Will Rogers World Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Oklahoma |
| Will Rogers World Airport | |
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| IATA code | OKC |
| ICAO code | KOKC |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.flyokc.com |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 119.35 |
| Ground | 121.9 |
| Clearance | 124.35,121.9 |
| Approach | 120.450 |
| Departure | 120.450 |
| ATIS | 125.85 |
Spotting Locations
Post Office
The south side of the U.S. Post office on Air cargo Rd.
Take Air Cargo Rd. South until you see the U.S. Post Office, Pull into the parking lot and walk down the south side of the building to the fence. Note: You have to shoot through a fence at this location. Bird's Eye View of spot
Photography
OKC in South Flow (departing/landing 17L/17R):
You will need anywhere between 75-110MM for traffic taxiing by, you will need 180-230MM for traffic using Runway 17L/35R.
OKC in North Flow: (departing/landing 35L/35R):
Airline Departures will be airborne, and be about 200-300 AGL by the time they reach the Post Office. So, you will need to back off the fence by about 50 feet to get an angle to get good pictures of the departures without the fence in the way. 150-400 MM will be needed to get good shots of the departures. Most arrivals will be pulling of 35R at taxiway E6, which will allow for nice head-on shots, in the late evening this effect is best because of the orange tint everything has. For a wide shot of most planes pulling off the runway, 150-200 MM will work, for close up nose shots, 300-400 MM will be necessary.
Hours
This is a P.M. spot. The best times are from 1PM to sundown.
Portland Rd
On Portland Rd. parallel the fence and runway 35R/17L. This road is on a slope, this spot is located at the top of the slope. Note: This spot requires a "shoot and run" technique. Park your car on the side of the road, put your hazard lights on, and wait till you see an airplane on approach or getting ready to take off, get out, take your pics, then leave. If the street is not very busy, you can hang around for a few minutes, but if the street starts getting busy, start heading out.
Note 2: You have to shoot through a fence at this location.
Photography
For planes using taxiway "Hotel" (very rare) you need 200MM. For planes using the runway you will need 300-400MM. So a 100-400 is recommended at this spot.
Hours
This is an A.M. Spot, use this spot from sunrise to 11AM.
The Hangars
On S. Meridian there are a row of 6 hangars with some open space in between in which planes park between, getting you close to them. Note: You have to shoot through a fence at this location.
Photography
Anywhere from 18-105 mm is required here.
Hours
This is an A.M. spot. Sunrise to 11AM will work.
Sample Photo
17R threshold
This spot is on S. Meridian, north of "The Hangars" as stated above. Landing and departing traffic can be seen from here. Note: You have to shoot through a fence at this location.
Photography
200-500mm works here. RWY31 deps need 400-500 mm, but the 35L departures need 200-400 mm. 17R arrivals need 200-350.
Hours
This spot is an A.M. only. Sunrise to 11AM will work.
Parking Garage
The 5th level on the long term parking garage. Park in the short term parking garage just south of the long term garage.(1st hour free) Walk across to the parking garage and take the elevator to the 5th level and walk to either side, west or east. There are stair wells on each side where you can stand to shoot. The west side is pretty far from any runway, so gate shots and aircraft taxiing to the UA/CO gates is about all you will get. The east side is fairly close to 17L/35R, and is the recommended spot.e
Photography
East Side
Runway 17L/35R Operations need 250-400MM
Taxiway E (Echo) Operations need 200-250MM
Taxiway N (November) Operations need 130-200MM
Terminal Ramp East Operations need 200-250MM
West Side
Gate shots (zoomed in) need about 100-150MM Planes using the taxiway north of the west concourse need anywhere from 90-200MM.
Hours
All day. (West side = sunrise-Noon)(East side = Noon-sunset)
Terminal Ramp
This spot is basically the closest to airside as you can get. This spot is located just south of 'The Hangars' on S. Meridian. You will see UA, CO, F9, and some AA action here.Note: You are under camera surveillance at this location. Note 2: You have to shoot through a fence at this spot.
Photography
Anywhere from 50-200 mm is normal.
Hours
Mainly PM. 1PM-sunset
SW. 104th Street
This street is located on the South Side of the Perimeter Fence.
You can get here via Portland Ave. which runs North/South on the east Side of the Perimeter Fence. Or by just following I-44 to the SW 104th street exit, or Exit 112. Turn west on SW 104 until you pass Portland Ave.Note: A Shoot And Run Technique is required, as there are plenty of "No Parking" Signs present, just pull to the side of the road when you hear over the radio or see a plane on approach.
