Indianapolis International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Indiana |
| Indianapolis International Airport | |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| IATA code | IND |
| ICAO code | KIND |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.indianapolisairport.com/ |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 120.9 RYS 14/32 & 05R/23L 127.82 RY 05L/23R 257.8 |
| Ground | 121.9 121.8 |
| Clearance | 128.75 257.8 |
| Approach | 119.3 124.65(WEST OF ACTIVE RWY) 127.15(EAST OF ACTIVE RWY) 317.8 |
| Departure | 119.05 WEST 124.95(EAST) 317.8 |
| ATIS | 134.25 |
| Departure | 122.95 |
IND is the main airport for Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis International Airport is the largest airport in the state of Indiana. It is a hub for shipping giant FedEx and a focus city for Allegiant Air. IND is owned by the City of Indianapolis and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
Official Spotting Locations
Location
Other Spotting Locations
On top of the parking garage is a great place to spot. You can get both parallel runways from on top of the garage. The price is $2 per half hour or $18 per day. On the north side of the garage, you can view most if not all passenger aircraft. On the south side you can clearly view the FedEx ramp and their aircraft.
There are several business parking lots along W Washington St that offer a great view of traffic landing on 23R or departing 5L. This is a great way to view or photograph Cargolux 747's when they visit IND once or twice a week since 5L/23R is always their preferred runway. However, you will need a good zoom lense for these shots.
Airside spotting is also decent
A good area to view 23L arrivals as well as 5R departures is the old terminal exit road across from the Crowne Plaza hotel. If you go up on the grass hill, you can get some good shots of the FedEx MD-11's, 767's, and A300's (and on busier days, CRJ/ERJ's and 737's). 23L arrivals yield better shots as the aircraft are usually lower on approach than they are departing on 5R. If airport police drive by, do not worry. They will give you a passing glance and keep driving.
On the off-chance that the crosswind runway is being used, your options are limited. For departures on runway 32, I like to park behind the building of the now-defunct ATA Airlines off of Washington Street. From there, the aircraft taking off on runway 32 and arriving on 14 will fly right over you and you can get some good shots. There is a downside though. The aircraft fly over with little warning, so be watching through the trees. For aircraft departing on runway 14, you're pretty much out of luck. You could take you chances and park on Perimeter Road, but there is no shoulder to pull off on and there is a chance you can driven away by airport police.
Along Perimeter Road, there is an old spotting area near the Gate Gourmet building. One of the lots is blocked off, but one isn't. Photography is out of the question here, as you're too far for any decent shots. This is a good place to simply watch aircraft only.
To view departures on 23L, you can park in the cell phone lot. I suggest the cell phone lot overflow section, though, because you're closer to the aircraft. This is a good location to watch FedEx aircraft.
Locations to Avoid
Do not attempt to view aircraft from Perimeter Rd as it will draw the attention of law enforcement.
Regular Traffic
Passenger
Air Canada Express: CRJ-100, CRJ-200
Alaska Airlines: 737-800, 737-900ER
Allegiant Air: A319, A320
American Airlines: 737-800, A319
American Eagle: CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, ERJ-145, E-175
Delta Air Lines: 717-200, 737-800, 737-900ER, 757-200 (seasonal), 767-300ER, A319, A320, MD-88, MD-90
Delta Connection: CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, E-170, E-175
Frontier Airlines: A319, A320, A321
Southwest Airlines: 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8
Spirit Airlines: A320 (begins March 14, 2019)
Sun Country Airlines (charters only): 737-700, 737-800
Swift Air (Vacation Express): 737-400
Ultimate Air Shuttle (OneJet): Do328JET (currently suspended)
United Airlines: 737-800, A319, A320
United Express: CRJ-200, CRJ-700, ERJ-145, E-170, E-175
Volaris (Apple Vacations): A319, A320
Cargo
Cargolux: 747-400F, 747-8F (rare)
FedEx Express: 757-200, 767-300, 777-200, A300-600, A310, MD-10, MD-11
FedEx Feeder: ATR 42, ATR 72, Cessna 208
When weather (usually summer thunderstorms) hinders operations at Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), flights are usually diverted to closer airports including IND. Regular diversions include American and United regional jets, A320 and 737 aircraft as well as American 787s and AirBridge Cargo 747-8Fs
Facilities and Transportation
The 1.2 million square-foot Colonel H. Weir Cook Terminal, opened in 2008, is the first airport terminal to be designed and built post 9/11.
Links
- IND Airport Community Site