Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Texas |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | |
| Location | DFW Airport, Texas |
| IATA code | DFW |
| ICAO code | KDFW |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.dfwairport.com |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | |
Official Spotting Locations
Founders Plaza
By runway 35C. When DFW is in a North operation, which is only about 20% of the time, the aircraft landing on 35C touchdown really close to this area. The problem with photography is that this area is east of the landing runway 35C and takeoff runway 35L so they quickly become backlit. There's actually better success doing photography from here on a day where there is a Southbound operation. Aircraft landing on 17L, which is a mile east of this area, taxi right in front of the plaza. The taxiway "ER" goes right in front of Founder's Plaza, and it is just north of the plaza so lighting is usually good.
This taxiway is not used very much however, and waiting times between aircraft can be quite long. 17L is only an overflow runway, so, during the valleys between the peaks, it can be a long wait. When it is being used, you'll see quite a few. The other day I got to see AA49 a 763 from CDG taxi by.
They will taxi by and frequently have to hold short of 17C and 17R so they stop pretty close. Many pitures from DFW on Airlines.net are taken from here.
I recommend bringing something to stand on, to get above the fence line, though there are other ways of doing it.
Other Spotting Locations
American Eagle Hangar Parking Lot
It's a view of 18 R and L, closer to 18R which is the arrivals runway. You are west of the runway so afternoon light is best.
On the west side of the airport, taking Airfield Drive, you can turn onto the road that is opposite the Verizon area, where you turn onto a road that leads to the American and American Eagle hangar and an ATC control tower. If you follow the road all the way, veering left at the turn, you get into a parking lot in the American Eagle Hangar. There's no security check going here. I've heard that police are kind of rough, however, so stay in your car off and on. There's a big fence that is too tall to get over, so you have to shoot between the metal in the fence.