Washington Dulles International Airport

Region: Virginia

Washington Dulles International Airport
Location	Dulles, Virginia
IATA code	IAD
ICAO code	KIAD
Airport type	Commercial
Website	http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/
Overview map	Google Maps
Communications
Tower	120.1 (1R-19L), 128.425 (1L-19R, 12-30)
Ground	121.9 (East), 132.45 (West)
Clearance	135.7
Approach	126.1, 124.65
Departure	125.05
ATIS	134.85
Departure	122.95

Dulles International is one of three major airports serving the Washington D.C. area (the other two being Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA/KDCA) and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI/KBWI)). It is by far the largest of the three, and serves as the main international gateway for the U.S. capital city. The airport serves as an international hub for United, and, until the airline went out of business, also served as the hub for ill-fated Independence Air. The airfield has three main runways: 1L/19R, 1R/19L, and 12/30.

Official Spotting Locations

Unfortunately, the old observation deck at the base of the original control tower has been closed and covered up, due to Main Terminal renovations. It is still visible in the Google Earth photo.

The best on-site "official" spotting is provided by the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center, explained below.

Udvar-Hazy Center Observation Tower

The observation and viewing tower at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center provides fairly decent views of aircraft approaching the 1's, and deparing the 19's, as the tower sits between the approach paths of the 1's. Some color correction will be required, as the windows cause photos to have a blue tint to them.

I wouldn't recommend this location at all. You can get much better shots of arriving airplanes from the parking lot in front of the museum.

Other Spotting Locations

Purple Economy Lot

The Purple Economy Lot offers a great vantage point directly under the approach/departure path, less than a half-mile away from the threshold of runway 19L. Parking there is $3/hr, and no more than $9/day, so if you stay more than three hours, you're almost getting free spotting. The lot tends to be sparse, so you may stick out. As long as you have an ID and are causing no trouble, you should be fine. After all, they're making money from you.

Central Airport

The Daily Garages offer a better vantage point for all three runways. Daily Garage I offers a spectacular view of the Main Terminal and Signature Flight Support. If you have a decent lens, you should be able to get decent shots, but this point is more for overviews because of the distance. Daily Garage II offers a great view of the south cargo ramp, which houses DHL and UPS. Further north is Fed-Ex. Occasionally, Piedmont-Hawthorne will put larger customers down here, such as the UAE's B747SP. You will need a decent lens to get good pictures of the north cargo ramp.
Both garages are $5/hr with a max of $15/day. Again, make sure you have an ID in case you are questioned. They may ask you to leave here, though, because these lots tend to be more popular.

Udvar-Hazy Center Parking Lot

The parking lot for the Udvar-Hazy Center is considered by many to be better than the observation tower itself, especially for 1R landings. From the entrance to the parking lot, proceed past the museum and park at the far end of the lot. Other spots may have more trees to contend with. Parking is $12/day; museum admission itself is free. Restrooms and food are available in the museum.

Westfield High School

The school is a good distance away (3.75mi from the threshold of runway 1L and 3mi from the threshold of runway 1R), but offers a decent spot for approaches to runways 1L and 1R. As long as school is not in session, security tends to be lax or non-existant. The student lot is often used by parents to teach their children to drive, along with other activities, so your presence will go largely unnoticed.
The school is off of Route 50 on Stonecroft Blvd.

Locations to Avoid

Avoid Signature Flight Support and Piedmont-Hawthorne. Both are very strict about security and do not like anyone except customers. This includes parking or even standing in their lots.

Regular Traffic

IAD gets some great rare (for the USA) airlines, such as Ethiopian and South African plus Saudi Arabian. The airport is also visited occasionally by the German Luftwaffe, RAF and other foreign dignitaries. These aircraft are normally parked at Signature Flight Support, which is at the North end of runway 1R-19L.

International Traffic and Aircraft

Aeroflot - B763
Air France - A332, 772 (GE90s)
Alitalia - B763 (previously an MD-11)
ANA - B772
Austrian - A332, A342
British - B772
Ethiopian - B763
KLM - A332
Korean Air - B744
Lufthansa - A343 (occasionally A346), B744
Saudi - B744
South African - B744
SAS - A343
Virgin - A343 (occasionally A346)

Lufwaffe - A310, C-160
RAF - VC-10

Facilities and Transportation

External Links

FlyIAD.net - Spotters Guide to Washington DC Area Arports