Suggested Spotting Locations:Founders PlazaThis is actually Founders Plaza V3.5. The original Founders Plaza was on the south side of the airport and was removed to build the new perimeter taxiways. The second Founders Plaza was a gravel parking lot under the 18L approach. Founders Plaza 3.0 is located on the northwest corner of the airport near the UPS ramp. It became V3.5 after the sunshades had to be removed because of wind damage. Bring a hat.
During the regular south flow operations, this location offers afternoon landing shots for 18R, ramp operations at UPS, and if the heat haze isn’t too bad, the departure cue for 18L. Terminal B, Terminal D and the Zulu bridge to the other side of the airport can both observed from Founders Plaza but there is generally to much heat haze to take photos of any activity there. During north flow operations this location is really only good for heavy departures that are still relatively low over the perimeter fence. Light aircraft are either too high, or have turned away before they reach Founders Plaza.
Founders plaza officially closes at 7:00pm.. but I have yet to be asked to leave and have even chatted with the DFW Airport police at the location well after 9:00pm. Long night time exposures of the UPS ramp, Terminal B, Terminal D and north bound approaches turn out well from this location.
Overhead picture is from before the new Founders Plaza was built. I promise it’s right where the red circle is.
Approximate distance to:A)UPS Ramp: 300m
B)Runway 18R/36L Approach centerline: 300m
C)Runway 18R/36L Threshold: 400m
D)Runway 18R/36L Touchdown Point: 800m
E)Runway 18L/36R Threshold: 700m
West CargoPark in the southwest corner of the West Cargo facility by the berm with the little trees planted on it. The police may be called on you by nosey warehouse works in this location, but generally will not ask you to leave as long as you are behaving yourself.
This location offers good pictures of early morning arrivals on 13R during south flow operations as well as afternoon arrivals on 18R/36L during north flow operations. During heavy W/NW wind days 18R36L may be used for north flow departures, offering good close shots of a wide variety of aircraft.
Approximate distance to:A)Runway 13R/31L Centerline: 450m
B)Runway 31L Hold: 400m
C)Alpha 4, Alpha Taxiway intersection: 400m
West Cargo on top, Graveyard on Bottom
The GraveyardPark on the gravel turn around road at the graveyard. Try not to block access to the graveyard itself as it is obviously still a graveyard as well as a historical monument site. There are nice shade trees to camp out under.. The police may stop by in this location, but generally will not ask you to leave as long as you are behaving yourself.
The graveyard is good for capturing heavy departures on 18R during the afternoon as well as later afternoon 13R landings that will be crossing the Alpha Taxiway bridge over W. Airfield Dr. Departures on 18L will most likely suffer from heat having during the summer months (which extend from June to October).
Approximate distance to:D)Alpha taxiway bridge: 400m
E)Runway 18R/36L Centerline: 550m
F)Runway 13R/31L Threshold: 550m
***Insert nifty image of what a threshold shot looks like here*** Except I don't happen to have one right now so you'll just have to imagine it.
University LotOverflow parking lot for the University of Some Worthless Degree. The parking lot is not in use during holidays and weekends so it will only contain spotters and a couple of birds. Park in the west corner.
The University Lot is good for getting morning arrivals on 17C.
Approximate distance to:A)Runway 17C/35C Approach centerline: 250m
There are of course other spotting locations such as the Whataburger parking lot on the east side by the FedEx complex or the top of the Terminal E Parking Garage... but you'll get run off 100% of the time if you are found in those locations.
What You Can See at DFW
Regularly Scheduled Aircraft
Aero MexicoB737
Usually lands 18R and departs 18L
Air CanadaE170
Almost always arrives on 17C. Departure is usually on 17R. Rare departures on 18L.
AirtranB712, B737
Usually lands 17C and departs 17R. Rare landings on 18R. B712 is more common than B737.
Alaska AirlinesB738, B739
90% lands on 13R. Occasionally seen landing on 18R. Almost always departs 18L. B738 are most common.
American AirlinesMD-82/83, B738, B752, B762, B763, B772
Operates everywhere on the airport. B762 are very rare, usually only transiting in or out of maintenance. MD-82/83 are constantly arriving and departing.
