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July 13, 2018Charlotte Douglas Intl. Airport Spotting Guide
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- last modified on May 16, 2021
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) located in Charlotte, North Carolina, US. It’s one of the largest and busiest airports on the east coast of the United States with 44.9 million passengers one year. It used to be the hub for US Airways and it now becomes the second largest hub (after DFW) for American Airlines after US integrated to AA. CLT services more than 160 domestic and international routes.
CLT is one of the busiest airports in the USA so you will never get too boring there. However, around 90% of traffic will be American Airlines/ American Eagle, American Airlines A330s fly daily and seasonal routes to European cities like Frankfurt and London and Lufthansa A330/ A346/ A350 might be the only foreign traffic services regular flight in CLT. FedEx A300F and MD10 can be seen 5 days of a week. As CLT is a civil-military airport, USAF C-17 and C-130 can also be seen sometimes if you are lucky enough.
Next to CLT is the Carolinas Aviation Museum where you can see the A320 wreckage of flight 1549 which is known as “Miracle on the Hudson”. The outside ramp of the museum used to be an ideal location for spotting movements on 18L/36R, however, it now only open for 15 minutes every hour for public and there is no spotting location inside the building. (Carolinas Aviation Museum is currently closed due to the airport constructions, it will reopen in a new site in 2022.) Also, there is an empty space next to the museum which is good for spotting departure in 18L but please avoid it, the armed soldiers will ask you to leave immediately as they think you’re too close to the military ramp. Other than that, the authority is pretty friendly to the spotter and you will have a good time there.
Written by Ruoyang Yan, Jerry Zhang (last modified April 2021)
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 18C/36C | 3.048m (10.000 ft) Concrete |
| 18L/36R | 2.743 m (9.000 ft) Concrete |
| 18R/36L | 2.645 m (8.677 ft) Concrete |
| 05/23 | 2.287 m (7.502 ft) Concrete |
| Terminals | |
| Concourse A | All domestic flights operated by non-American Airlines, including Air Canada, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, United. |
| Concourses B,C and E | used by American Airlines and American Eagle. |
| Concourses C and D | International flights, used by American Airlines and Lufthansa. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Only needed for location 4 |
| Car/Public Transport | Necessary for location 1 and 4 |
| Restrooms | Available in the terminals and can be accessible for location 2 and 3. |
| Drinks/Food | Available in the terminals and can be accessible for location 2 and 3. |
| Hotels | There are serval hotels around the airport and offer a shutter bus from the terminals, but none of them are really close to spotting locations. |
| Season | All year round is fine, in summer you may spend more time spotting there in the afternoon. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 18C/ 36C | Mainly used for departure. During southern operations, international arrivals like American and Lufthansa A330s will also land at 18C. But for northern operation, international arrivals are more likely to use 36R. |
| 18R/36L | Mainly used for arrivals. More traffic will use 36L for northern operations as some arrival traffic will move to 18C during southern operations. |
| 18L/36R | Used for both departure and arrivals. Heavies are more likely to use 36R during northern operations and in southern operations, they prefer 18C. |
| 05/23 | Mainly used for arrivals but there are not many 05 / 23 traffic comparing to the other three runways. |
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Spot #1 – CLT Airport Overlook – All movements on 18C / 36C |
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| WHERE | It is a large area next to runway 18C / 36C. If you’re driving and coming from I-485, take the Wilkinson Blvd Exit East onto Little Rock Road. Then turn into Old Dowd Road and follow around the runway until you see a sign for the overlook. If you are coming from Billy Graham Parkway, take the Airport Exit and head around the airport to the stoplight at Old Dowd Road. Turn right on Old Dowd Road and left at the stoplight there. Continue to the first left past the end of the runway. |
| WHAT | This is the most famous location of CLT. As this runway is mainly in used for departures, all movements of 18C / 36C could be spotted at the overlook, during southern operations, the angle will be better as this location situates at the north end of the runway. During southern operations, most heavies like American Airlines and Lufthansa A350s prefer to use 36C while during northern operations, they are more likely to use 18L instead. If you’re planning to have a short visit, highly recommend staying here for a whole afternoon there. |
| TIME | From noon to sunset all year round |
| MISC. | There is no restroom or shops nearby, please bring your own food and water. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | During southern operations: 150mm for A320/ B737, 100mm for A330, during northern operations, 200mm to 300mm for departure, the arrival may exit the runway early which makes it a little bit tricky to spot. |
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Spot #2 – West side of the hourly parking garage – All movements on 18C/36C |
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| WHERE | You can access the hourly parking deck from the main Airport entrance road. The Hourly and Daily Decks share the same entrance point off the main entrance road. Follow the signage and veer to the right to enter the Hourly Deck and drive to the top floor. |
| WHAT | What you can spot here is the same movement as location 1 and light condition at this location is good in the morning. In the early morning, you may see some interesting visitors to CLT like USAF C17, FEDEX’s A300F. During Southern operations, spotting the movement on the runway is only ideal in the early morning or l in the winter as heat haze will be a problem later. Alternatively, it’s good for spotting aircraft on the taxiway as it’s closer. During northern operations, you can spot all the departures on 36C which you can get a pretty nice background. |
