airsmiles From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 78 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 3021 times:
I'm visiting Atlanta shortly from England and wondered if Delta use a satelite airfield near ATL where they perform additional maintenance work? I'm keen to view as much of the activity as possible (especially the DC-9-50's, MD88's, MD90's) but wonder how close to the action I can get?
If anyone has any knowledge of the various ramps and buildings at ATL I'd be greatful.
KPWMSpotter From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 334 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2986 times:
All Delta maintenance work (in Atlanta) is performed at the TechOps facility, right on the airport at Hartsfield. The TechOps complex is located at the Northeast side of the midfield complex, along Aviation Blvd. Unfortunately, there isn't really any way to view the action at TechOps from land-side. You can view some of the ramp from Aviation Blvd, but much of the action is hidden behind the hangars.
If you're interested, the three primary maintenance buildings in Atlanta are (from East to West) TOC 3, 2, and 1. TOC 3 is the most recent hangar to be built, and houses Delta's in-house paint shops as well as three widebody maintenance bays. TOC 2 is the center hangar (the largest cantilevered building East of the Mississippi), and houses most of Delta's overnight, A, B and C checks for 777 and 767 aircraft as well as MRO work for other airlines and the US Government. TOC 1 (the one with the "Fly Delta Jets" sign) is the oldest hangar in the complex and houses most of Delta's narrowbody work. Also in TOC 1 are Delta's back-shops, including the engine rebuild/MRO operation and engine test cells. Let me know if you have any more questions - there's a LOT that goes on within TechOps, far too much to describe in one post.
If you're just interested in watching the aircraft taking off and landing, the only good place I can suggest is the main terminal parking garage at the West side of the field. Atlanta isn't very photographer-friendly, but the parking deck gives decent views and you shouldn't be hassled by security.
airsmiles From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 78 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 6 days ago) and read 2826 times:
Thanks, that's a lot of information. It's a shame everything is so inaccessible though, as for a UK visitor there's plenty of interest at Delta's ATL base.
litz From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1745 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2734 times:
You could always book a room at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel ... They have an entire side of the airport overlooking the tarmac. A good spotting scope or set of binoculars would offer plenty of plane-spotting opportunities.
Dalmd88 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2370 posts, RR: 15 Reply 4, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2713 times:
TOC 3 has two widebody bays and one narrowbody bay. Bays 11 and 12 on the east facing wall are the only two that are now used for painting. Eleven is for MD88/737/757 and Twelve fits up to a MD11. Bay 10, the most eastern doors facing the runway is for non routine maintenance, but can be used to paint 777 and 747. This time of the year the doors are mostly closed so even from the taxiway there is little to see. From Aviation Blvd you really can't see much and there is no place to park along the fence.
e38 From United States of America, joined May 2008, 241 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2549 times:
Question for KPWMSpotter and Dalmd88:
Both of your explanations were excellent. I have an additional question:
When landing and taking off from Atlanta, I have also seen quite a few Delta aircraft parked on the north side of the airport (north of Runway 8L/26R) and also some parked on the south side of the airport (just south of Runway 9R/27L). Are these areas also used for maintenance or are the aircraft just parked there as "overflow" parking (i.e. what is the status of the aircraft in these parking areas)?
Also, does Delta use the former Northwest hangar (which was the former Republic hangar) on the south side of the airport, and if not who is it used by?
KPWMSpotter From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 334 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2533 times:
Quoting e38 (Reply 5): Are these areas also used for maintenance or are the aircraft just parked there as "overflow" parking (i.e. what is the status of the aircraft in these parking areas)?
Mostly just overflow parking. They may do some simple maintenance (things that would be performed at the gate at other airports - tire changes and whatnot), but any major work is done at the TOC.
Quoting e38 (Reply 5): Also, does Delta use the former Northwest hangar (which was the former Republic hangar) on the south side of the airport, and if not who is it used by?
I think that hangar is vacant at the moment. It's not used by Delta, and I've never seen much activity over there.
FlyASAGuy2005 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 6539 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2497 times:
To piggy back on PWM Dalmd88, Delta North is in fact used for RON a/c and you will also find a handful of MD90s; one in new DL paint but still with a China Southern tail. International garbage, interior and exterior a/c cleaning, and catering is handled on that pad which is officially called Delta North. Cabin cleaning and conditioning, a stores department, and the tow team is based out of that building that sits adjacent to the ASA/Air Tran hanger. Like PWM said, you will find some light MTC work being done as well as a lot of interior MTC.
Also, down by the old NW hanger you will mostly find widebodies which are preparing for an international flight (get the catering and cleaning done) or was towed from an international inbound to clear the cabin (removing all galley carts; getting rid of trash, etc) to prep it for another flight, an overight or waiting to be taken to the hanger.
CAM2:"Lightning coming out of that one." CAM1: "What?"
airsmiles From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 78 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 4 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2169 times:
Well thanks to you guys I went down to ATL on Sunday and had a good time. I went into Aviation Boulevard first and saw quite a bit close to, not to mention a steady stream of aircraft waiting to take-off from the eastern end of the runways. I then went around the south side of the outer loop road and picked up a few more Delta a/c parked up there.
Making my way back around to the north side of the airfield I went around the freight area where a number of Fedex, UPS and Omni a/c were parked up. Unfortunately the one aircraft I couldn't get the tail number for was the Omni DC10. Cruel luck as it's a very rare aircraft in the UK. Anyone know that tail number?
Also there were quite a few Delta aircraft parked up on the north side past the freight area. Lastly, as advised, I then spent quite a few hours on top of the North Terminal car park.
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