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Vancouver International Airport (view source)

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The park has a small, humped map of earth, giving you the effect of standing "on the top of the world." Aircraft fly directly overhead, as the park is directly in their "flightpath."
The park has a small, humped map of earth, giving you the effect of standing "on the top of the world." Aircraft fly directly overhead, as the park is directly in their "flightpath."


To the north of this place is the Institute of Technology in which you can log WestJets' B-737-200 C-GWJT.
To the north of this place is the Institute of Technology in which you can log WestJet's B737-200 C-GWJT.


===Main Terminal===
===Main Terminal===
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Just follow the "Observation Area" signs. The location is facing west.
Just follow the "Observation Area" signs. The location is facing west.


If you are just logging airplanes without photographing this might be the ideal location for you as all landings of 26R will have to pass by here in order to get to 26L for takeoff and you can read of the registrations of all departing aircraft (use 26L). If you're taking pictures it might only be of interest as a refuge on a (frequent) rainy day but even then I personally would prefer the Templeton Stop of the Canada Line (see "Templeton Road" comment).
If you are just logging airplanes without photographing this might be the ideal location for you as all landings of 26R will have to pass by here in order to get to 26L for takeoff and you can read of the registrations of all departing aircraft (use 26L). If you're taking pictures it might only be of interest as a refuge on a (frequent) rainy day but even then I personally would prefer the Templeton Stop of the Canada Line (see "Templeton Street" comment).


==Other Spotting Locations==
==Other Spotting Locations==


===Templeton Street===
===Templeton Street===
The Templeton Location is the best for most traffic, as almost all aircraft land on runway 26R, during favorable wind conditions. You will miss only a few aircraft, which are generally headed to the south terminal, and are, in general, small props as well as freighters and business jets.
The Templeton Street location is the best for most traffic, as almost all aircraft land on runway 26R during favorable wind conditions. You will miss only a few aircraft, which are generally headed to the south terminal, and are, in general, small props as well as freighters and business jets.


How to get there:
How to get there:
1) By car: Left at the second traffic light from the airport (15-20 minutes walk). You will see many cars parked on a dirt track beside the road. The subjects are a bit high and the smaller types (Dash-8 etc.) will require a long lens (about 400mm on a fullformat sensor).
* By car: Left at the second traffic light from the airport (15-20 minutes walk). You will see many cars parked on a dirt track beside the road. The subjects are a bit high and the smaller types (Dash-8 etc.) will require a long lens (about 400mm on a fullformat sensor).


2) By foot: The "Templeton" stop of the Canada-Line Sky Train is a 2min walk from this location and on a rainy day you might even stay and hide from the rain in this stop, but it's tricky to keep the lightpoles out of the picture).
* By foot: The "Templeton" stop of the Canada-Line Sky Train is a 2min walk from this location and on a rainy day you might even stay and hide from the rain in this stop, but it's tricky to keep the light-poles out of the picture).


You won't be able to log or even see the departures which always use 26L.
You won't be able to log or even see the departures which always use 26L.


==="Avis" Lot===
==="Avis" Lot===
The most desirable location if you want to take pictures and have the coastal mountains as the background. This is the first turn left out of the airport by the blast screens. Excellent photos over the fence and all 08L/26R movements can be seen. However (there had to be one didn't there ?), the businesses on this road are private property and not very tolerant. You can get lucky and be left alone for hours or be unlucky and thrown out immediately. Worth the gamble though.
The most desirable location if you want to take pictures and have the coastal mountains as the background. This is the first turn left out of the airport by the blast screens. Excellent photos over the fence and all 08L/26R movements can be seen. However, the businesses on this road are private property and not very tolerant. You can get lucky and be left alone for hours or be unlucky and thrown out immediately. Worth the gamble though.