| TIME | From sunrise to noon all year round. |
| MISC. | Restroom or shops are located in the terminal and there is a pathway connecting the garage with the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | During southern operations: 200mm for aircraft on the taxiway, 300mm for aircraft on the runway. During northern operation, 300mm or longer for departure flights. |
Taxing for 18C departure in the morning:
36C departure:
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Spot #3 – East side of the hourly parking garage – Movement on the ramp and 36R departure |
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| WHERE | Follow the same direction of location 2 but please go the east side. |
| WHAT | What you can spot there is the movement on the ramp. 18L movements are only ideal during winter as heat haze will be a problem in summer. During northern operations, you can spot departure on 36R as they are already in the air. |
| TIME | From noon to sunset all year round. |
| MISC. | Restroom or shops are located in the terminal and there is a pathway connecting the garage with the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | During southern operations: 200mm for aircraft on the taxiway, 300mm for aircraft on the runway, during northern operation, 300mm or longer for departure flights. |
Ramp and 36R departure:
18L landing:
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| WHERE | Update 2021: The airport authority has largely increased the height of the fence, this location is no longer ideal for spotting. |
| WHAT | |
| TIME | |
| MISC. | |
| FOCAL LENGTH | |
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Spot #5 – Wallace Neel Rd – Movements on 18R/36L |
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| WHERE | Use Wallace Neel Rd Road and follow the direction of the airport, there are several hills around the runway, just find one and climb on it. You can park your car off the street just make sure it will not block the road and don’t stand too far with your car. Normally the airport authority is fine for people spotting there but the local police may sometimes ask to move your car, so it’s better to come on weekends. |
| WHAT | 18R/36L is mainly used for arrival regardless of the direction of operation. |
| TIME | Note that this location is only available from ~October to ~ April every year from noon to sunset. Otherwise, trees along the runway are too high and it’s tricky to spot between the gaps (See picture below). |
| MISC. | There is no restroom or shops nearby, please bring your own food and water. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150mm for A320 /B737, 200mm or longer for regional jets. |
Photos taken on March:
10 Comments
Hey! Thanks for the info. I was wondering if there are any good spots besides location 4 and the parking deck to go plane spotting for 18L/36R? Location 4 seems a bit too outgoing if you know what i mean. Thanks.
Hi Kavi, as far as I know, there is no more spots for 18L/36L except for those two locations. Actually location 4 is almost gone now since the airport built a high fence last year. There is a parking lot at the south end of of 36R but it’s in private property, last time my friend went there and someone just called the police, so it’s not that ideal.
I LOVE plane-watching! I would love to know if in Charlotte airport, can you view ANY airplanes as they are about to leave the runway on departure? This is my OBSESSION for some reason. I would appreciate your help as I plan to go there soon. Thank you very much!
PS: I needed to edit this message above. I meant “at” the airport and, what if any runways could I view the close takeoff mid-way of the departure…as it is leaving the ground! tks
For spot number 4 they have recently installed a new taller fence, not sure if standing on a car is tall enough to see over it.
Hi, Thomas. Thanks for your comment. Yes, we just went to that location last week and have noticed that problem. We stood on the back of a pickup and could just be able to spot the planes on the runway. I think it might be fine to stand on the roof of the car. But spotting planes on the taxiway maybe no longer possible. I will update it to the guide.
I have spotted all around CLT and I generally agree with most of what you have published. The observation park is great and the hourly parking garage top deck is a particular favorite. There is a little used spot along West Boulevard that allows for interesting shots of 18R arrivals and 36L takeoffs. There is parking at a nearby industrial park and a nice wide sidewalk that runs around the CLT perimeter. I also found numerous places (on weekends) along Yorkmont Road to catch 18R/36L action. However, my favorite spots are along Wallace Neel Road. The problem is I have been shooed away by security many, many times for parking off the road. Too bad because your No. 5 listed spot up on the hill is special. I don’t shoot photos – just videos. I have many spotting videos on my YouTube page with the majority being at CLT. Take a look at my CLT and and general spotting playlists. Thanks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N72B0ikczsU&list=PLzfJfOlalWa_4lVGeJPpKvOL6WD7usalG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGs0M_YxecY&list=PLzfJfOlalWa8hU0FxTG1o7F0FmkjuPIQa
Thanks for your advice and nice video. Yes, parking off-road is not always tolerated, so normally I will not stay there for too long.
Hello John and thanks for the info above! I LOVE plane-watching! I would love to know if around the Charlotte airport, can you view ANY airplanes as they are about to leave the runway on departure, as CLOSE up as possible anywhere? This is my OBSESSION for some reason. I would appreciate your help as I plan to go there soon. Thank you very much!
Sharon,
Without question, the best up-close spot for departures (especially) and arrivals is the public observation area. But you won’t be close to the point where the plane leaves the ground. Maybe on a weekend you can try some spots from parking lots for businesses along Yorkmont Road (location of FedEx and UPS). The problem is a fence marring a clear view of the takeoff points for planes on 18L.
This video has a some action from the spot I’m describing, beginning at the 4:50 mark. The address of the place I was at is: 4150 Yorkmont Road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a2AlcvzGuw
I hope this helps. Have fun!