Bradley International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Connecticut |
| Bradley International Airport | |
| Location | Windsor Locks, Connecticut |
| IATA code | BDL |
| ICAO code | KBDL |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | [www.bradleyairport.com www.bradleyairport.com] |
| Overview map | [maps.google.com/maps?q=BDL&spn=0.054417,0.129158&t=h&hl=en Google Maps] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 120.3 |
| Ground | 121.9 |
| Clearance | 121.75 |
| Approach | 123.95 125.35 127.225 127.8 |
| Departure | 123.95 125.35 127.8 |
| ATIS | 118.15 |
| Departure | 122.95 |
Official Spotting Locations
Runway 06 Spectator Lot
For arrivals on Rwy 06 or departures on 24, you can catch some close-up action at the spectator lot at on the left side of Rwy 06. The lot is designed for spotters and spectators, so you don't need to worry about law enforcement. Be careful when the sun is facing toward you, however, because it'll make shots difficult. You may have the most trouble with early morning shots when the sun is coming up.
Directions: From I-91, take exit 40 for the Route 20 Connector to the airport. When Route 20 splits off right before the airport, continue to follow Route 20. After the split, you'll pass the end of Rwy 06 on your right about 1/2 mile from the split. The lot is on the right immediately after Rwy 06.
Other Spotting Locations
Arrivals on Runway 06
In addition to the spectator lot at the end of Rwy 06, you can also get some head-on and underbelly shots from the hill across the street. If you look across Route 20 from the spectator lot, you'll see the hill right under the approach path. You can follow the little road that is next to it and pull off and park. Then, just walk up on the hill and shoot away.
Directions: From I-91, take exit 40 for the Route 20 Connector to the airport. When Route 20 splits off right before the airport, continue to follow Route 20. After the split, you'll pass the end of Rwy 06 on your right about 1/2 mile from the split. The hill and road are on the left across from the end of the runway.
Arrivals on Runway 24
For arrivals on Rwy 24 or departures on 06, you can get some great views from Perimeter Road, the side of Route 75, and the parking lot of Kelly Containers (a local business). Getting Perimeter Road shots are tough because the police will move you along, so I wouldn't advise parking anywhere along Perimeter Road. If you go during the week, I wouldn't recommend going to Kelly Containers since it is an active business. You can park on the side of the road near the approach to Rwy 24 and just walk to where you want to shoot photos along Route 75. If you go on the weekends, you can park in the Kelly Containers parking lot and hang there. Directions below..
Directions:
1) For Perimeter Road: Take exit 39 for Route 75 off I-91. Take a left onto Route 75. Follow Route 75 past the airport (The airport will be on your left). Continue following Route 75 for about 3/4 mile. Perimeter Road is on the lefthand side and is marked by a sign for the New England Air Museum.
2) For shots during the week on Route 75: Same directions for Perimeter Road, but follow Route 75 a bit further to the bottom of the hill (A farm should be on your right on the hill before a traffic light). You can pull off on the right and just walk to where you want to take photos.
3) For weekend shots from Kelly Containers: Same directions as 1) and 2) above, but follow Route 75 just up the hill and Kelly Containers is on the right. You can just park in their lot and take photos from there.
For all of these locations, if you're already at the Rwy 06 spectator lot and don't want to go back to I-91, take a left out of the spectator lot and follow Route 20 to the signs for Bradley. Take the Bradley exit and follow past the airport (Airport on your left). Stay to the right when you're near the airport. Follow that road past the airport and you'll hit a "T" intersection with Route 75. Turn left on Route 75 and follow directions as above.