DTW-Spot1
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Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Country Airport (DTW/KDTW) is the primary airport serving Southeast Michigan, Northern Ohio as well as partsof Southern Ontario. The airport is located about 20 miles west of Downtown Detroit in Romulus, MI. In 2019, the airport registered almost 37 million passengers. Delta Airlines is by far the largest carrier, accounting for about 75% of the traffic and it is Delta’s second biggest hub after ATL. Detroit is also a large base for Spirit Airlines. DTW serves over 140 destinations in 39 states, Europe, Asia, The Middle East and Central America/Caribbean. Intercontinental service is provided by Air France, Lufthansa, Icelander, Turkish Airlines and Royal Jordanian.
Written by Brady Noble, Patrick DeVito, Achim Walther and Maria Lu. Pictures provided by Alexandre Fazan. Last change: October 2023 (Spot 7 added)
Spot #1 – McNamara Terminal Parking garage (West) – Ramp Gates A3-A35 | |
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WHERE | Take Eureka Rd. to John Dingell Dr. and follow the signs for international arrivals and enter the parking garage. Then, either park on or walk up to the top floor. If you go to the south-west side of the garage, gates A3-A35 will be visible |
WHAT | You will be able to have a clear view of Delta aircraft taxiing, refueling and pushing back. Most traffic here will be Delta Connection, but you may see Delta Mainline as well. Furthermore you can photograph 22L departures |
TIME | Sunrise to Noon. Heat haze possible in the summer |
MISC. | All food/drinking fountains/restrooms will be in the terminal. Police tend to leave you alone in the parking garages. |
FOCAL LENGTH | CRJ700=40mm |
Spot #2 – McNnamara Terminal Parking garage (East) – 03/21 runways, taxiways M and W | |
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WHERE | Take Eureka Rd. to John Dingell Dr. and follow the signs for international arrivals and enter the parking garage. Then, either park on or walk up to a high floor and proceed to the north-east side of the garage. |
WHAT | From here, you will have a view of 21L and 21R as well as taxiways Mike and Whiskey. When the 21s are in use, you have a prime view of aircraft taking off. When the 3s are in use, you are within 200ft of aircraft holding short 3L. |
TIME | 3PM to Sunset. Again, heat haze possible some months |
MISC. | All food/drinking fountains/restrooms will be in the terminal. Police tend to leave you alone in the parking garages. |
FOCAL LENGTH | For aircraft taking off-150mm. For aircraft taxiing to 3L, no more than 100 mm. For landing aircraft, 200-300 mm. A320=100mm |
Spot #3 – Green Lot – FBO ramp, 21R line-up | |
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WHERE | Take Interstate-94 to Exit 198 and then, follow the signs for the Green Parking Lot. Look for a free lot next to fence. Don’t use a ladder there and take the pics through the fence. |
WHAT | You will have good views of the FBO ramp as well as good views of aircraft taxiing along Mike towards 21R for departure (no arrivals on 21R). When the Detroit Lions have home games, the opposing team’s plane will park at the FBO ramp. |
TIME | For FBO ramp-sunrise to noon. For taxiing aircraft-3PM to sunset. |
MISC. | Sundays during the fall are always good. Please keep your time here brief, don’t linger. The police will eventually come after a few minutes. The North Terminal is just around the corner. |
FOCAL LENGTH | Gulf=50mm |
Spot #4 – I-94 Service Drive – 22R arrivals | |
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WHERE | The spots is at the intersection of Vinig Rd. and I-94 Service Drive. You have to park on the side of the road and take a quick shot. The road is not the busiest but don’t stay too long here. |
WHAT | All aircraft landing on 22R |
TIME | 3pm until sunset |
MISC. | Only use this spot for quick pictures, police will come. |
FOCAL LENGTH | A332=60mm |
Spot #5 – Comfort Inn Metro Airport – 22R arrivals | |
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WHERE | North of the airport and next to the I-94 is the airport hotel area. The Comfort Inn is at Wick Rd and the parking lot offers a great view of the 22R arrivals. Park at the west side of the lot, next to a field. |
WHAT | All aircraft landing on 22R |
TIME | Sunrise until noon. |
MISC. | You don’t need to be a hotel guest. Restroom and Starbucks inside the hotel. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 80mm for a A350, 130mm for A320/B737 |
Spot #6 – Abandoned Gas Station – 21L arrivals | |
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WHERE | There is an abandoned gas station at the corner of Middlebelt and Goddard Rd, where you can park and stay. Easy access from the I95 and then drive southwards for a 2-3 minutes until you see the approach to the right and the station to the left. |
WHAT | All aircraft landing on 21L. |
TIME | Sunrise until noon. |
MISC. | A one minute drive northwards you find some fast food restaurants and a few hotels. As far as police, we’ve never had an issue, we’ve parked at this spot and had officers drive past me. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 50-200mm |
Spot #7 – Howard Johnson by Wyndham Romulus – 22L/R arrivals | |
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WHERE | The Howard Johnson by Wyndham Romulus, located on the north side of the airport offers views of the 22 runways. Access is available via Merriman Rd directly from the terminals. If you overnight at the hotel you can stay at one of the many stairwells or on the parking lot, depending on which runway you wanna photograph. |
WHAT | All aircraft landing on 22L and R. |
TIME | Sunrise until noon for 22R and afternoon until sunset for 22L |
MISC. | You should have booked a room there to use their property. Food options are further up the main road. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 100mm for A330 on 22L |
The comforts inn metro airport hotel parking lot can take some photos of aircraft approaching rwy 22R in the morning or departing 4L. Hotel lobby can enter freely before 6 PM (don’t know how COVID-19 they change it). restroom and Starbucks inside.
Hi, thanks for this info. Can you send me some pictures to info@spotterguide.net please so I can add it. Thanks, Julian