Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN/KGCN) is located near the town of Tusayan, Arizona. It is near the south rim of the Grand Canyon (approx. 11km/7mi). The airport is primarily used for scenic (helicopter) tours and charter flights. The airport has one runway, but most traffic will take-off and land on the helicopter platforms of Papillon Helicopter Tours, Maverick Helicopters and Grand Canyon Helicopters.

Grand Canyon Airlines is the main operator with fixed wing aircraft at the airport, flying with De Havilland Canada DHC-6 and Cessna 208 aircraft. There are also a few smaller passenger and cargo air charters and some skydive aircraft present on the airport. There are only a few scheduled flights a day. The departures and arrivals of those flights can be found at flightstatus24.com or flightradar24.com.

Just north of the airport is the town of Tusayan. Hotels and restaurants can be found here.

Written by Bas Velders. Visited April 2019.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
03/21	2.743 m (8,999 ft) Asphalt
Terminals	One for all flights. Furthmore private terminals for Maverick and Papillon
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not necessary.
Car/Public Transport	Recommended to get around the airport.
Restrooms	Only at the terminal.
Drinks/Food	North of the airport (Tusayan).
Hotels	North of the airport (Tusayan).
Season	The peak season is during the US summer holidays from end of may till august. Check timeanddate.com for climate and weather.
Runway Usage
03/21	Used by all fixed-wing aircraft.
Northern Helicopter Pad (Spot #1)	Used by Papillon Helicopter Tours (and by Grand Canyon Helicopters for maintenance).
Eastern Helicopter Pad (Spot #6)	Used by Maverick Helicopters and Grand Canyon Helicopters.

	Spot #1 – Papillon Helicopter Tours – Arrivals/Departures
WHERE	Just follow the signs from airport entrance to the Papillon Helicopter Tours Terminal which two parking lots. Park your car on the most southern one.
WHAT	All Papillon Helicopter departures/arrivals and arrivals of the Maverick and Grand Canyon helicopters that pass by to their ramp.
TIME	From approx. 14.00
MISC.	There is a souvenir shop and restrooms in their terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-250mm (for the Maverick and Grand Canyon helicopters: 350-450mm)

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	Spot #2 – Papillon Helicopters/Airport Road (Hill) – Ramp overview/arrivals runway 21
WHERE	This spot is located near the most southern parking lot of Papillon Helicopters (Spot #1). Just cross the road and climb up the small hill.
WHAT	Arrivals/line-ups runway 21.
TIME	The best time is from sunrise till 14:00.
MISC.	There is a souvenir shop and restrooms in the terminal (Spot #1).
FOCAL LENGTH	150-300mm

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	Spot #3 – Grand Canyon Airlines Terminal – Departures/Arrivals runway 21
WHERE	Park your car on the main car park of the airport. In between the Grand Canyon Airlines terminal and Paragon Skydive Centre you will find an open area.
WHAT	Departures/arrivals runway 21 and the main platform .
TIME	The best time is from sunrise till 12:00.
MISC.	Everything you need you find in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

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	Spot #4 – Paragon Skydive – Departures/Arrivals runway 21
WHERE	Park your car on the small parking lot next to the Paragon Skydive Centre or walk from the previous location to this spat. Walk towards the stairs to Liberator Drive or climb up one of the concrete blocks at the parking lot to photograph over the fence.
WHAT	Departures/arrivals runway 21.
TIME	The best time is from sunrise till 12:00
MISC.	Everything you need you find in the terminal (Spot #3).
FOCAL LENGTH	60-300mm

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	Spot #5 – Liberator Drive – Arrivals/Departures runway 3/21
WHERE	From spot #4, drive all the way down on to Liberator Drive till the end of the road. Park on the side and climb up the hill to shoot over the fence.
WHAT	All runway 03/21 movements.
TIME	The best time is from sunrise till 12:00
MISC.	There is nothing here.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm

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	Spot #6 – Airport Road/Maverick Helicopters
WHERE	This spot is directly at the entrance of the airport. Park your car at the Maverick Helicopters Terminal and cross the road to Beacon Drive. Climb up the hill to get an overview of their helicopter pad.
WHAT	All movements of the Maverick Helicopters and Grand Canyon Helicopters Pad.
TIME	From approx. 12.00
MISC.	There is nothing here.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm

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