Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Continent: North America

Country: United States

Region: Illinois

Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Location	Chicago, Illinois
IATA code	ORD
ICAO code	KORD
Airport type	Commercial
Website	http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/en/home/Pages/default.aspx
Overview map	Google Maps
Communications
Tower	120.75(south) 126.9(north) 128.15(far north) 127.925 132.7
Ground	121.675(metering) 121.75(outbound) 121.9(inbound) 124.125
Clearance	119.25 121.6
Approach	119.0 128.45 121.15 124.35 125.7 133.625
Departure	125.0 125.4 126.625
ATIS	135.4
Departure	122.95
Plane Spotting Hotels guide

Official Spotting Locations

There no official spotting locations. All non-official spotting locations are checked by airport security, Aviation Police or Police patrols.

Other Spotting Locations

USG Parking Area

The main spotting location is located at the USG Corporation on Scott St. which is close to the intersection of Mannheim Rd (US12/US45) and Lawrence Ave. You can park in their parking lot if it is the weekend but when the building is open you should park on the street. From here there is nice view of the south part of the airport and a full view of runways 28, 27L ,27R and 22L glidepaths. Also thru fences, taxiways Delta, Mike and Quebec are visible when aircraft are taxiing to Rwy. 22L for departure. To take photos of runway 28 operations, 80mm and larger lenses will work OK. This is a good spotting place all day when wind is coming from the west, southwest or northwest. The parking lot is in Schiller Park, but Scott Street is in Chicago as is Mannheim Rd which are both considered in the airport area. DO NOT continue far north on Scott Street past the red warning signs, or the aviation police will come and could confiscate your photo equipment or you could even be arrested for trespassing on airport property.

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Also you can take some shots from Hwy I-294 heading southbound directly under glidepath to Rwy 28 at your own risk (as we know 2 hrs standing limit)

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Balmoral Avenue

When driving on north on Mannheim Rd take the exit to Balmoral Ave east. Pass the first stop sign and bridge over railroad, turn right twice and park at the Rosemont Metra Station parking lot. You may need to buy a ticket at pay station (sometimes Metra people or Rosemont police can check tickets, except on weekends, when the train is not operating) and go on the bridge. There is a nice view from the bridge, however you will need a camera that has a min. of a 300mm lens to get any decent photos. This is a great place to take pictures of taxiing aircraft to/from Rwy 22L or aircraft approaching Rwy 28 (summertime early morning).

• JetPhotos.net sample photo: large

• JetPhotos.net sample photo: large

Cell Phone Lot

Off of Mannheim Road south of Higgins/Touhy is the Airport's "Cell Phone Lot. You may park in this lot for free as long as you do not leave your vehicle unattended. There is an electronic arrivals board as well as an outhouse for emergency relief. Gives a nice view of approaches to 27R and 27L or departures from 9L and 9R.

Allstate Arena

The next good location is Allstate Arena area located at Mannheim Rd(US-12/US-45) between Higgins Rd (IL-72) and Touhy Ave. Full view of Rwy 22R all day (different places depend on where the sun is). From 9-10 am in the morning till 2-3pm a good place is the small parking lot opposite car wash just across Mannheim Rd.

In the summer, Sundays on the south side of Allstate Arena building is a flea market. You can walk between sellers, look for some good views and take shots. In wintertime, access to the parking is closed.

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In afternoons, a good place is a huge parking lot between Target store and Touhy Ave (closer to Touhy).

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In late afternoons a good place is the back of the Allstate Arena parking lot close to Hwy I-90

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Also in this area you can find a spot to see arrivals at new Rwy 27R.

Beeline Road

Runway 10 operations can easily be seen from Beeline road in Bensonville. You can park on the side of the road and watch with no problems. This location is likely the closest you can get to landing planes as they come only a few hundred feet directly above the road. General photography isn't the best here though as you can only get direct head on shots of planes. As already said aircraft pass directly over the road so would only be able to see the bottom of the aircraft.

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14R/32L Spotting

On the west side of the airport is York Rd/Elmhurst Rd which has several places where one can take photos. First is the Thorntons gas station area which is a good place to take shots of aircraft climbing out from Rwy 32L and approaching Rwy 14R, mainly in the afternoon. Likely in the next year this runway will be demolished.

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• Airliners.net sample photo: medium large

Early mornings at sunrise you can stop at a small construction area with separated parking (with an orange fence around) north of Devon Ave heading north at east side. Approaching aircraft to Rwy 14R are clearly visible.

Departure 32L

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Arrival 14R

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Arrivals/departures at Rwy 14L/32R Drive east on Touhy/Higgins, after crossing the railroad turn right at Mt Prospect Road towards employees airport gate. After 50-100 feet turn right on a small circle. A good place to take some shots , but sometimes Aviation Police can be there. This Rwy also will be closed in about two three years.

The best way to get around is a car. Without a car you can get one maybe two places but you'll never know the wind direction even if you check METAR.

On summertime afternoons a good place is an abandoned fast food restaurant near Foster Ave.

Rwy 10 arrivals and 28 departures are visible from both locations.

