NEXtime From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 81 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2561 times:
A few questions to those who may be in the know re FLL:-
I know there is a "spotting" area at FLL. Can anyone confirm its still "open for business" and also advise any other points (hassle free) where good shots can be obtained from such as these
N864DA From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 259 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2515 times:
FLL has two main spotting locations, both of which are still open. There is a parking lot near the runway 9L threshold. It is on SW 39th street. You would take Griffin Rd to Perimeter Rd all the way to the end, make a left onto SW 40th str and follow it around the bend and make a right onto SW 39th.
Both the above shots were taken on the 7th floor of the Hibiscus Garage. Cops might hassle you up here, but it is a designated viewing area, so they're very nice about it.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 2, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 2486 times:
US333 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2476 times:
The top of the Hibiscus parking garage is the place to go for 27R approach shots and departures.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 4, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2472 times:
Dude, I know about the garage, been there numerous times.
US333 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2469 times:
Ok Dude! Maybe you could go to the beach, sit in a boat in the intercoastal, or go into the port and try to find a spot. I'm not from Lauderdale and I was just trying to help Dude.
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2462 times:
The Hertz Rent-a-Car lot is pretty good for 27R approaches, but you'd have to find a good excuse to get in there and stay there...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 7, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2453 times:
Relax US333,
didn't mean to offend you. All comments and answers are APPRECIATED.
Bruce From United States of America, joined May 1999, 5025 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2425 times:
I can confirm it is "open for business" as you put it. There is an official viewing area on the west side off perimeter road behind the Animal Control - though the photo holes are a thing of the past, you can still shoot thru the fence. I was there on 12/29 and 12/30 and did just that - and got hundreds of shots. In all, my trip (flights, FLL, and MIA) yielded 214 seperate aircraft not counting doubles and some bad shots. I have uploaded 3 shots so far from this spot, all of them will take several weeks.
It is hard to shoot arrivals from the viewing Area because they are kind of far away and you'd have to get the plane before it descends below the fence line.
At one point a Broward Co Sheriff Deputy car came around and parked at the end, facing me, and I thought I was busted for sure but he just sat there for at least a half hour and then drove off. And during that time I approached the fence a few times with camera in hand. If you are adventurous you could walk down to Perimeter Rd. and shoot an arrival but I would think you'd be more likely to get stopped. I shot one plane like that, an Air Transat A300.
Also good is the Parking Deck (the "Hibiscus" garage). Short term parking is only on level 1 and 2, so park there ($1 per half hour) and take the elevator to the roof. Walk to the west end of the roof and the entire corner has been designated an "Aircraft Viewing Area" with signs and places to sit. From here you can see departures from 9L, good touchdown shots on 27R, and some ramp action including the International Terminal. That is where I got the parked shot of G-OOOX. I did not get any touchdowns because traffic was eastbound those days. No sign of any Police up there.
300mm lens is fine. As for 27R approach, you could probably shoot some as they cross the threshold from the garage but I dont know any other area. Between those two areas though, you can get tons of pics.
bruce
Bruce Leibowitz - Jackson, MS (KJAN) - Canon 50D/100-400L IS lens
KFLLSpotter From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 104 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2414 times:
As said by Bruce, the only areas around FLL are the 9L spotting area, and the garage. I've only once been told to leave from the garage, and once told to move at the 9L area. The Broward Sheriff and the guys who drive around in the "Broward" cars will once in awhile stop by the viewing area and check everything out to make sure nothing fishy is going on. I've only once been told to not go up to the gate, but since then, I've gone up many times and they don't seem to care. The guys around to airport have seem to come to be "soft" on spotters and don't give them problems from what I've seen. As for hotels, I haven't noticed any local hotels, but then again, I don't know the hotel scene too well as I live here and don't much need to. Also, I'm curious if any A.net guys have been out at FLL on 1-02 and 1-08? I've noticed more and more spotters at FLL recently, and I'm sure some must be from here...
DB777 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 885 posts, RR: 49 Reply 10, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 2406 times:
Bruce, why not park in long term, taking the circular driveway up to the top floor and drive to where you're going to shoot from?
It's handy having your car 25 feet from where you're shooting from plus the parking rates are considerably lower than short term, especially if you are there for a few hours.
Photographing aircraft since the Earth was flat and on Airliners.net since #338
Bruce From United States of America, joined May 1999, 5025 posts, RR: 17 Reply 11, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2385 times:
Well, on the times I was there I got the impression from the sign at the entrance that the upper levels were daily parking only at some ridiculous rate ($20??) and I did not know that they would break it down to the time you were there. maybe I misunderstood the sign?
bruce
Bruce Leibowitz - Jackson, MS (KJAN) - Canon 50D/100-400L IS lens
DB777 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 885 posts, RR: 49 Reply 12, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2375 times:
Actually according to their web site, the rate is the same for both lots, $1 per half hour. The short term daily maximum is $36 and the long term daily maximum is $12. However, parking in long term allows you to park on the upper deck, usually adjacent to where you are shooting from, which is preferable in my opinion.
Don
Photographing aircraft since the Earth was flat and on Airliners.net since #338
Hawk44 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 759 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (8 years 4 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2345 times:
I just started going out to 9L haven't taken my camera with me yet but I think I will start soon. Let me know if you guys have any tips a newbie can use I have a canon powershot if that helps thanks.
BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (8 years 3 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2256 times:
I was there in October 1993 and got hassle from one of the airport employees for walking up to the fence.
The Broward County Sherrif's department were sat there the whole time an didn't care, but this one guy got an attitude and phoned the cop's supervisor. She came round spoke to the cop and then left. He then came over and spoke to us, said he didn't have a problem with us going up to the fence and neither did his supervisor.
I complained to the Department of Aviation when I got back and was told the guy was wrong, they had no problems with people being against the fence as long as they didn't climb it or damage it.
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Also, I'm curious if any A.net guys have been out at FLL on 1-02 and 1-08? I've noticed more and more spotters at FLL recently, and I'm sure some must be from here...
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