Mineta San José International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: California |
| Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport | |
| Location | San Jose, California |
| IATA code | SJC |
| ICAO code | KSJC |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.sjc.org |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 124.0 257.6 |
| Ground | 121.7 |
| Clearance | 118.0 |
| Approach | 120.1 125.35 134.5 |
| Departure | 121.3 |
| ATIS | 126.95 408-980-8459 |
Mineta San José International Airport serves the southern region of the San Francisco Bay Area, and Silicon Valley in particular. Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier, and it is also a focus city for American Airlines.
The airport has three parallel runways, 12L/30R, 12R/30L, and 11/29. Normal operations sees arrivals and departures in the 29/30 direction. 11/29 is used by light aircraft only; airliners and all but the smallest business jets will normally use 30R for departures and 30L for arrivals. When there are no departures, arrivals will sometimes use 30R.
Official Spotting Locations
Terminal C Observation Deck
The airport maintains an official outdoor observation deck, open 24 hours a day, at terminal C. The door to the observation deck is marked by an overhead sign, and is in the hallway to gates C2-C8. It provides an excellent overview of the runways as well as aircraft taxiing to the runways, however aircraft parked at C8 (JetBlue) and C9 (Delta, Delta Connection) may limit your photo opportunities. This location is generally best for photos with the sun behind you in the morning until about 10:00 A.M., when the sun crosses overhead the field. Since the security checkpoints have been rearranged at Terminal C, the observation deck is now past the security checkpoint and thus requires a boarding pass to access.
Other Spotting Locations
San José State University Aviation Department
San José State University maintains a facility at the airport for their aviation department, located at the corner of Airport Blvd. and Coleman Ave. When classes are not in session it is generally not a problem to park and spot from here. You can get excellent views of aircraft landing on 30L, as they will still be in the air and thus the fence does not get in your way. 30R is a little more difficult, as it is further away and you will need to get your camera lens over the fence. Along Airport Blvd. there are some utility boxes that you can stand on top of that will get you closer to the runway and over the fence line, however you are close to the road and as a result police may get nervous (see below). It is generally best to walk out there to get the shot you want, then go back to the parking lot. This spot is best for photos with the sun behind you from mid day to sunset.
Airport Boulevard Spots
Airport Blvd Shoulder: Anywhere along the Airport Blvd curve near the southwestern corner of the Airport, where there are no sidewalks and just a dirt shoulder. There are ground-level utility boxes that provide a good place to keep your footing when taking photos. The height of the road shoulder provides enough elevation to see over the fence.
HOWEVER, police have regularly asked me to leave from this location and instead go to the SJSU parking lot just up the street (see "San José State University Aviation Department" above). It's never been a big deal, but I've been told it's a safety issue with the proximity to the road and lack of sidewalk. To avoid this issue (as stated in the above section), park in the SJSU lot, walk out onto Airport Blvd when it's time to get your photo, and then walk back to "safety".
Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr
Example Photo 2 by Nick George on Flickr
"The Dirt Hill": If you park in the SJSU lot (see above) and walk across Airport Blvd at Coleman Ave, there is a slight dirt hill that is in the middle of the curve made by Airport Blvd, near the I-880 ramps. Park a chair here and watch planes takeoff and land from both runways. You used to be able to drive a car up onto the hill but they caught onto it and chained off the driveway, however it is still open to pedestrians.
Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr
Example Photo 2 by Nick George on Flickr
Terminal A Parking Garage
With an appropriate lens (200mm +), the top level of the Terminal A garage affords fairly good views of activity on the runways. Unfortunately, due to the terminal building being in the way, it is difficult to shoot anything which is closer to you than Runway 30R/12L. This location is best in the mornings, as you're facing west-southwest.
Long Term Parking Lot (Brokaw Rd)
The Long Term parking lot has excellent views of both runways along their entire length. You are also within a couple feet of the taxiway that most (if not all) private jets and general aviation aircraft use. Park along the chain-link fence and use either a step-ladder or truck bed to see over it. Parking is $1.00/20min. Security/police will usually question what you are doing, ask if you are paying for parking, and then usually will let you be. Don't park outside to avoid the parking fees, since they will ask you to leave if you aren't a paying customer. Late-afternoon/evening lighting is best for photos, and a long lens (200mm+) is recommended.
Example Photo 1 by Nick George on Flickr
Example Photo 2 by Nick George on Flickr
Guadalupe Park
There is a grassy field at Guadalupe Park which gives some nice opportunities for shots of aircraft landing directly overhead. The park is right near the Target and shopping center along Coleman Avenue.