Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Florida |
| Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport | |
| Location | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| IATA code | FLL |
| ICAO code | KFLL |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.broward.org/airport/ |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | |
| Plane Spotting Hotels guide | |
The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a primarily-domestic commercial airport in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The airport sees heavy traffic from all US domestic carriers with a heavy presence from Low Cost Carriers such as Southwest. Limited international flights are provided by the likes of Bahamasair and Air Transat. FLL offers multiple excellent spotting areas and very frequent traffic, albeit mostly domestic narrowbodies. Combined with the nearby Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, and Opa-locka Airport, FLL is an integral part of one of the best spotting regions in the United States.
Official Spotting Locations
Aircraft Viewing Area
FLL's official spotting location is located on SW 39th Street (from SB I-95 exit on Griffin, turn left on S Perimeter Rd and follow the signs). The spotting location is a small parking lot adjacent to the 9L threshold which features loudspeakers playing the airport's local control frequency. For photography, this can be used for 27R departures and 9L operations. For operations on 9L, the airport's fence will obstruct your view from ground level. Many locals bring stepladders or stand atop their vehicles in the parking area to shoot over the fence. The sunlight is decent for photography year round, best during the winter. Runway 9 operations are ideally photographed during the morning, while 27 is best for evening, but you can make due with either operation at most times of the day. For most traffic no more than a 150mm lens is required.
Hibiscus Garage
At the top of the Hibiscus parking structure is another official viewing area where it faces the space between Terminal A and B. This is a good location for aircraft landing/taxiing to 27R as well as 9L departures.
Other Spotting Locations
Griffin Rd. Dog Park
A small dog park between Griffin Road and Perimeter road overlooks operations on 9R/27L. This runway is used primarily for small commuter aircraft and GA traffic (typically nothing larger than an ATR). This runway is currently under construction, being expanded in length to equal 9L. It is unknown at this time whether the viewing area at the dog park will remain when the runway re-opens in 2014.
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
Locations to Avoid
Avoid stopping along the roadways surrounding the airport, especially in the North cargo areas. You will be moved along.
Regular Traffic
Air Canada (A319, A321, E175, B767), Air Jamaica (A320, A321, A319), Air Tran (717, 737), Air Transat (A310, A330, though the A330 is rare), AA (MD-80s, 737, 757), American Eagle (ATR), America West (A319, A757), Avianca (757), BahamasAir (737-200), CanJet (737), Delta Connection (E135, E145, CRJ), Cayman (???), Continental (737, 757), Continental Connection (Gulfstream International) (Beech 1900 and other small-time props), Delta, including Song (737, 757, 767), Frontier (A318, A319), Hooters Air (???), JetBlue (A320), Northwest (A319, A321, 757), Midwest (MD-80s, 717), Spirit (MD-80s, A319, A321), Southwest (737), Sun Country (???), United, as Ted (A320), Thomsonfly (???), U.S. Airways (737, A319, A321, 757, E170), Usa 3000 (A320), WestJet (737)
Facilities and Transportation
The Hibiscus garage is easily reached on foot from the main terminal complex, all other locations require an automobile. If visiting FLL, be sure to rent a car and check out the Miami airport, 45 minutes to the South as well.