Marco_polo From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 324 posts, RR: 19 Reply 1, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1688 times:
Hi Haavig:
PHX is best know for its spotting in the fall and winter. We locals tend to avoid spotting at PHX in the summer time becuase there are few good hours in a day where the sun angle is good for spotting. Typically early in the morning between 7:00am - 9:00am at Terminal 2 and after 4:00pm - 7:00pm either at Terminal 3 or Terminal 4. These are the optimum time at Phoenix where you will get good aircraft lighting in the summer time but still, as I have mentioned, not as good as fall and winter. Another reason why we avoid summer time spotting is because of the extreme dry heat. You can get burn real quicky, as one of our Denver buddy quickly finds out with his recent visit... LOL..., if you are out in the sun too long.
In general Terminal 3 is good all day long if you like to take taxiing aircraft on the north runway or over the bridge passing Terminal 3. This spotting area is located in the Terminal 3 attached short term parking garage which you can get to via T3 elevator. Below are some of the shots from Terminal 3.
Although at any PHX Terminals in the summer time between 11:00am - 2:00pm, I would avoid spotting unless you don't mind strong sunlight and top-li aircraft.
Terminal 4 is good after 2:00pm but you will still have strong sunlight until it gets around 4:00pm. Especially with white aircraft you can easily get a blown out image if you don't use exposure compensation. Anytime in the afternoon you can pretty much shoot only to North side otherwise you will be shooting into the sun. You can get access to ths spotting area again via the elevator inside the building which will take you to T4 attached short term parking garage. Here are some images from the Terminal 4 although taken late in the summer.
Zrb2 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 894 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1655 times:
Hey guys, I'll be in Phoenix for a few days in mid-May and I will also be taking some time to do some spotting at PHX and Goodyear. I won't be shooting any pics so all I'll need is a nice spot to hang out and view the action and not get hassled by local security. I'll bring along a hat and sunblock just in case...... Any more recommendations on locations are appreciated.
Asuflyer05 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2369 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1632 times:
I prefer Air Lane right next to RWY26. There's a fire dept. staging area there as well as a viewing area. I've been out there a few times and never had a problem.
Fanoftristars From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 1573 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1610 times:
The rent-a-cop security guys at PHX are loosers. I parked my rental car on a side street at the north side of the airport and got out to take photos. Five minutes later there was a security guy there saying I couldn't park where I was. I reminded him that "No Parking" was not posted and that I'd stay there until a real cop asked me to move. He drove off mad as hell saying if I didn't move I'd be in big trouble and I told him I was ready for it. I had to leave 10 min later to meet my cousin, but the moral of the story is, stay on top of the parking garage to avoid the loosers.
Syncmaster From United States of America, joined Jul 2002, 1983 posts, RR: 14 Reply 7, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1552 times:
Any parking garage in particular that's good for photos, I'll be there tomorrow only for a few hours before heading back to PRC, probably mid to late afternoon. Thanks for the help. (I'd like to get some good CO, DL, and WN shots, and maybe some Ted aircraft if possible.)
Setjet From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 1086 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1522 times:
If you are at Goodyear, drive around the perimeter fence to get excellent views of the parked aircraft. Also, there is no problem to enter the apron through the terminal (nothing needed). Just avoid the runway!!!
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