John Glenn Columbus Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

John Glenn Columbus Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

April 24, 2018 - last modified on November 30, 2023

John Glenn Columbus international airport (IATA: CMH ICAO: KCMH) used to call Port Columbus international airport was the main airport for Columbus Ohio United States. It is about 8 miles east to the downtown Columbus and 10 minutes’ drive via the I 670 high way. On May 25th, 2016 the Ohio government passed an act and changed the airport name from Port Columbus international airport to John Glenn Columbus international airport in order to commemorate the first American astronaut John Glenn who died in 2016. The annual traffic is about 7.5 million passengers. Since one of the largest public university, the Ohio State University is located on the north side of Columbus, the John Glenn Columbus international airport is really important for the OSU students, staff and faculty.

There are 7 airlines severing in CMH to 34 airports in US, Canada and Mexico. These 7 airlines are united, American, Delta, spirit, frontier, southwest, and Air Canada. For the flight information regarding CMH, people can visit https://flycolumbus.com you can easily find the check-in location for each airline, the parking location and price and the transportation, restaurant and hotel location at this website, it is really useful. The largest aircraft you can spot regularly is Boeing 737-900ER or Airbus A320. Sometimes, delta Airbus A359 will have training flight at CMH, but it is very rare. Since NetJets has one of its headquarter at CMH, they operate business aircraft here.

There are one main terminal and 3 concourses for this airport. Concourse A is used for Southwest airlines, concourse B is used for United, American, spirit, frontier and air Canada, Concourse C is used for delta. There are a lot of restaurant in the terminal and concourses such as burger king and Starbucks. Free 24 hours fast speed WIFI and enough charging station enable you to enjoy the time in the airport. There are sufficient restrooms and vending machines in the airport.

Written by Maria Lu (local spotter)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10R/28L	3082m (10113ft)
10L/28R	2438m (8000ft)
Terminals
Concourse A	Southwest Airlines
Concourse B	United, American, Spirit, Frontier, Air Canada
Concourse C	Delta Airlines
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed and not recommend to use in the USA.
Car/Public Transport	Car is not really needed. All reachable by public transport.
Restrooms	Sufficient restrooms in the terminal and restaurants west of the terminals.
Drinks/Food	Many restaurants, café and vending machines in the terminal, also a McDonalds near the cell-phone lot (spotting location 3). More west of the airport.
Hotels	There are several hotels near the airport such as the Quality Inn, Days Inn, Marriott etc. Most of the hotels have free shuttles to the airport.
Season	No sepcial season. Chance of good weather is best from April till October.
Runway Usage
10R/28L	Used in all directions. Prefered runway for WN.
10L/28R	Used in all directions. Prefered runway for UA, DL, AA and AC.

	Spot #1 – North side of level P5 of the parking garage
WHERE	This is the best location at the airport and is at the northeast corner of level P5 of the long-term parking garage, you can park your car here or simply go to the terminal by public transport and take the elevator to P5 long-term parking garage. Just stand in the walking zone along the side of the garage, the wall is about 1 meter high and even you can set a tripod here for night spots.

WHAT	Plenty of opportunities but especially all 10L/28R runway movements (lineup, exits, arrivals, rotations) and from the parallel taxiways echo. Also ramp pictures for concourse C, the Delta concourse.

TIME	It pretty depends on the angle what you wanna photograph as there are so many opportunities especially the ramp movements. For the runway and the parallel taxiway Echo in winter all day long, in summer from late morning/noon till afternoon only.

MISC.	You can use the elevator in the terminal and down to the departure level and find restaurants and restrooms. This is a well known planespotting location and there are no reported problems with security or police.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-150mm for taxiing aircraft, 175-250mm for landing aircraft, 300mm+ for taking off aircraft. For B737 or A320 100-125 mm is fine, ERJ 175 190, CRJ 900 MD 88 150-175mm is fine. For ERJ 145, CRJ200, MD 83 about 200mm is fine.

	Spot #2 – South side of level P5 of the parking garage
WHERE	The location is at the south-east corner of the level P5 of the long-term parking garage, you can park your car here or simply go to the terminal by public transport and take the elevator to P5 long-term parking garage. Just stand in the walking zone along the side of the garage, the wall is about 1 meter high and even you can set a tripod here for night spots. It is about 5 minutes’ walk from spot# 1. Therefore, you can spot at location 1 and 2 together.

WHAT	Plenty of opportunities but especially all 10R/28L runway movements (lineup, exits, arrivals, rotations) and from the parallel taxiways charlie and delta. You can also get pictures in different angles of planes moving to the A,B and C concourses.

TIME	It pretty depends on the angle what you wanna photograph as there are so many opportunities especially the ramp movements. For the runway and the parallel taxiway delta and charlie backlit all day during winter. In the summer in the morning and evening hours only.

MISC.	You can use the elevator in the terminal and down to the departure level and find restaurants and restrooms. This is a well known planespotting location and there are no reported problems with security or police.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-150mm for taxiing aircraft, 175-250mm for landing aircraft, 300mm+ for taking off aircraft.

	Spot #3 – cell phone waiting lot – 10L/28R movements
WHERE	This is the cell phone waiting parking lot on the international gateway, you can easily get there by car by follwing the road to the terminal and turn left at the McDonalds. You can park your car here free of charge. +++ UPDATE MAY 2019: There are ongoing constructions and the sight might be changed. +++

WHAT	Suitable for 28R take offs. 10L and 28R arrivals may possible through the fence.

TIME	In winter all day long, in summer from late morning/noon till afternoon only.

MISC.	There is a McDonald’s just 5 minutes’ walk near the cell phone lot, you can eat food and go to restrooms here.

FOCAL LENGTH	175-200mm for Boeing 737, Airbus 320 319, 200-225mm for ERJ 175 190, MD 88, 250mm for CRJ 200,700 ERJ 145 or other business jets.

Sample pics will follow soon!

	Spot #4 – Golf Course – 28L arrivals
WHERE	The location is 900 N Hamilton Rd, you can use google map to drive to there or take bus 7 from the airport baggage claim (to downtown) 3 stops to 5th and N Hamilton Rd. You can park your car at the airport or at the golf course. Then I suggest you to walk south about 200-300meters or about 1/4 mile along the golf course and you can get a good view of RWY 28L landing airplane. Or you can stay at the bus station and take photos. The bus stop is near the flight safety international Inc. however, the parking lot at there is for their employees, you cannot park there.

WHAT	Good for the spotting of runway 28L landing. You are very near to the RWY 28L landing airplane. Also, if you have a very long length, such as 200-500mm, 150-600mm, you can even spot for RWY 28R approach but just with heat distortion.

TIME	In winter all day long, in summer from late morning/noon till afternoon only.

MISC.	I suggest you to go to the airport for foods, and I recommend you to bring some snacks and drinks if you want to spot there. Also, you can buy food at the golf course.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-135mm for 737,320. 150-175mm for ERJ 170 ERJ 175, ERJ 190, CRJ900, CRJ700, for the small aircraft and business jets, it is suitable to spot around 200mm focal length.