San Diego International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: California |
| San Diego International Airport (Lindbergh Field) |
|
| Location | San Diego, California |
| IATA code | SAN |
| ICAO code | KSAN |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.san.org |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.3 338.225 |
| Ground | 123.9 |
| Clearance | 125.9 |
| Approach | 119.6 (West) 124.35 (East) |
| Departure | 119.6 (West) 124.35 (East) |
| ATIS | 134.8 619-298-0997 |
| Departure | 122.95 |
San Diego International Airport is the primary commercial airport for San Diego County. No airline maintains a hub there, and Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier. The vast majority of scheduled flights are to points within North America; currently British Airways and Japan Airlines provide intercontinental service with flights to London-Heathrow and Tokyo-Narita, respectively. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines also provide transoceanic service with flights to Honolulu. The airport has only a single runway, 9/27, and normal operations call for arrivals and departures on runway 27.
The airport is notable for its approach to runway 27, which due to the airport's close proximity to Downtown San Diego, allows spotters a view of many aircraft flying level to the roofs of the downtown skyscrapers.
Official Spotting Locations
Harbor & Laurel Parking Lot
The airport has a small free parking lot at the intersection of Harbor Dr. and Laurel St. for spotting. From here you will see aircraft arriving and departing on runway 27, which is the airport's normal operation. You will need a ladder or tall vehicle to get camera lenses above the fence line for departure and taxi shots, however you can photograph arrivals from street level with a long enough lens if you time it right to avoid poles and trees. Posted signs prohibit unattended vehicles, so you won't want to go far from the lot unless someone is with you to stay with your car. Avoid the adjacent Solar Turbines parking lot, but the sidewalk along Laurel St. should be okay. Lighting is best in the late afternoon, especially during summer. In the winter, light is typically good all day, though you may need to vary the angle of your shot as the sun moves across the sky. If you need a snack or drink, there is a convenience store at the Shell gas station located at the intersection of Laurel and Pacific Hwy.
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large (final to runway 27, shot over the fence)
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large (taxi to runway 27 on taxiway B, shot over the fence)
Other Spotting Locations
El Prado, Balboa Park
Exit the 5 and drive down Kettner Blvd, follow Kettner until you come to the Kettner and W Laurel St interesection, take a left on W Laurel and go up the big hill. Follow W Laurel until you get to 6th Ave. You can park on 6th Ave or continue straight and park on Balboa Dr. Walk along El Prado (Laurel turns into El Prado) until you get to the bridge. There is a sidewalk on the North and South side of the bridge. Take the South sidewalk. From the middle of the bridge you have an unobstructed view of the planes on final to runway 27 with the city in the background.
NTC Park
NTC Park is located within the Liberty Station complex on the site of the former Naval Training Center. This facility is just west of the airport, and during normal operations with arrivals and departures on runway 27, departing aircraft fly overhead. Traditional side shots are tricky because most aircraft will be a bit high by the time they get to this area, but if you desire underside angles of departing aircraft, or just want to watch aircraft takeoff, this isn't a bad spot. It would likely be good during reverse operations with arrivals on runway 9, but as this typically happens during poor weather conditions, it still isn't amenable for photography. However, runway 9 may also be used when strong winds from the east, known as Santa Ana Winds, occur.
Columbia Street and W Nutmeg Street
You need a tall car or a tall ladder to reach this spot in order to go over the fence. It will give you spectacular shots of short finals with the San Diego bay. You can also get the touchdown. On the down side, this spot is not balanced (it is located on an incline plane part of the street) so getting level shots may be a challenge.
Aladdin Parking Garage
This garage has amazing opportunities for capturing landings and taxiing to the runway. The parking garage is located adjacent to Laurel Parking lot, on the other side of Laurel street. As long as you pay, they will look the other way, that's what it was in my own experience. However, with an amazing vantage point comes with a price. The last time I checked, and unfortunately had to pay, the fee for parking for two hours is a whopping $14. It could be just that you have to pay a full day even if you stay a few hours, that's the rationing i'm leaning towards. If you're looking for takeoffs, you are going to need a very long lens. I have only got caught once, and got moved on by an official. Please, if you get called out for spotting by an official, just comply with their instructions.
Locations To Avoid
Solar Turbines Parking Lot
This lot is next to the official observation area at Laurel St. and Harbor Dr. It is tempting because it gets you closer to the action than the official area. However, it is private property and Solar Turbines security does patrol the lot and has asked spotters to leave. If you stay on the public sidewalk outside the lot along Laurel Dr., you should be okay.
Laurel Airport Parking
This is the multi-story parking structure that aircraft fly over just before landing on runway 27. While tempting because of the possibility of down-the-runway views of the airport and belly shots of landing aircraft, there are signs posted that taking photos and videos are prohibited, and that they can have you arrested for trespassing for doing anything other than being actively engaged in the parking of vehicles.
Regular Traffic
Please note that all times listed in this section are approximate. Spotters visiting SAN may wish to consult the Flight Planner accessible at the San Diego International Airport website for exact and up-to-date information. Keep in mind also that many cargo flights do not operate a regular schedule on weekends or holidays.
Passenger
- Air Canada Rogue: Air Canada Rogue operates a daily A319 flight to Toronto, arriving at about 10:30am and departing at 11:30am.
- Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines operates a busy schedule from SAN, using various members of the 737 family. Alaska's special livery planes visit from time to time on an irregular basis. Alaska is quite known for its unusual flights out of SAN. Alaska flies to Hawaii with 737-800s, and various Mexico cities with 737-400/800/900 families. Alaska also flies to Portland and Seattle. Their other destinations include: Boston, Orlando, and Salt Lake City.
- Horizon Air: Horizon operates flights to Santa Rosa, Monterey, and Fresno on behalf of Alaska using Bombardier Q400 aircraft. They also have seasonal service to Mammoth Lakes.
- SkyWest Airlines: SkyWest operates the CRJ-700 regional jet on behalf of Alaska on flights to Boise and Salt Lake City.
- Allegiant Air: Allegiant seasonally operates two weekly flights to Bellingham using MD-80 aircraft, although they sometimes opt for their A319 equipment on occasion. Flights to San Diego are currently scheduled to resume on February 13, 2015.
- American Airlines: American operates a mix of MD-80, 737-800, and 757-200 aircraft on flights to the airline's hubs at Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago O'Hare, and New York JFK. The New York flight has been operated by 757-200s and 767-300s, but is currently assigned to a 737-800.
- American Eagle: American Eagle operates flights throughout the day to Los Angeles. The majority are operated by SkyWest Airlines using the CRJ-200, though a few flights are operated by American Eagle Airlines using the CRJ-700.
- British Airways: British Airways operates a nonstop flight to London's Heathrow Airport. The Boeing 777-200ER flight arrives at 7:15pm and departs at 8:45pm. Occasionally the airline substitutes the larger 777-300ER on this flight.
- Delta Air Lines: Delta operates a varied fleet in San Diego. Spotters may see the 737-800, 737-900, 757-200, 767-300, A319, A320, MD-90, and, on rare occasions, the 757-300 here.
- Delta Connection (Compass Airlines): Compass operates the Embraer 175 on flights to Los Angeles and Seattle.
- Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines): SkyWest operates the CRJ-900 on flights to Los Angeles.
- Frontier Airlines: Frontier operates a few daily flights to Denver using the A319. Once in a while, there could be an A320.
- Hawaiian Airlines: Hawaiian operates a daily flight to Honolulu using the A330-200, departing at 10:55am and arriving at 9:15pm.
- Japan Airlines: JAL operates daily nonstop flights to Tokyo's Narita International Airport using the Boeing 787-8. The flight arrives at 11:40am and departs at 1:35pm.
- JetBlue Airways: JetBlue operates a handful of A320 flights throughout the day to Boston and New York.
- SeaPort Airlines: SeaPort operates twice-daily flights (once daily on weekends) to Imperial, Burbank, and San Felipe, Mexico using Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft.
- Southwest Airlines: Southwest has by far the largest passenger operation at SAN, with several arrivals and departures every hour. Most of these flights are operated by the 737-700, with some 737-300 and 737-800 flights. The 737-500 is no longer seen very frequently in SAN. Fortunately, because of the large number of Southwest aircraft cycling through San Diego, it is not uncommon to see one of the airline's famous special livery planes.
- Spirit Airlines: Spirit operates up to three daily A319 flights to Las Vegas. Flights arrive at 11:25am (except Tuesday), 6:20pm (except Wednesday), and 10:40pm and depart at 6:30am, 12:05pm (except Tuesday) and 7:00pm (except Wednesday). It is also common to see an A320 substitute for an A319.
