Los Angeles International Airport

Continent: North America

Country: United States

Region: California

Los Angeles International Airport
Location	Los Angeles, California
IATA code	LAX
ICAO code	KLAX
Airport type	Commercial
Website	http://www.lawa.org/welcomelax.aspx
Overview map	Google Maps
Communications
Tower	133.90 North 120.95 South 119.80 Helicopters
Ground	121.65 North 121.75 South
Clearance	121.40
Approach	124.30 Feeder 124.50 Final & Feeder 124.90 Feeder 127.40 (LEENA4) 128.10 (VISTA2)
Departure	124.30 125.20
ATIS	133.80 Arrivals 135.65 Departures
Departure	128.55
Plane Spotting Hotels guide

Official Spotting Locations

Theme Building

The LAX Theme Building is the iconic building in the middle of the LAX passenger terminal complex, shown in the photo at right. It hosts the Encounter Restaurant as well as an observation deck. Encounter Restaurant occupies the round portion of the building about halfway up. Windows provide views of the airport in all directions, though which parts you'll see depends on where you are seated. The observation deck is located on the roof of the restaurant. It closed in 2001 and reopened in July 2010. It is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 5pm, and there is no charge to enter the observation deck. This location is may be poor for photography, except for airport overview shots, as it is distant from aircraft though it is good for spotters who just which to watch traffic or log tail numbers. The airport occasionally hosts "Sunday Morning Coffee" events at the observation deck for plane spotters, aviation enthusiasts, and the general public.

Airfield Tours

The airport offers an airfield tour on the first Thursday of each month. For more information, see the LAX Community Relations web page.

Other Spotting Locations

Jim Clutter Park (Imperial Hill)

In the city of El Segundo. A small roadside park at the intersection of Imperial Avenue and Sheldon Street. A few tables and seats, for other facilities you need to walk west down the hill (towards the ocean) to the small shopping plaza. Beach Cities Transit bus route 109 has a stop right at the park.

All movements on the South runways can be logged here although care must be taken not to miss those arrivals which turn off early. Some photography possible when traffic is westerly, few arrivals come far enough down although spectacular departure shots can be had with a long (300-400mm) lens, though shorter lenses work. A 200mm lens is sufficient for any aircraft larger than a 757. On the rare occasions traffic is landing to the East this is one of the finest locations in the land. Aircraft taxiing on taxiways B and C in the general vicinity of the American Airlines hangars, American Eagle remote terminal building, taxiways Q and S, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal can be photographed from here with a sufficiently powerful lens (300-400mm).

• JetPhotos.net sample photo: large (25R departure)
• JetPhotos.net sample photo: large (taxiway B)

In-n-Out Burger

At the corner of Sepulveda and Westchester, 10-15 minutes walk from the airport. Small grass area across the road from which all movements on the Northern runways can be seen. Limited photography as arrivals are almost directly overhead, and you are facing South. When a small aircraft (CRJ, ERJ, 737, A320) isn't blocked by the trees, a 55mm or smaller size lens can be used for a nice shot. However, walking to under the approach lights and jaywalking across Lincoln Blvd. can yield some very nice shots of inbound aircraft. Parking in this area is limited (for those driving to the spot) depending on the time of day if you park on the street, and can be sparse during lunch hours (11:00am - 2:30pm).

• Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
• Airliners.net sample photo: medium large

There is a multi-story car park with good views from the top floor. No photography signs are present, and you will likely be told to leave.

Proud Bird Restaurant

Off Aviation Boulevard beside the approach to the Southern runways. Good landing shots but care must be taken to avoid lampposts and trees. Shots can be taken from both the parking lot, and from the "backyard" where the old planes are on display. A good lens is suggested.

To achieve shots similar to those taken by In-n-Out, walk north on Aviation Blvd. to under the approach path for 25L (you will see the ILS antenna). Be warned as there is no sidewalk, so caution is advised when going for a shot.

Flight Path Learning Center

The Flight Path Learning Center is located at 6661 Imperial Hwy, and was formally known as the "Imperial Terminal". This building used to house some charter flights, and regular scheduled flights from MGM Grand Air. It sat empty for 10 years until it was re-opened as a learning center for LAX. The center contains information on the history of aviation, as well as several pictures of the airport (some notably from famed photographer Sam Chui) as well as aircraft scale models, flight attendant uniforms, and general airline shwag (playing cards, china, magazines, signs, even a TWA gate information sign). If you ask nicely, one of the fine docents (who are usually retired Flight Attendants who started work in the 1950's, or have been working at the airport for many years. Great conversations to be had), they will be glad to open one of the restricted access doors and allow you to stand out on the tarmac (behind a small fence) to get shots of the South side. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 3pm. While it does not provide the greatest shots, it is defiantly worth a visit.

• Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
• Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
• Airliners.net sample photo: medium large

http://www.flightpath.us/

Dockweiler State Beach

Along Vista Del Mar, there is a beach. On Vista Del Mar, there is parking along the streets and there are staircases that go down to the beach. You can watch takeoffs from both runways here either from your car, or down on the beach. You can stay as long as you want and since it is far enough from the airport, no one will yell at you for taking pictures. A good lens is suggested, and it may be busy in the summer.

Locations to Avoid

Westchester Boulevard

In the same area as the In-n-Out. A bridge about 1/4 mile West provides good photos but anyone standing there is very visible. Two car parks either side of Sepulveda, one at ground level (E) the other a multi-story (W). None of these locations are very satisfactory for a long stay.

Cargo Parking

There are 2 parking lots off the first and second cargo roads respectively. These were good locations prior to September 11, 2001, but are now patrolled frequently by not-very-friendly LAWA police and spotters will be asked to leave. However, a two person operation could be useful. Some have reported good experiences driving through the cargo complex. A common method is to drive constantly, stopping only when no police are around.

