Airport Observation Parks

[Robert Larson]

I'm very proud of our Observation Park at KRDU. It's mentioned in this article about airport parks around the world. Maybe your local airport has a park you don't know about?

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/12/04/airport-observation-decks-around-world/

[RonR]

JFK years ago had a nice "park".  I used to "park" underneath one of the approach light towers for 13L 

And then there was the "park" on top of the then PanAm terminal...a rooftop parking lot that protruded out onto the tarmac...it's still there but you can't go up there anymore 

[Chananya Freedman]

LAX has a good spot right next to an In & Out burger too, I love going there.  Went there for the first time at night a month ago and that was really cool.  I have been there during the day but never at night.

[tyketto]

Vegas has a couple.. Well, one is a park, the other is a parking LOT.

KLAS has one parallel to the 25s, on Sunset Road. They feed ATC directly there and broadcast it over FM radio. Great place to observe and listen to ATC, both during the day and night. New year's eve and July 4th, that lot is PACKED, as it is also a great place to watch the fireworks shot off from the roofs of the casinos. So imagine seeing that, along with arrivals coming in, plus listening to ATC. Better yet, imagine being on that flight that shoots the visual approach to 19L or 19R, and are greeted with fireworks!

The other place is KVGT. They have a park tucked between the thresholds of 12R and 7, off the intersection of Decatur, Cheyenne, and Lake Mead Blvd.  ATC is piped into there as well. Calm wind runways there are 12L, 12R, and 7, so you get really up close and personal with the arrivals.

I haven't found better spotting areas in the CONUS, especially with features like those.

BL.

[Matt M]

KTVC has a viewing area with a few benches you can get some good viewing there