American EagleCRJ7, ERJ-135, ERJ-145, ATR-72
Operates everywhere on the airport. ERJ-145 are most common. ATR-72s operate short routes. It's not uncommon to see the same ATR multiple times in one day.
British AirwaysB772
50% split between landings on 17C and 18R. Usually departs on 17R. Usually arrives mid afternoon.
Cathay Pacific CargoB744 BCF, B744F
Almost always operates during the night. Rare daytime arrivals on 18R.
China Airlines Cargo (Taiwan)B744F
50% split between landing on 13R and 18R. Usually departs on 18R @ Zulu Intersection. If heavy, will depart 18L. Usually arrives mid Morning.
China Cargo Airlines (Formerly China Eastern)B744F
50% split between landing on 13R and 18R. Usually departs on 18R @ Zulu Intersection. If heavy, will depart 18L. Usually arrives early afternoon.
Continental / Continental ExpressB733, B735, B737, ERJ-145
90% of the time lands 17C & departs 17R.
Delta Airlines / Delta ConnectionB752, CRJ7, CRJ9, MD-88
50% Split between 17C and 18R landings. Also split 17R and 18L departures. MD-88 more common than B752.
Eva Air CargoB744 BCF, B744F, MD-11
50% split between landing on 13R and 18R. Usually departs on 18R @ Zulu Intersection. If heavy, will depart 18L
FedExA306, DC-10, MD-11
Almost always lands 17C or 17L. Most operations at night except for daily arrival between 1700 and 1800.
FrontierA318, A319, A320
Usually lands 13R. Rare 18R landings. Usually departs 18L
KLMA332
50% split landing on 17C and 18R. Usually departs 17R. Usually arrives early afternnon.
Korean AirB772
Early AM landing on 13R. Usually departs 18L
Korean Air CargoB744F
Usually a morning arrival on 18R. Usually departs on 18R @ Zulu Intersection. If heavy, will depart 18L
LufthansaA343, A333
Mid afternoon arrival almost always on 18R. Departures are split between 18L and 17R. A333 is very rare on this route.
Lufthansa CargoMD-11
75% lands on 18R. Arrives around 1915 on Wed, Thu, Sun.
MexicanaA318
Usually lands 18R and departs 18L
Midwest ConnectE170
75% landing on 17C.
North American AirlinesB763
50% split landing 17C or 18R. Usually departs 17R. Military charter may take off or land at any time, but usually has at least one daily operation.
Northwest Airlines / NWA Airlink A319, A320, CRJ9, DC-9, E170
50% split between 17C and 18R for landings. Rare on 13R. Departures usually on 18L
Singapore Airlines CargoB744F
50% split landing on 13R and 18R. Usually departs on 17R.
Sun CountryB737, B738
Most common on 18R, occasionally on 17C. B738 most common.
TacaA320, E170
United Airlines / United ExpressA319, A320, B733, B752, E170, CRJ7, CRJ9
A319 and A320 split between 13R and 18R. B733s are usually on 13R but are becoming uncommon. B752s are usually on 18R
UPSA306, B752, B762, MD-11
Daily A306 and MD-11 between 1700 and 1800, 75% Landing on 17L, else on 18R. B752 & B762 are rare during day light. Usually departs on 18R @ Zulu Intersection. If heavy, will depart 18L
US Airways / US Airways ExpressA319, A320, A321, B733, B734, B752, E170, E190
50% split landing on 18R and 17C, B733s most often on 18R. A321, B734, B752 and E190 are rare. Most common are A319, A320 with B733 making less frequent apperances.
Yangtze River ExpressB744 BCF, B744F
75% landing on 13R, otherwise 18R. Usually departs on 18R @ Zulu Intersection. If heavy, will depart 18L
Uncommon AircraftATI CargoDC-8
Centurion Air CargoDC-10
Omni Air InternationalDC-10
Ryan International AirlinesB762
World Airways MD-11
Comm FrequenciesEast Side
Tower: 126.55, 127.5
IC: 121.65, 121.8, 125.025, 126.55
Approach: 125.025, 133.525
West Side
Tower: 124.15, 134.9
IC: 119.875, 124.15, 134.9
Approach: 119.875, 133.625
We sleep peacefully in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf
