Logan International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Massachusetts |
| General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport | |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
| IATA code | BOS |
| ICAO code | KBOS |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.massport.com/logan |
| Overview map | [maps.google.com/maps?q=BOS&ll=42.364505,-71.016226&spn=0.053801,0.118721&t=h&hl=en Google Maps] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 128.8 132.225 |
| Ground | 121.75 121.9 |
| Clearance | 121.65 |
| Approach | 118.25(North) 120.6(South) 127.2(West) |
| Departure | 133.0 |
| ATIS | 135.0 |
| Departure | 122.95 |
Official Spotting Locations
Location
Other Spotting Locations
Constitution Beach
Constitution Beach is located immediately northwest of the approach end of Runway 22R. It is most easily accessible by taking the MBTA Blue Line to Orient Heights, and then walking straight south along the road which runs right alongside the Outbound side of the station, until you hit Constitution Beach Park. This location offers great views if arrivals are on the 22's, or if departures are on the 4's, and, to a slightly lesser extent, if the traffic is reversed (22 departures or 4 arrivals). This means that, while you may not be able to shoot both departures and arrivals simultaneously, you're almost guaranteed some action. If you follow the beach far south enough, you can get nice side-on shots of aircraft on taxiway November (usually the large aircraft taxi down to the far and of the 4's after landing, so they return on this taxiway), and even some shots of arrivals and takeoffs on Runway 15R. In all of these cases, you'll need a telephoto lens to get full-frame shots on a 1.6x DSLR (200+ mm). Also, this location is best in the afternoon, as the sun is behind you.
Terminal B Parking Garage
This one is a bit tricky, which is why its also listed as a "place to avoid below". General wisdom is that this is hands-down the best spotting location anywhere at BOS. If you do go spotting on the garage, you have great views of pretty much all ops on the 4's and 22's, and pretty decent views , given a 300mm lens on a 1.6x DSLR, of ops on 15R/33L, and 9/27. Like Constitution Beach, this location is better in the afternoon, or at night.
Locations to Avoid
Terminal B Parking Garage
The problem with the Terminal B Garage is that Massachusetts State Police - Troop F (the group which patrols the airport along with the MassPort people) is rather Gestapo-ish in their "enforcement", which, in many cases, includes harassing spotters on top of the Terminal B garage. There aren't any regulations (TSA, FAA, or otherwise) which prohibit photography, but that fact doesn't seem to stop these guys. I've personally spotted on top of the garage 4 times, and have had trouble half the time. Here's a rundown. First time (May 19, 2005), my friend and I were up there for maybe 30-45 minutes around 5PM, and nobody even came to talk to us about what we were doing. Second time, I was there by myself, and a guy in a MassPort pickup came by (after I'd been up there for maybe 20 minute) and told me very politely that it probably wasn't a good idea for me to be taking pictures, as people might get overly suspicious, seeing as how it was September 11th (something I hadn't realized, actually). The third time, it was actually about half-past midnight on the morning of October 29th, 2005, and I was there for maybe 45 minutes before it got just too cold to be up there. Nobody came by to stop me that time, but I attribute that to it being the middle of the night. The fourth time, I was there on a Friday afternoon in early November 2005 around 3:30, and I hadn't even gotten my camera out before a lady in a Massport truck came up and told me that I wasn't allowed to take pictures. I politely asked her which organization was preventing me from taking pictures, and she called two people from MSPD-Troop F, and told me that "the state police will be right up to inform you". I finally thought I'd get some info regarding just who it was that was so opposed to me taking pictures. I stood around for a few mintues watching the traffic (I'd put my camera away at this point), while the lady from Massport sat in her truck and watched me (at least thats what I think she was doing--she was behind me, so I couldn't see her). When the trooper finally arrived, our conversation went like this:
Trooper: Didn't she [the lady from Massport] tell you you can't take pictures?
Me: Yes sir.
Trooper: So what's your problem? Get in your car and get out of here.
Me: I'd just like to find out whose authority is preventing me from taking pictures here.
Trooper: Mine! Now get in your car and get out of here.
Me: <start buttoning up my bag to leave> Well, I don't appreciate you being rude to me, sir.
Trooper: Why didn't you leave when she [again, tha lady from Massport] told you not to take pictures?
Me: Like I said, I'd like to know whose authority is prevening me from taking pictures here.
Trooper: Mine, and Massport's. Now get in your car and get out of here.
Me: Alright. <at which point, I turned and walked away>
That's been the worst interaction with police that I have personally had while spotting, but there have been some horror stories about people having their gear taken away for a while by the police while they sit somewhere and wait (I can only imagine that they aren't really doing anything with the equipment, just making you wait for the fun of it). I suppose its really spot-at-your-own risk at this locations. I would imagine, however, that if you went at night (such as I did that one time), that nobody would be around to bother you, so that may be a better option for this location.