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 July 2019)

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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.

	Spot #1 – CLT Airport Overlook – All movements on 18C / 36C
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
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 18C.
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.

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	Spot #3 – East side of the hourly parking garage – Movement on the ramp and 36R departure
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.

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	Spot #4 – Yorkmont Rd – All movements on 18R / 36L
WHERE	Use Yorkmont Road and follow the direction of the airport, at the end of the road, there is public parking where you can park your car here. Three-step labor is needed at this location as there are fences around the runway. You may also stand on the roof of SUVs. Normally, the airport authority will not disturb you as long as you do not exceed the height of the fence too much.
WHAT	You can spot all the movements on 18R/ 36L as it located in the mid of runway. Furthermore, all movements on taxiway C. Wide-body jets are more likely to use 18R during northern operations while during southern operations, they prefer to use 36C.
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	100mm or less for aircraft on the taxiway, 200mm for A320 /B737 on the runway.

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	Spot #5 –  Wallace Neel Rd – Arrival in 18L
WHERE	Use Wallace Neel Rd Road and follow the direction of the airport, there are several hills around the runway which have nice views of the 18L final approach, 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.
WHAT	During northern operations, 18L is mainly used for arrival which can be spotted at this location.
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	200mm for A320 /B737, 250mm or longer for regional jets.

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