Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

I havn't seen any posts about it, so I decided to do one.

I will be heading down to IND this April and would like to do some spotting. Where are some good places to spot and what kind of lens would you need at that location?

Thanks,

-Matt

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I have heard that international arrivals on the other side of the field is a good location if security doesn't run you off. If you have a good lens the top of the parking garage isn't bad. If you are taking pics towards 23R (far side) you'll get a bit of haze in the picture. If you take them towards 23L they are much better. If you look in the photo album on the site you'll be able to see the difference. The jets with the nose on the left side are coming in to 23R. The reversed pics are 23L. 23L pics are much cleaner. Sky looks blue.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Yeah, the police won't run you off from the international arrivals parking lot. You will usually have about twenty minutes on top of the parking garage before security comes up and tells you to leave. Let me know when you'll be out there, I might be able to join you. Welcome to the forums by the way.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Security only showed up one time for me. And even then they didn't care. Actually there is no rule prohibiting you from taking pics on the roof. This was told to me by a security supervisor. Most of the time I can be on the garage for a couple of hours. I was on the garage for I think 3 hours one day and nobody showed up.

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

I will be at IND April 6th (driving from Michigan) and departing the 7th on AirTran at 0720.

I will be arriving from MCO to IND April 14th at 1205.

I will probably be spotting on April 6th from noon till dusk. Any cool traffic that I should look out for?

Is it possible to get to the international arrival parking lot via public transportation or walking?

Also, bonus to anyone who can guess my flight numbers

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

Also, will a 300mm lens on a 1.6x camera be good enough? (total zoom of 480mm)

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

Again, sorry for all the questions, but how is airside spotting? Where can I spot in the terminal?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

403 and 394

That lens is fine. Mine has a total zoom of 300mm and its fine for me. Wish I had a bigger one. So why drive here from Michigan instead of going to DTW? Given the theme of your site I figured you go there any chance you had. BTW tell me a bit about your site.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

OH... since you have the morning flight you'll be able to see the huge NW operation here. Get checked in early enough that you can go outside and up on the roof of the garage and walk over to the far end (A concourse side) and look at what NW has out there. You should count 14 NW jets. There will also be a 757 at one of the gates. It departs for MSP at 7:30. Too bad you fly out in April. I think right now they are running a 753 to MSP. At some point they are running a 757 and 753 to MSP.

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

Yup, good guess! But, here is the final question, did you have to look that one up?

Well, due to me being under the age of 18, I am under the rule of my parents who don't understand air travel. They decided that they wanted to book even though I told them prices would drop, but they wouldn't listen. So, I had to book now, and IND was a lot cheaper than DTW so we decided to go for that.

Now that we have already booked, I have shown my parents that ticket prices out of DTW have dropped below the price we paid to fly out of IND (we paid $79 one way out of IND, or $158 R/T before taxes, DTW was down to $125 R/T)

Plus, I always try to see different airports, although I will miss NW's new McNamara terminal in Detroit.

My site:

Just started up a bit ago, only about 5 members in our spotting group, it is dedicated to spotting in the Michigan area
Basically, it is a typical spotting group, a group of aviation enthusiasts from one area sharing their love of airplanes and taking trips out to spot.

If you want to know any more just let me know

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

Indy wrote:

OH... since you have the morning flight you'll be able to see the huge NW operation here. Get checked in early enough that you can go outside and up on the roof of the garage and walk over to the far end (A concourse side) and look at what NW has out there. You should count 14 NW jets. There will also be a 757 at one of the gates. It departs for MSP at 7:30. Too bad you fly out in April. I think right now they are running a 753 to MSP. At some point they are running a 757 and 753 to MSP.

Believe me, I see enough NW operations at DTW to last me my whole life!

I guess it is cool being NW's largest hub, but all that red gets kind of boring after a while.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

You'll see everything just about at 7am. Forgetting the A concourse loaded with NW birds you'll see a large variety in the B, C and D concourse. DL, AA, YX, FL, F9, CO, WN, UA, US, HP and maybe AC. I don't think I missed anyone.

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

That's cool.

How is airside spotting, in the terminal? Any good?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Its ok. There are probably better airports in the US for that. Though where you are going you'll have access to the B and C concourse.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

I'd say you can't really walk to the Int'l Arrivals parking lot, it's a little too far. As for the parking garage, you will have a great view of the south side of D concurse (US and UA). On April 6th, I might be able to join you in the later hours of the afternoon. For the amount of traffic at IND, you might be a little disappointed because the constant flow of traffic isn't as high as DTW. Finally, look for the FX jets too, with your lens, you will be able to get shots of the FX hub from the parking garage as well. Good luck with your spotting.

Indy, you must be pretty lucky up on the garage.

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

As I prepare for the trip, could someone tell me when the flights (and times) and in some cases, what equipment is operated for the airlines listed below? These are airlines I have yet to capture on film or I really like seeing.

Air Canada (flights and equipment, is it only Jazz?)
Frontier (Flights)
Midwest Connect (flights and equipment)
Republic (Is this just the E170's flying for various carriers?)
Southwest (flights)
Fedex (if possible what heavies or oldies come in and when?)

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Air Canada is always a CRJ
Frontier runs A318/19 and 20? There is CUN and DEN service
Midwest Connect is a Dornier 328 Jet
Republic is just regional service for the major carriers
Southwest flies to MDW, MCI, LAS, PHX, BWI, JAX, MCO, and Tampa
With Fedex you will see the three-holed 727's, DC-10's, and MD-11's from places as far as ANC. I'm pretty sure they have an afternoon push, but the majority of traffic is at night.

I don't know much about the flight numbers or times, but try:
http://www.IndianapolisAirport.com
http://www.Flightaware.com

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

Thanks!

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

No problem, btw, what type of camera do you have?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I came in late one night. Our flight from DTW to IND was really late. I think we got in 12:30am or so. By the time I got to my car in long term parking it was 1am. There was a line of lights in the night sky. All Fedex planes coming in. It was really cool watching them fly right over my head.