- Sun Country Airlines: Sun Country operates a 737-700 flight several times a week to Minneapolis. Some days the flight operates in the morning, arriving around 9:00am and departing around 9:50am. Other days it operates in the early evening, arriving around 4:45pm and departing around 5:30pm, however the schedule fluctuates a bit and doesn't operate every day, so those interested in spotting this flight will want to verify the schedule on the airline's website.
- United Airlines: United operates various narrowbody aircraft throughout the day to SAN, primarily the 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 757-200, A319, and A320.
- United Express (SkyWest Airlines): The CRJ-200 is the mainstay of United Express service to SAN, with flights throughout the day to Los Angeles, with some EMB-120s and, on occasion, CRJ-700 flights. Now, SkyWest is bringing in United's new Embraer 175s with service to and from LAX and San Francisco.
- US Airways: US Airways brings the A319, A320, A321, and, on rare occasions, the 757-200 to SAN, with most arrivals throughout the morning and in the evening. The US Airways retro livery A319s make appearances on an irregular basis. Note that while the schedule doesn't change that often, the equipment types used does change pretty frequently, sometimes varying by the day of week.
- Virgin America Airlines: Virgin America operates the A319 and A320 with arrivals at 8:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 6:05pm, and 10:35pm and departures at 6:30am, 9:15am, 2:15pm, 4:15pm, and 6:50pm.
- Volaris: Volaris operates the A319 and A320 on flights from Mexico City to San Diego, which are scheduled three times weekly, on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. At present time, the inbound flight arrives at 3:15pm and departs again at approximately 5:30pm.
Cargo
- Airborne Express/DHL Cargo: The 767-200s belonging to Airborne Express parked on the northside of the field have been nicknamed "the sleeping giant" by SAN spotters because they hardly ever seem to move. Many of the 767-200s on this flight are painted in full DHL colors. It typically arrives at approximately 7:00AM and departs to Phoenix, Arizona between 5:50PM and 7:00PM.
- Ameriflight: Ameriflight operates the Beech 1900 and Beech Airliner 99 to SAN in the early evening, with arrivals usually coming between 6:00PM and 7:00PM.
- FedEx Express: FedEx is the largest cargo carrier at SAN, with the longtime regular A300 and MD-10 flights now being supplemented by appearances from the 757 and 767. Three flights usually arrive in the very early morning, before 6:00AM, and normally have all departed by 8:00AM. A second set of two flights typically arrives between 4:00PM and 6:30PM. These usually depart again between 7:00PM and 8:30PM. One of the Friday afternoon flights, typically arriving at approximately 5:00PM and departing after dark, and one of the Saturday morning flights, typically arriving at 5:30AM and departing between 7:00AM & 8:00PM, are usually operated by MD-10 equipment. MD-11's are still somewhat rare, but made regular appearances during the 2013 Christmas season. The 757 only operates at night, so they are a bit hard to photograph. Fortunately, FedEx uses a 757 nearly every Tuesday in the summer that arrives in the afternoon, along with the majority of FedEx's fleet here.
- FedEx Feeder (Westair): A series of Cessna 208B Cargomaster flights arrive between 6:00PM and 7:00PM from El Centro supplying cargo for the larger FedEx aircraft flying out of SAN. They depart usually in the morning around 6:30AM to 9:00AM
- United Parcel Service (UPS): UPS operates two weekday flights on a somewhat variable schedule, generally using 767s. A morning flight usually arrives at approximately 5:00AM and departs around 6:30AM. A 767 arrives from the Hawaiian islands most weekday afternoons between 1:30PM and 3:30PM. Departures occur between 6:30AM and 7:30AM and in the evening between 7:30PM and 8:30PM. UPS does not operate on the weekends.
Facilities and Transportation
There is a "cell phone" parking lot which offers up to one hour free parking for visitors waiting to pick up a passenger from an arriving flight, adjacent to the SAN Park Harbor Drive long term parking lot. Unlike the previous cell phone lot, it does offer views of the airport, however it is still not optimal for spotting as the paid long term parking lot is between this area and the taxiways. The cell phone lot has a couple of portable toilets and vending machines, along with monitors showing arriving flight information. However, if you're looking for video, this is the place to be (it will be even better if you bring a latter or stand on your car to fully see the touchdown as the spot is located abeam the threshold).
Public Transportation
San Diego Transit bus Route 992, sometimes known as the Flyer, and Route 923A provide service to the airport terminals. The lines originates in downtown San Diego, with several stops including one near the official observation lot at Laurel and Harbor. Connections to these routes can be made at various locations in downtown San Diego to other bus routes as well as the San Diego Trolley, Coaster, and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains.