Ellington Field
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Texas |
| Ellington Field | |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| IATA code | EFD |
| ICAO code | KEFD |
| Airport type | Mixed-Use Public |
| Website | http://www.fly2houston.com/EllingtonHome |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 126.050 |
| Ground | 121.600 |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | 135.575 |
| Departure | 122.950 |
Ellington Field is a joint use civil/military airport. It is a former U.S. Air Force superbase named for Lt. Eric Lamar Ellington, an Army Signal Corps Aeronautical Division pilot killed in a Wright C Flyer accident. EFD was acquired by the City of Houston in 1984 and now supports the operations of the Texas Air National Guard, Oklahoma Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, Army National Guard, and NASA, in addition to general aviation tenants.
EFD is home to the Confederate Air Force's annual "Wings Over Houston" Airshow and is also the place where many of the astronauts from the world-renowned Johnson Space Center receive their flight familiarization and training.
Ellington Field is operated and maintained by the Houston Airport System, the fourth largest multi-airport system in the nation and the sixth largest in the world! You can expect to see F-16 "Vipers" of the Oklahoma Air National Guard's 138th Fighter Wing sitting alert, NASA's T-38 "Talons", Airbus 377SG "Super Guppy", DC-9 "Vomit Comet", WB-47F "Canberas", and a large variety of bizjet and general aviation aircraft. EFD is a popular stop over for transient military aircraft as well.
EFD is a FAR 139 Class IV Airport with 24 hour Air Traffic Control and an "A" ARFF Index.
EFD ATIS Phone Numbers: 281-464-4190, 281-464-4191 or 281-464-4192 -->
Official Spotting Locations
There are currently NO official spotting locations for EFD.
Other Spotting Locations
Inside the airport grounds
Hilliard Street
Hilliard Street just east of Brantley Avenue (next to CFR/ARFF Firehouse) there is a 6 foot tall chain-link fence with 3 strands of barbed wire on top, so bring a ladder.
Blume Avenue
Blume Avenue near Sherbourne Street there is a usually empty parking lot with a 6 foot chain-link fence with 3 rows of barbed wire on top, so bring a ladder.
Brantley Avenue
Brantley Avenue near Goodwin Street is is a prime position for photographing aircraft in flight using runways 4/22.
Off Airport
Farley Road
Farley Road off of Genoa Red Bluff is a prime position for photographing aircraft in flight using runways 17R/35L. It is advisable to not travel far enough down Farley Road into the sight of the Air National Guard area.
Old Galveston Road
Old Galveston Road (Highway 3) near Bay Star Road has areas where one can get different angles on the approach/departure of aircraft.
Locations to Avoid
There are no unmarked Locations to Avoid. There are U.S.A.F. Security Forces and N.A.S.A. security stationed on site and patrolling. Houston Police Department patrols periodically as well as the Harris County Constables, but all are aware of aviation photographers and whereas you might get checked out, they are all respectful and professional.
Regular Traffic
Oklahoma Air National Guard's 138th Fighter Wing: ASA F-16 Vipers
Texas Air National Guard: Reece RC-26 Fairchild SA-227 "Metroliner"
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Houston: SAR HH-65A Aerospatiale "Dolphines"
U.S. Army National Guard: Boeing AH-64 "Apaches"
NASA: Northrop T-38 "Talon", Airbus Industries 377SGT-F "Supper Guppy", Martin (English Electric) WB-47F "Canbera", Douglas DC-9 "Weightless Wonder" or "Vomit Comet", Various Grumman corporate jets.
Collins Foundation: McDonnell F-4D "Phantom II", McDonnell TA-4J "Skyhawk", Lockheed T-33 "Shooting Star", Grumman S-2F "Tracker", Bell UH-1E "Huey".
There is a fair amount of General /Aviation activity at EFD including some MiGs, Learjets, Challengers, Falcons, Aero Vodochodys, light aircraft, and many professional sports team's chartered flights land at EFD while in Houston.