Hilo International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Hawaii |
| Hilo International Airport (General Lyman Field) | |
| Location | Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii |
| IATA code | ITO |
| ICAO code | PHTO |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://hawaii.gov/ito |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.1 263.1 |
| Ground | 121.9 |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | 119.7 269.2 |
| Departure | 119.7 269.2 |
| ATIS | 126.4 |
Official Spotting Locations
Location
Other Spotting Locations
Runway 8/3 Arrivals & 26 Takeoffs
Hilo Airport usually has landing traffic on either runway 8 or runway 3. All scheduled jet traffic will land on runway 8-26, with minor exceptions. Very rarely, at most once every few months, the winds will change forcing all aircraft to land on runway 3-21.
The best location to see arrivals is at the intersection of Kamehameha Ave. and Silva St. There is an empty lot directly across from the touchdown indicator bars in which tractor trailers and containers are temporarily stored. You can park your car there and move to one of two locations. With a longer range lens you can stand on one of the flatbed trailer units towards the rear and get excellent shots of arrivals. Occasionally tractor trucks will come from the nearby port and drivers may harass you about standing on their containers/trailers, but most drivers don't seem to notice or care. Another alternative spot is directly across the street. There is a metal safety barrier between the road and the fence, and in about the middle there is a signpost. Climbing the barrier near the sign will allow you to use a shorter lens and still make it over the fence.
Another location to spot arrivals and takeoffs is the concrete structures on the south western side of the airport, opposite the western hangers. Follow the signs on the main airport road to civil air patrol. The parking lot is usually empty and if you stand on the concrete barricades near the north-eastern fence you can get decent shots of arrivals on runway 8, and from the structures to the west, you can get good shots of runway 3 departures and arrivals. If you have a longer lens its best to stay at the entrance to the lot, parking your car off to the side. The hill allows you to get shots of transient craft such as the FedEx MD-11 parked directly in front of the cargo terminal.
Runway 26 Arrivals
During the early morning hours and evening hours, aircraft may land on runway 26. Most aircraft unfamiliar with the area will land on runway 26 because of its easier straight in ILS approach. The best place to snag arrival photos is in the middle of the neighborhood of Keaukaha. At the intersection of Baker St. and Krauss Ave. is an emergency gate with access to the airport. You can generally pull up close to (but not within 6 feet of) the gate without anyone harassing you. It is best to stand on the bumper of your car to make it over the fence because there aren't really high spots in this area. An alternative is the other gate at the intersection of Andrews Ave. and Kapili Ave. These locations also have a direct line of sight to the passenger terminal, temporary parking area to the east of it, and helicopter base to the west.