Spotting Locations Map

Loading map...

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Regular Traffic

In some cases, airlines operate their check-in counters in a different terminal; this table reflects the terminal where the aircraft park.

Airline	Aircraft	Terminal
Aeroflot Russian Airlines	A330-200	TBIT
Aer Lingus	A330-200	2
Aeromexico	737-800	2
Air Berlin	A330-200	TBIT
Air Canada	767-300, 787-9, A319, A320, A321	6
Air China	777-300ER, 787-9	TBIT
Air France	777-200, 777-300ER, A380-800	TBIT
Air New Zealand	777-200, 777-300ER	TBIT
Air Tahiti Nui	A340-300	TBIT
Alaska Airlines	737-700, 737-800, 737-900	6
Alitalia	777-200	TBIT
Allegiant Air	A319, A320	5
All Nippon Airways	777-300ER	TBIT
American Airlines	737-800, 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8, A319, A321	4, 5
American Eagle	CRJ-700 (SkyWest), CRJ-900 (Mesa), E175 (Compass)	5 (Remote)
Asiana Airlines	A380-800	TBIT
Austrian Airlines	777-200	TBIT
Avianca	767-200, A319, A320, A321	TBIT
Boutique Air	PC-12	6
British Airways	A380-800	TBIT
Cathay Pacific Airways	777-300ER	TBIT
China Airlines	777-300ER	TBIT
China Eastern Airlines	777-300ER, A330-200	TBIT
China Southern Airlines	777-300ER, A380-800	TBIT
Copa Airlines	737-800	TBIT
Delta Air Lines	717-200, 737-800, 737-900, 757-200, 757-300, 767-300, 767-400ER, 777-200, A319, A320, A330-300	2, 3
Delta Connection	CRJ-700 (SkyWest), E175 (Compass, Republic, SkyWest)	2, 3
El Al Israel Airlines	777-200	TBIT
Emirates Airline	A380-800	TBIT
Ethiopian Airlines	787-8	TBIT
Etihad Airways	777-200LR	TBIT
EVA Air	777-300ER	TBIT
Fiji Airways	A330-200	TBIT
Frontier Airlines	A319, A320	5
Great Lakes Airlines	EMB-120	6
Hainan Airlines	787-8	TBIT
Hawaiian Airlines	A330-200	5
Horizon Air	Q400	6
Iberia	A330-200	TBIT
Interjet	A320	TBIT
Japan Airlines	777-300ER, 787-8	TBIT
jetBlue Airways	A320, A321	5
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	747-400	TBIT
Korean Air	777-200, A380-800	TBIT
LATAM Airlines	767-300, 787-8	TBIT
LOT Polish Airlines	787-8	TBIT
Lufthansa	A340-600, A380-800	TBIT
Mokulele Airlines	Cessna 208	6
Norwegian Air Shuttle	787-8, 787-9	TBIT
Philippine Airlines	777-300ER	TBIT
Qantas Airways	747-400, A380-800	TBIT
Qatar Airways	777-200LR	TBIT
Saudia	777-300ER	TBIT
Scandinavian Airlines	A330-300	TBIT
Sichuan Airlines	A330-200	TBIT
Singapore Airlines	777-300ER	TBIT
Southwest Airlines	737-300, 737-700, 737-800	1, TBIT
Spirit Airlines	A319, A320, A321	5
Sun Country Airlines	737-800	5
Swiss International Air Lines	777-300ER	TBIT
Thomas Cook Airlines	A330-200	6
Turkish Airlines	777-300ER	TBIT
United Airlines	737-800, 737-900, 757-200, 777-200, 787-9, A320	7, 8
United Express	CRJ-200 (SkyWest), CRJ-700 (SkyWest), E175 (SkyWest)	7, 8
Virgin America	A319, A320, A321	6
Virgin Atlantic Airways	787-9	2
Virgin Australia Airlines	777-300ER	TBIT
Volaris	A319, A320	TBIT
WestJet Airlines	737-600, 737-700, 737-800	2
WOW Air	A330-300	TBIT
XL Airways France	A330-200	6

Cargo

• AeroUnion (Airbus A300, Boeing 767-300)
• Air China Cargo (Boeing 747-400)
• ABX Air Cargo/DHL (Boeing 767-200)
• Asiana Cargo (Boeing 747-400)
• Atlas Air (Boeing 747-400, Boeing 747-8)
• Cargolux (Boeing 747-400)
• Cathay Pacific Cargo (Boeing 747-8)
• China Airlines Cargo (Boeing 747-400)
• Emirates Sky Cargo (Boeing 777-300)
• China Cargo Airlines (Boeing 777-200)
• EVA Air Cargo (Boeing 747-400)
• Kalitta Air (Boeing 747-200, Boeing 747-400)
• Korean Air Cargo (Boeing 747-8, Boeing 777-300)
• FedEx (Airbus A300-600, McDonnell Douglas MD-10, McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Boeing 767-300)
• Lufthansa Cargo (Boeing 777-300)
• MAS Cargo (Boeing 767-300)
• Nippon Cargo Airlines (Boeing 747-8)
• Polar Air Cargo (Boeing 747-400)
• Qatar Air Cargo (Boeing 777-300)
• Singapore Airlines Cargo (Boeing 747-400)
• United Parcel Service (Boeing 767-300)

Facilities and Transportation

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority operates several bus lines that serve LAX and the surrounding area. Consult their web site for specific information. They also operate the Metro Rail system, with service to LAX provided at the Green Line's Aviation/LAX station, where a free shuttle bus provides connections to the airport terminals.