Irving Park Road

A good place to take photos of aircraft arriving on 4R or departing from 22L is from an airline cargo facility right off of Irving park road. When driving from the west on Irving Pk take a left on to seymour ave then then another quick left at the first lot entrance after the small curve in the road. Drive all the way down the road and then park in one of the spaces. Arrivals at 4R and 22L departures are clearly visible.

Locations to Avoid

Cargo South

Avoid the South Cargo Area. Aviation and Chicago Police frequent the area and sometimes you can meet an FBI patrol.

West end

At west end avoid private property between the manufacturers' shops. Also try to not block traffic on all streets around the airport.

Do not go near the hill that construction near runway 10 has created as it is airport property. If you are seen near or on the hill, you will be charged with trespassing on airport property, government property, and railroad property. This is a serious offense, do not go here as was stated before!

Higgins/Mannheim

Avoid the area around the General Aviation ramp near the North Cargo area.

Cemetery

You can still go to St. Johannes Cemetery to watch planes on 10/28 or see the Fedex ramp from very close however if you are seen with a camera the police will tell you you can't take pictures and they may ask you to leave.

Regular Traffic

Aer Lingus - A330-200/300

AeroMexico - 737-800

AeroUnion - A300

AirBridgeCargo - 747-8

Air Canada - E190

Air Canada Express - CRJ-900, E170, E175

Air China Cargo - 777F, 747-400F

Air Choice One - Cessna 208

Air France - A330-200

Air France Cargo - 777F

Air India - 777-300ER

Air New Zealand - 787-9

Alaska Airlines - A320, A321, 737-800/900

Alitalia - A330-200 (seasonal)

All Nippon Airways - 777-300ER

ANA Cargo - 777F

American Airlines - A319, A321, 737-800, 767-300, 787-8/9

American Eagle - CRJ-700/900, E140, E145, E175

Asiana Cargo - 747-400F

Atlas Air - 747-400F/BCF/8F

Austrian Airlines - 777-200ER

Bahamasair - 737-300

British Airways - A380 (seasonal), 747-400, 777-200ER (Seasonal)

Cape Air - Cessna 402

Cargolux - 747-400F/8F

Cathay Pacific - A350-1000 (begins June 2020, seasonal), 777-300ER

Cathay Pacific Cargo - 747-8F

Cayman Airways - 737-300

China Cargo Airlines - 747-400F

China Eastern Airlines - 777-300ER

China Southern Cargo - 777F

Copa Airlines - 737-800

Delta Air Lines - 717, MD-88

Delta Connection - CRJ-900, E170, E175

DHL - A330-200F, 777F

El Al Israel - 787-9 (begins March 22, 2020)

Emirates - 777-300ER

Ethiopian - 777-200LR (occasional), 787-8 (all seasonal)

Emirates Skycargo - 777F

Etihad Airways - 777-300ER

EVA Air - 777-300ER

EVA Air Cargo - 777F

FedEx Express - A300, 757-200F, 767-300F, MD-10F, MD-11F

Finnair - A330-300 (seasonal)

Frontier Airlines - A319, A320, A321

Hainan Airlines - 787-8/9

Iberia - A350-900

Icelandair - 757-200

Interjet - A320

Japan Airlines - 787-8

JetBlue - A320, E190

Kalitta Air - 747-400F/BCF

KLM - 777-200ER, 787-9

Korean Air - 777-300ER

Korean Air Cargo - 747-8F

LATAM Cargo - 767-300F

LOT Polish Airlines - 787-8/9

Lufthansa - A340-600, A350-900, 747-8

Lufthansa Cargo - 777F, MD-11F

Nippon Cargo - 747-8F

Norwegian - 787-9

Qantas - 787-9 (begins April 15, 2020)

Qatar Airways - 777-300ER

Qatar Cargo - 777F

Royal Jordanian - 787-8

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) - A350-900 (begins late 2020), A330-200, A340-300

Silkway Airlines - 747-8F

Spirit Airlines - A319, A320, A321

Sun Country - 737-800

Swiss - A330-300, 777-300ER

TAP Air Portugal - A330-200/300/800/900

Turkish Airlines - 777-300ER

United Airlines - A319, A320, 737-700/800/900ER, 757-200/300, 767-300ER, 777-200, 787-8/9/10 (begins summer 2020)

United Express - CRJ-200/550/700, E145, E170, E175

UPS Airlines - A300, 767-300F, MD-11F

VivaAerobus - A320 (seasonal)

Volaris - A320

Yangtze River Express - 747-400BCF

Facilities and Transportation

There is a Metro station (Blue Line) that will take you from the airport to downtown Chicago.

Hotels

There is a Hilton Hotel located on the airport.

Runway Usage

Here are some of the usual runway usage patterns.

Wind from the west - The optimal and preferred runway pattern for O'Hare when the winds are blowing in any direction under about 6mph or from the west is as follows. Arrivals use runways 28, 27L, and 27R and departures use 22L and 32L. Large aircraft such as A340s and 747s may depart from 28 depending on their weight.

Wind from the east - Arrivals use runways 10 and 4R and departures use runways 9R and 4L. If a lot of planes become stacked up in the air 9R will temporarily become a arrival runway.

Wind from the south - Runways 14R and 22R are used for arrivals and runways 14L and 22L are used for departures. Runway 10 also may be used for arrivals and heavy departures if the wind speed is not very high.

A good website to see a wind forecast for the airport is here.