Portland Internation Airport (KPDX/PDX) is the biggest airport in the state of Oregon with around 20 Million passengers per year and pretty easy for planespotting. Most locations are accessible by even by foot and you will get the majority of traffic from there. The traffic is dominated by Alaska Airlines and their subsidary Horizon Air who use PDX as a secondary hub.Otherwise the common US carriers like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Spirit and  Hawaiian Airlines serving the airport. From Europe Icelandair & Condor offering seasonal flights during the summer season. FedEx, UPS, DHL are the cargo operators and sometimes Boeing testflight will do low approaches. There is also a big paintshop at PDX where Boeing sent some of the aircraft for painting. Even more there is some military traffic because of the Oregon Air National Guard.

Written by Andreas Fietz. Visited Sept. 2017

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	Airline Variety
	Photo Locations
	Weather
Airport Information	Runways	10L/28R	2.995 m (9.825 ft)	asphalt
		10R/28L	3.353 m (11.000 ft)	asphalt
		03/21	1.829 m (6.000 ft)	concrete
	Terminal	SouthTerminal (A/B/C)	North Terminal (D/E)	Airport Chart
		Southwest, Alaska, Horizon, American, JetBlue	United, Spirit, Frontier, Delta, Air Canada, International Flights
Spotting Information	Ladder	A few steps are useful for spot #3.
	Car	Car is recommended for spot #2 and specially #4. But you can access spots #1 and #5 directly from the tram “MAX Red Line” and also the spots #2 and #3 with a short walk from the Mt Hood Ave MAX station.
	Restrooms	Not available at the locations but hotels and restaurants are not far from all positions except #4.
	Drinks/Food	Not available at the locations but hotels and restaurants are not far from all positions except #4.
	Hotels	There are several in the area of spot 3 and a few south of spot 2. The Sheraton have rooms with a view to taxiway and runway 28R (see spot 3).
	Season	Sunny days are rare in winter, common in summer (june to september), but ground shots give you lots of heat distortion around mid day.
Runway Usage	General Info	Planes uses both of the long runways and there is no preferred landing direction (depends on the wind)
	10L/28R	Major runway and used for most comerical arrivals (except for JetSuiteX) and departures as well as all departures for business jets.
	10R/28L	Arrivals and departures. Here you get all cargo and military traffic and most of Alaska Airlines traffic.
	03/21	Shortest runway and not known to be frequent in use.

	Spot #1 – Short Term Parking Garage
WHERE	This is Portlands most popular spotting location and it is on the top (Level 7) of the short term parking deck. Just follow the signs when driving to the main terminal. If you need shadow you can walk to the long term parking on the same level which is covered.
WHAT	Full view of the north runway (10L/28R) and taxiway (and some gate positions) with a great view and the Columbia River in the background. You can go also on the southern side of the parking deck and then you have a partial view of the south runway (10R/28L) but mostly with backlight (see MRJ sample pic below).
TIME	If you photograph planes on the runway, the light from the northern part of the garage is good from late morning till sunset whilst the southern part is fine in the summer mornings only. For ramp pictures the light depends on the angle.
MISC.	The restrooms and resteraunts available in terminals but not the garage itself. There were some constructions going on but not sure how It looks now.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

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	Spot #2 – 28L Approach
WHERE	There is a small “parking” area next to a control gate which is accessible  from the NE Alderwood Rd at the crossover from NE 82nd way. You can park here and enjoy you hobby. If you have no car you can walk from the terminal or the MAX Mt. Hood Station for approximate 20-30 minutes on the sidewalks along the road.
WHAT	28L arrivals only mainly used by Cargo, Military and Alaska Airlines flights.
TIME	Late morning to sunset.
MISC.	Hotels and resteraunts available nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm

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	Spot #3 – Sheraton Hotel – 28R
WHERE	You have to drive on the NE Airport way Frontage Rd and exit at the hotels. Get on the free parking lots at the Sheraton and Hampton Inn and look for an empty lot near the fence. A ladder is useful but you can also spot with a small step like from the door of you car. You can also book a room at Sheraton in the upper level where you have a nice view on the taxiway and runway but the window cannot be open completly.
WHAT	Runway 28R arrivals and departures and taxiway shots and a view over the general aviation ramp from ground and hotel.
TIME	From late morning to sunset (From early moring shots to general aviation ramp are possible)
MISC.	Restrooms and resteraunts in the hotels.
FOCAL LENGTH	20-200mm

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	Spot #4 –10L/28R Sea Scout Base
WHERE	A bike path parallel to the Marine Drive on the north side of the airport next to the Columbia River offers a nice view over the airport. You can get on the Marine drive from NE Airport Way junction NE 122nd Ave. Parking is very limited here. but it’s possible to park at the crash gate near the 10L threshold and walk over the street to get on the bike lane. The location is on a dike and no ladder is needed as you are on a higher level than the fence. Watch out for fast trucks, cars and bikes!
WHAT	10L/28R arrivals and departures
TIME	Early morning only.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby. Be aware of the bikers and don´t stay directly on their path!
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm

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	Spot #5 – Bay Trail along Metropolitan Golf Course – 28L/28R arrivals
WHERE	Its on the parking of the target supermarket east of the terminal. From the NE Airport way drive to NE Mt Hood Ave to get on the area of the supermarket to your right. By foot take the tram to Mt. Hood Station and exit there.
WHAT	28L arrivals only.
TIME	In the morning hours.
MISC.	Supermarket, Restrooms and resteraunts available in the aera around.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-200mm

PDX-Spot5

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