Why go to Louisville? There is one good reason which is called UPS who is besides FedEx and DHL one of the biggest package/parcel delivery companies of the world. They have their largest hub at SDF, which was the worldwide seventh biggest cargo airport in 2017, handling almost 2,5 Mio. tons of freight.

You get the whole variety of the UPS fleet at Louisville which includes A300, 757, 767, MD11F, 744 and 748F. There are also sub-operators flying for UPS in and out of SDF like Kalitta, Western Global or Atlas Air. Like at many express freight/cargo airports most action taking place at night. But there seems to be an arrival wave in the late morning and a departure wave in the afternoon so there are always enough UPS flights to photograph during the day. But please check FR24 before you plan to go there.

Despite the cargo traffic you can see the common schedule passenger flights from American, Allegiant, Delta, United and Southwest. Latter is responsible for almost 30 percent of the traffic.

Written by Achim Walther, Steve and Jim (local spotters) and Jike Zhong. Last Update September 2022 (removed cell phone spot).

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Airport Information
Runways
17R/35L	3.623 m (11,887 ft)
17L/35R	2.615 m (8,578 ft)
11/29	2.210 m (7,250 ft)
Terminals
Concourse A	All other carriers
Concourse B	Southwest
Airport Chart
Spotting Information
Ladder	Helpful at spot 4 and 5 but not recommend to use.
Car/Public Transport	Like always in the USA you should have a car. Spots 1 and 7 are just a short jump from the terminal. For 2 and 3 there is a bus for the UPS employess but they don´t run regular.
Restrooms	Not at the spots directly.
Drinks/Food	Not at the mentioned spot as they are situated in an industrial complex.
Hotels	Plenty of  hotels are located north of the terminal.
Season	Better to go there in the summer months. Runway directions is almost north/south so you have perfect light in the morning and evening and less rainy days. But the days before christmas are great with many many additional movements and the Kentucky derby week is busy too.
Runway Usage
17R/35L	This is the major runway as it´s the longest one. Almost all UPS flights using this one as their facility and ramp is closer to this one than the other parallel runway. Also most UPS flights heading/coming to/from the west use it as it easier for the ATC. Furthermore they send the 747 ops on that side mostly and the 747-8 is always using the westernmost taxiway A as this is the only one who can handle heavy class aircraft.
17L/35R	Mainly used by passenenger traffic with an eastern direction.
11/29	This is the crosswind runway but not really in use.

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	Spot #1 – Cell Phone Lot – 17L arrivals
WHERE	This is (more or less) the official and authorized spot by the airport. When you drive to the airport just follow Terminal Dr to the end and turn right into the Admininstration Dr. At the end you’ll find the cell phone parking lot. Address: Administration Dr, Louisville, KY 40209, US By public transport take a bus to the terminal and get to the arrival level. From there walk eastwards on the sidewalk along some emloyee parking lots until you reach the cell phone waiting lot at the end of the road.
WHAT	Best for 17L arrivals and 35R heavy departures. You might be able to catch some line ups for 17L if you walk to the fence but we did not check that.
TIME	Best light from late noon to the sunset. In the morning you’ll face the sun.
MISC.	You only have some waste bins.
FOCAL LENGTH	approx. 70 to 200mm

SDF-Spot1

SDF-Spot1

SDF-Spot1

	Spot #2 – UPS Parking East – 35R arrivals
WHERE	This spot is at one of the many employee parking lots at the south of the airport. There are no barrierss and the lot can be accessed from highway 1747 corner Grade Ln. This a pretty huge area so find your prefered postion and angle. By public transport you can use buses from Downtown lines 18, 93 and 99. Check the tarc website for schedule. Busses are mainly for employees so they don´t run regularly.
WHAT	17L arrivals only.
TIME	Best light from late noon to the sunset. In the morning you’ll face the sun.
MISC.	This is private property so be aware of beeing asked to leave. Keep a low profile as well. You might be able to park at one of the restaurants east of the spot and walk to this positon.
FOCAL LENGTH	approx. 50 to 150mm

We can´t provide sample pictures yet so please contact us if you do so.

	Spot #3 – UPS Parking West – 35L arrivals
WHERE	Like spot #2 this is another employee parking lot but on the west side of the UPS facilities. Just continue on Grade Ln westbound till the approach of RW35L.
WHAT	35L arrivals only.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till early noon. In the afternoon you’ll face the sun.
MISC.	This is private property so be aware of beeing asked to leave. Keep a low profile as well. Some light poles disturb the view a bit.
FOCAL LENGTH	approx. 50 to 150mm

SDF-Spot3

SDF-Spot3

SDF-Spot3

	Spot #4 – UPS Expedited Feeder Lot
WHERE	This is located in an industrial area near to the runway. Coming from location #3 continue northbound on the Crittenden Dr. After a mile you’ll see the way to the UPS Feeder lot on the right. You can park on the shoulder.
WHAT	Best for heavy departures on 17R. Others might be too high. You can walk to the fence and take pictures through the mesh for 35L arrivals and departures as well as the taxiway A and the opposite ones B/C.  You need to shot through the mesh or use a ladder.
TIME	Best light from late noon to the sunset. In the morning you’ll face the sun.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. We don´t recommend to use a ladder to photograph over the fence. It is possible that the police come by and ask you to leave as it is “UPS property.” But usually the workers going in and out are friendly.
FOCAL LENGTH	for departures only: 70 to 300mm for most planes and angles. Below 70mm for a B747-F on 90°

SDF-Spot4

SDF-Spot4

SDF-Spot4

	Spot #5 – Republic Airways hangar – 17R/35L movements
WHERE	Pretty similar to spot#5 but you are almost in the middle of the western runway. Just continue northwards all the way up on Crittenden Dr till you reached the fence and the Republic Airways hangar to your right. Park at the end of this dead end road.
WHAT	All runway movements on 17R/35L as well as the taxiway A and the opposite ones B/C. You need to shot through the mesh (samples were taken through it)  or use a ladder.
TIME	Best light from late noon to the sunset. In the morning you’ll face the sun.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. We don´t recommend to use a ladder to photograph over the fence.
FOCAL LENGTH	approx. 50 to 200mm. Around 10mm for the 748 on the taxiway.

SDF-Spot5

SDF-Spot5

SDF-Spot5

	Spot #6 – Old Park Blvd. – 35L departures
WHERE	Pretty separate from the other spots on an abonded former housing area. Coming from Interstate 264/Terminals use exit ‘Critenden Dr.’ and turn right into. Immediately left into Park Blvd and go straight on the junction. After half a mile go ahead on the traffic lights (junction with East Woodlawn Ave). Turn the first right (Wabasso Ave) and right into Old. Park Blvd.
WHAT	Good for runway 35L heavy departures. 17R arrivals and departures on ground are possible if you go up a little bit to Crittenden Dr but you will have parts of the fence within your photo.
TIME	Best light from late noon to the sunset. In the morning you’ll face the sun.
MISC.	Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	70 to 200mm for most starts, perhaps less for a B747-F.

	Spot #7 – Terminal Parking garage – 17L arrivals
WHERE	Get on the top of the one and only terminal parking garage level 4. Select the lane for over 4 hours to reach that level.
WHAT	17R arrivals only.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till early noon. From afternoon you’ll face the sun.
MISC.	Everything you need within the terminal. The airport police are subject to bother you here so make a call in advance and let them know about your intentions.
FOCAL LENGTH	approx. 70 to 200mm

SDF-Spot7

SDF-Spot7

SDF-Spot7