Toronto Pearson International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: Canada | Region: Ontario |
| Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport | |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario |
| IATA code | YYZ |
| ICAO code | CYYZ |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.gtaa.com |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.350, 118.700 |
| Ground | 121.650 (north) 121.900 (south) 119.100 (center) |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | 132.800 (Main Arr), 124.475 (Secondary Arr), 125.400 |
| Departure | 128.800 (Main Dep - South Dep), 127.575 (Secondary Dep - North Dep) |
| ATIS | 120.825 (primary) 133.100 (secondary) |
Toronto Pearson is Canada's busiest commercial airport. Air Canada is the dominant airline together with its regional subsidiary Air Canada Jazz. The airport is located West of the City in Mississauga and can be accessed from several major highways (401, 410 and 409) and there is a coach link from the downtown area. At present there is no rail link from Toronto to the airport.
The airport has 3 parallel East/West runways (23,24L,24R and 05,06L,06R) as well as two parallel North/South runways (33L,33R and 15L,15R). There are three terminals, most International flights operate from Terminal 3, with Air Canada using Terminals 1 and 2. Major International airlines using Toronto Pearson include British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Aeroflot, United, Continental, Northwest and Delta.
The airport can be quite slow at times and movements are dominated by A319/320s and Embraer and Canadair Regional Jets. There are numerous good spotting/photo locations and hassle from the Police is very rare (But not unheard of - especially when El Al flights are due in or out).
Official Spotting Locations
Terminal 1
Note there is no "official" spotting area at YYZ, it is tolerated in some places within the airport. There is a smoking area on the departures level roadway with views over the AC Jazz Dash 8 and CRJ ramp. The light is best for photography in the mornings.
Other Spotting Locations
FedEx Hill
This location is best for all runway 23/05 spotting
From Hwy 427 North/South take Derry Rd. exit and head west at the intersection. Follow Derry Rd. for approximately 5 kms past the Connie Restaurant . FedEx is at the next light at Bramalea Rd. Turn left on Bramalea and follow the road to the end. The hill is on the right.
From Hwy 407 East/West take the Bramalea Rd. exit and head South. You will cross Derry Rd. Once on the ramp it will split into to ramps Terminals and Airport Rd. Take the Airport Rd. and follow the road to the end. The hill is on the right.
From Hwy 401 East/West take the Dixie Rd exit and head North. Turn right on Derry and continue until you see the FedEx facility. Turn right and continue down past the FedEx entrance.
From Brampton/North/Hwy 410 exit the 410 at Derry and turn left to head East and continue until you see the FedEx facility. Turn right and continue down past the FedEx entrance. Ensure you park on the right side of the road only to allow access to the crash gate at the end of the road and please do not block access to the crash gate.
FedEx is only suitable from early afternoon onwards as the Sun is facing in the morning. Good touchdown and approach shots can be had for 05 and it is excellant early evening when 23 is in use as it is located roughly where most heavies rotate on departure.
Police have been known to check this location occassionally and it does get very popular on Summer weekends. I have not seen anyone getting moved on unless they are obstructing the crash gate or parking on the left side of the road.
Be careful if you are taking kids, there is a police firing range right beside the hill, which is often in use.
The approach to 05 at sunset
View of the airport from FedEx
Rotation from 23
Airside Spotting Locations
Terminal 1
If you are flying with Air Canada you can obtain a boarding pass from the machines or online up to 12 hours before departure, this means that anyone with an evening flight can spend all day using the departure lounge windows. Bags can not be checked in until nearer departure time however there are storage facilities on the check in level. There is no problem exiting the departure lounge via the arrivals channel.
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
The GTAA website has up to date info on flight arrivals and departures.
- Aeroflot: Moscow, 4 times weekly with a Boeing 767-300 Mon,Wed,Fri,Sun
- Aeromexico: Cancun, Saturday only 737-700
- Aerosvit: Kiev, twice weekly with a Boeing 767-300 Tue and Sun
- Air Canada: Main hub hundreds of daily flights to/from Canada,USA,Central America,Caribbean,South America,Far East,Asia and Europe
All types in their fleet are seen. Airbus A319/320/321/330/340-300/340-500, Boeing 767-200/300, Canadair RJ, Embraer 175/190
- Air Canada Jazz: Hundreds of daily flights to/from Canada and the USA. Fleet features Canadair RJ 100/200/705 and Dash 8-100/300
- Air France: Paris CDG, Daily with an Airbus A340-300
- Air India: Delhi via Birmingham and Amritsar, 6 times weekly with a Boeing 777-200 Daily except Tues
- Air Jamaica: Kingston, Daily with an Airbus A321
- Air Transat: Multiple daily flights to the USA,Caribbean and Europe using Airbus A310 and A330s
- Air Wisconsin (US Airways Express): Daily flights on US Airways Express route network using Canadair RJs
- Alitalia: Rome FCO and Milan, twice daily with Boeing 767-300
- America West(US Airways): Phoenix and Las Vegas twice daily with Airbus A319/320
- American Airlines: Numerous daily flights from Chicago,Miami,Dallas,New York and Los Angeles using MD80 and Boeing 737-800s
- American Eagle: Numerous daily flights from New York and Boston using Embraer 135/140/145