GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
USA - PA, MD, DE and VA
Washington Reagan / National - May 2019
LANDSIDE
There are some good views from the terminal area and most movements should be seen.
To the north of the airport is Gravelly Point park area which has great views of arrivals or departures. There is a parking lot and its possible to walk from the airport.
AIRSIDE
The various piers offer good close up views of the action but if I remember correctly there is no access to the other piers once airside.
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
A bit similar to La Guardia. Lots of commuter flights from American, Delta and United to New York, Boston etc. Nothing too exciting but may fill a few gaps. Very little in terms of Biz.
Washington Dulles - Aug 2017
LANDSIDE
None from the Terminals. The multi story offers some views with good views of one runway and some cargo stands. However some things may be missed depending what runway configuration they are using.
The Udvar Hazy Museum is located inbetween the approachs for runways 1R and 1C. There is large collection of aircraft on display and also a viewing area for the airport. It is a fair distance away but I think arrivals for this approach could be read off.
The Biz ramp is easily accessed by car or about a 10 minute walk from the terminal.
AIRSIDE
Again difficult to monitor everything. There are 2 outfield concourses and there is a bus that drives you from one to the other which can provide a good view of a lot of aircraft. There is also an underground train so it depends where you are in the terminal as to whether you get the bus or train.
The first outfield concourse - A and B gates has lots of windows and there is a small bridge between the 2 sets of gates that provide good views. United express park some of there aircraft on A gates and there are views of the main terminal concourse and one side of the other outfield concourse. Anything parking on the other side is likely to be missed though.
The second outfield concourse - C and D gates is not great for windows but most things can be seen. United Express also park a lot of aircraft on the back side of here so you will want o pay a visit. They quite often depart on runway 30 so all aircraft will taxi past the end of this concourse on the way out and it therefore might be the best spot to be in.
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
United Express make up most the movements with several mainline flights as well. Not much else. They operate in peaks so time it right. It can be pretty quiet at other times.
The number of movements here has almost halfed since 2005.
There are quite a few international carriers with Saudia, Ethiopian and Korean all in at lunchtime when I was there.
Bridgewater Airpark - Aug 2017
LANDSIDE
Don’t enter the main premises. I was chased away by a policeman on a bicycle after just 2 minutes. Fortunately enough time to log the DHC8s. I didn’t realise before I went but this place is involved with the government and is particularly sensitive to people looking at the planes.
There are a couple of spots either side of the complex that would give you more time to get everything and should keep you out of view from the police. Probably best to go out of hours when few employees are around. I went on a Saturday afternoon so it seems the police are monitoring the situation 24/7.
8 DHC8s where parked at the time. I didn’t get chance to look at rest but a couple of Beech 1900s and quite a bit of smaller stuff was parked around.
Baltimore - Aug 2017
LANDSIDE
The terminal has an excellent observation deck. All movements should be seen either on arrival or departure.
The multi storey also offers some views but the terminal is in the way and some stuff is likely to be missed depending on the runways in use.
There is another larger multi storey located a bit further away from the terminal which is for daily parking. Cost is $12 for the day or $3 for the first hour. There are views of the Biz ramps and some gates from here. You may also be lucky to get something on Northrop Grummans ramp from here which is close to the threshold of 15R. Depending on how they park the aircraft though as there is a grass verge in the way. A DHC8 was there at the time but I couldn’t find anywhere to get it from.
Around the opposite side of the airport is a viewing area at the end of runway 33L. This seems to be the favourable arrival runway and would be good for photos in the afternoon. No stands can be read off.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Southwest dominate and it gets fairly busy at times. Its almost as busy as Dulles and not too far behind Reagan in terms of movements.
Other than that there’s usually a few things on cargo and it can occasionally get some interesting movements with Government flights and Northrop Grummans facility. It just depends how lucky you get. USAF DC9 N10976 was parked at the time which was the one originally preserved at Andrews AFB. Maybe this is its new home.
Dover AFB - Aug 2017
There is a great museum here which is free. Several aircraft parked outside which you can wander around including 2 DC9s.
There are also excellent views of the ramp and runways. A good pair of optics can get you some stuff. I could read off 9 C5s from there. I struggled with the C17s behind them though and some where blocked by the C5s.
However from the perimeter road on the other side I was able to read off all 6 C17s.
Philadelphia - Aug 2017
LANDSIDE
None from the terminal but the various multi storey car parks offer good views and all movements should be seen.
The perimeter road on the other side of the airport has some grass verges where you can park up and get good views. Some of Biz ramps can be seen by driving around as well.
AIRSIDE
Good views from the various piers
HOTELS
The Marriot connected to the terminal has excellent views. Its a little expensive and car parking and internet is additional. There are 15 floors although level 15 is not for standard rooms. I was on level 11 which was more than high enough. If you book it direct with them its possible to reserve a room with an airport view.
Anything ending in 29-39 odd numbers will look straight ahead over the terminals and runways. Anything ending in 07-19 odd numbers is at an angle, which is quite good when landing from the north as you can see them approaching better. It also gives you a partial view of the Biz ramp at the northern end allowing one or two to be read off.
WHAT TO EXPECT
American Dominate proceedings including a large number of the E175s and E195s. Several A330s operate the international flights each day.
A few flights by the other carriers and quite a few Biz movements kept it interesting.
Dow Chemical operate there 2 CRJ 700s in here sometimes during the weekdays. N870DC and N872DC. Sometimes mornings and sometimes afternoons. Unfortunately the info on flightradar24 was not displaying times or locations for the flights.