Photography
You will need anywhere from 100-300MM for traffic landing on 35R or 35L. I have never been here when planes are departing overhead so departure focal lengths are unknown, but I'd guesstimate 250-500MM.
Hours
This is an all day spot
Spotting Locations Map
<googlemap lat="35.391009" lon="-97.595329" type="satellite" zoom="13" width="525" height="525" controls="large">35.398124, -97.592942, Post Office 35.396845, -97.597073, Parking Garage (West Side) 35.396856, -97.595195, Parking Garage (East Side) 35.406215, -97.601126, 17R threshold 35.396556, -97.600758, Terminal Ramp 35.396537, -97.597722, Terminal Drive (Departure level, Second Level) 35.362859, -97.593184, Recommended Spot for 35R PM Arrivals 35.362946, -97.585545, Recommended spot for 35R AM Arrivals 35.362946, -97.61065, Recommended Spot for 35L PM arrivals note: Tree Cover is tall and scatered, position yourself accordingly 35.362981, -97.600436, Recommended spot for 35L AM Arrivals
- 758BC5
35.397219, -97.601016, The Hangars 35.404372, -97.600973, The Hangars 35.402623, -97.60108 35.401644, -97.600994 35.400804, -97.600908 35.400245, -97.600822 35.399335, -97.60108 35.407521, -97.60108
- 758BC5
35.411438, -97.583313, Portland Ave. 35.378273, -97.583141, Portland Ave.
- 758BC5
35.363156, -97.584858, SW 104 St. 35.362876, -97.611465, SW 104 St. 35.362456, -97.591896 </googlemap>
Note: This Google Satelitte Photo is from 2001-2002. The buildings and roads may not be 100% accurate, the spots shown are where they are current time.
Aerial View:
Spotting Tips
Do some homework before you go.
1. Check the weather, and find out which runways are the actives. Generally if the wind is from the North, Arrivals will be on 35R and departures will be scattered between 35L/35R. If winds are from the south, any arrivals from the North, South, or East will land on 17L, and departures again will be scattered between 17L/17R. Most planes inbound from the west will take 17L. That's not always the case, so be flexible.
2. Go to Flightaware.com and print or write down the next 10-15 arrivals and departures by flight number, destination/or departure point, and ETA or the scheduled departure time. Now when spotting you have a general idea of where you need to be at each designated time. It is very easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the airport when something happens on the other side. If you are catching arrivals, listen to the approach frequency to get a heads up on where you need to be. If you are catching departures, listen to Ground to here what runway the planes are going to taxi to.
3. Have fun. If you encounter police officers or anyone else questioning what you are doing, please, don't give them a hard time. Be polite, courteous, and willing to show ID if asked to. I have not heard or had an encounter with anyone except for when I was spotting in the middle of the dark, which was suspicous.
Regular Traffic
Southwest (737-300, 737-500, 737-700) Callsign: "Southwest"
Delta (CRJ-200, CRJ-700, MD-88, ERJ-145) Callsign: "Delta", "Acey", "Jetlink", "Comair", "Skywest"
Continental (ERJ-145, CRJ-200, 737-500) Callsigns: "Jetlink", "Chatauqua", "Continental"
United (CRJ-200, CRJ-700, 737-300, 737-500, A319) Callsigns: "Skywest", "Lindbergh", "United", "Waterski"
Frontier (A319, Q400, A318, A320) Callsigns: "Frontier Flight", "Shasta"
American (ERJ-135, ERJ-145, MD-80) Callsigns: "Eagle Flight"," Waterski", "American"
Northwest (E170, CRJ, DC-9) Callsigns: "Compass Rose", Flagship", "Northwest"
Fedex (A300-600, A310) Callsign: "Fedex"
UPS (767, 757) Callsign: "UPS"
Airborne Express [DHL] (DC-9) Callsign: "Abex"
Alaska (737-400) [MX work] Callsign: "Alaska"
Allegiant (MD83/88) Callsign: "Allegiant"
USAF (KC-135)
JPATS [Justice Prisoner and Alien Transport System] (737-300, 737-400) Callsign: "Justice"
Various Corporate Flights (Cessna Citations, Gulfstream Jets etc.)
Watch the weather at KDFW. If the weather is stormy, watch flightaware, OKC gets some good diversions, such as 777's 757's, 747's and a load of MD80's.