Requires a ladder due to the fence.
Requires a ladder due to the fence.
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This is on the other (South) side of the airport from the main terminal and there is a parking lot which overlooks the ramp and the rather distant 08R/26L runway. Good for logging as everything at Vancouver passes this location sooner or later, and there are reasonable photographic opportunities through the fence.
This is on the other (South) side of the airport from the main terminal and there is a parking lot which overlooks the ramp and the rather distant 08R/26L runway. Good for logging as everything at Vancouver passes this location sooner or later, and there are reasonable photographic opportunities through the fence.


Floatplanes come and go on the Fraser River to the S. of the small terminal, and most of the aircraft parked on the ramps can be logged and some photographed by walking around.
Floatplanes come and go on the Fraser River to the south of the small terminal, and most of the aircraft parked on the ramps can be logged and some photographed by walking around.


There is a free shuttle bus connecting the south terminal to the main terminal.
There is a free shuttle bus connecting the South Terminal to the Main Terminal.


East of the South Terminal is a "boneyard" in which some older Pacific Coastal and a Quebecair SF-340s + a SH-360 are stored engineless but in full colors (as of Sep. 2009).
East of the South Terminal is a "boneyard" in which some older Pacific Coastal and a Quebecair SF-340s + a SH-360 are stored engineless but in full colors (as of Sep. 2009).


===Ferguson Road===
===Ferguson Road===
When arrivals are on 08L, a long drive from the airport via Templeton Road (above) will eventually lead to a small gravel pull-off at the seashore and close to the threshold.
When arrivals are on 08L, a long drive from the airport via Templeton Street (above) will eventually lead to a small gravel pull-off at the seashore and close to the threshold.
All arrivals as well as those using runway 12 can be logged and photographed although the location faces South and so is best in the early morning/late evening in the summer. Also along Ferguson Road past the UPS facility there is a raised hill area. Good to photograph on sunny summer evenings when the airport is landing west.
 
All arrivals as well as those using runway 12 can be logged and photographed although the location faces south and so is best in the early morning/late evening in the summer. Also along Ferguson Road past the UPS facility there is a raised hill area. Good to photograph on sunny summer evenings when the airport is landing west.


==Locations to Avoid==
==Locations to Avoid==
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Cash fares from the main terminal include a $5.00 surcharge- go to the Pharmasave pharmacy below the domestic arrivals area and purchase a book of "FareSavers" tickets. One zone will do- and then upgrade to a 2-zone fare to enter into Vancouver from Richmond when you get to Bridgeport. (A couple of extra steps but saves you five bucks.) Travel across zone boundaries after 6:30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays is only $2.50. The Airport Surcharge applies to cash fares 24/7.
Cash fares from the main terminal include a $5.00 surcharge- go to the Pharmasave pharmacy below the domestic arrivals area and purchase a book of "FareSavers" tickets. One zone will do- and then upgrade to a 2-zone fare to enter into Vancouver from Richmond when you get to Bridgeport. (A couple of extra steps but saves you five bucks.) Travel across zone boundaries after 6:30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays is only $2.50. The Airport Surcharge applies to cash fares 24/7.


Stations at the airport are: Templeton (Templeton Road), Sea Island Way (Air Canada hangars) and the main terminal. The Bridgeport Station also offers Bus Connections.
Stations at the airport are: Templeton (Templeton Street), Sea Island Way (Air Canada hangars) and the Main Terminal. The Bridgeport Station also offers Bus Connections.


There is a commuter bus around the airport between many spotting locations (or a short enough walk), however, the service is very sporadic, running every 30 minutes monday-saturday, not running on sundays or holidays. This bus was designed for Airport Employees, so it is rather small.
There is a commuter bus around the airport between many spotting locations (or a short enough walk), however, the service is very sporadic, running every 30 minutes Monday-Saturday, not running on Sundays or holidays. This bus was designed for airport employees, so it is rather small.


The South Terminal is connected to the main Terminal by a shuttle bus operated by the airport authority.
The South Terminal is connected to the main Terminal by a shuttle bus operated by the airport authority.
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