoffs are a bit of a challenge as they require a long lense and the presence of heat haze is inevitable. The parking garage is located adjacent to Laurel Parking lot, on the other side of Laurel street. However, they do catch you fairly quickly and ask you to move. Unlike the Laurel, the staff here aren't nearly as aggressive in moving you off the property. If you do plan to park here, be warned. The last time I checked, they charge daily, not hourly. This isn't the best spot if you want to spot for a good amount of time. I have not been to this spot in nearly a year and a half, so maybe things have changed. As for now, just assume you will get asked to leave fairly quickly. | This garage has amazing opportunities for capturing landings and taxiing to the runway. Takeoffs are a bit of a challenge as they require a long lense and the presence of heat haze is inevitable. The parking garage is located adjacent to Laurel Parking lot, on the other side of Laurel street. However, they do catch you fairly quickly and ask you to move. Unlike the Laurel, the staff here aren't nearly as aggressive in moving you off the property. If you do plan to park here, be warned. The last time I checked, they charge daily, not hourly. This isn't the best spot if you want to spot for a good amount of time. I have not been to this spot in nearly a year and a half, so maybe things have changed. As for now, just assume you will get asked to leave fairly quickly. | ||
===Rental Car Facility=== | ===Rental Car Facility=== | ||
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==Regular Traffic== | ==Regular Traffic== | ||
Spotters visiting SAN may wish to consult the Flight Planner accessible at the San Diego International Airport website for exact and up-to-date information. Keep in mind also that many cargo flights do not operate a regular schedule on weekends or holidays. | |||
===Passenger=== | ===Passenger=== | ||
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===Public Transportation=== | ===Public Transportation=== | ||
San Diego Transit bus [http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/Route.aspx?r=992 Route 992], sometimes known as the Flyer, and [http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/Route.aspx?r=923 Route 923A] provide service to the airport terminals. The lines | San Diego Transit bus [http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/Route.aspx?r=992 Route 992], sometimes known as the Flyer, and [http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/Route.aspx?r=923 Route 923A] provide service to the airport terminals. The lines originate in downtown San Diego, with several stops including one near the official observation lot at Laurel and Harbor. Connections to these routes can be made at various locations in downtown San Diego to other bus routes as well as the [http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp San Diego Trolley], [http://www.gonctd.com/coaster Coaster], and [http://www.amtrakcalifornia.com/index.cfm/routes/pacific-surfliner/ Amtrak Pacific Surfliner] trains. | ||