Plane spotting worldwide: famous spots

Kai Tak: the Checkerboard Approach over Hong Kong and its spotter history

Low flight over Kowloon, a right turn just before touchdown and a red and white checkerboard on a hillside: how the legendary approach to Kai Tak worked, what made it so difficult and what spotters can still find of it today.

Lukla in Nepal: one of the most challenging airports in the world

A short, steeply sloping runway above 2,800 meters, a mountainside ahead, the abyss behind: Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla is the gateway to the Everest region. How approach, weather and traffic work, and what to watch for as a spotter on site.

Plane spotting in Anchorage: cargo hub and floatplanes at Lake Hood

Anchorage is one of the biggest cargo hubs in the world and sits right next to one of the busiest seaplane bases in the world. The guide to spots around Ted Stevens International, Lake Hood, light in the far north and the quirks of a spotting trip in Alaska.

Plane spotting at Chicago O’Hare: spots, runways and traffic

O’Hare has eight runways, two big hub airlines and long-haul from all over the world – but no observation deck. Which spots around ORD work, how to read the runway direction in use and what to watch out for on site.

Plane spotting in Dubai: DXB and DWC, rules and options

Dubai International is the airport with the most international passengers in the world, and Emirates parks the largest A380 fleet here. At the same time, the Emirates are among the trickiest countries for spotters. The guide to DXB, Al Maktoum (DWC), rules, risks and legal ways to the photo.

Plane spotting in Hong Kong: spots at Chek Lap Kok

Chek Lap Kok is Cathay’s hub, one of the world’s biggest cargo airports and, since 2024, a three-runway airport. Which runway does what, where the well-known spots are, how the subtropical light works and how to get there without a car.

Plane spotting in South Africa: Johannesburg and Cape Town

O. R. Tambo in Johannesburg and Cape Town International are South Africa’s two major hubs. The guide to spots, runway operations, light in the Southern Hemisphere, the traffic mix with African rarities and the safety rules you absolutely need to know on site.

Plane spotting in Las Vegas: Harry Reid Airport, bizjets and the best spots

Harry Reid International is an airport in the middle of the city: an official viewing area on the south side, the sun almost always behind you, plus bizjets, the white Janet 737s and fighter jets over Nellis. The guide to spots, light, heat and rules.

Plane spotting in Los Angeles: all LAX spots beyond Imperial Hill and In-N-Out

Imperial Hill and the In-N-Out Burger are the best-known spots at LAX – but not the only ones. Which other locations there are around Los Angeles Airport, when each one works and how to build westerly operations, the over-ocean procedure and coastal fog into your plan.

Plane spotting in Miami: Latin American cargo, classics and spots

Miami is the US cargo gateway to Latin America: 767Fs, 777Fs, A330Fs and jumbo freighters by the minute, plus an American Airlines hub and a long propliner history. Runways, light, spots and rules for your visit.

Plane spotting in New York: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark with the best spots

Three major airports, shared airspace and traffic from all over the world: how to find the right spots between JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, read the runway direction in use and plan a spotting day without trouble.

Oshkosh AirVenture: the world’s biggest fly-in from a spotter’s view

One week in July, over 10,000 aircraft and an airport that becomes the busiest in the world: what to expect at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, where to find the best subjects and how to plan your trip to Wisconsin.

Plane spotting in San Francisco: parallel approaches and spots

Two landing runways just 230 meters apart, long-haul from Asia, Europe and the Middle East and spots right at the water of the bay: what you need to know about SFO, its parallel approaches and the best locations.

Plane spotting in Singapore: Changi and spots around the airport

Changi is home to Singapore Airlines and Scoot, a hub for the A380, A350 and 777 and an airport with strict rules. Where you can spot, how light works almost on the equator, which months are drier and why a side trip to Seletar is worth it.

St. Barthélemy: the steep approach over the hill and spots on the beach

On St. Barthélemy, Twin Otters, Caravans and PC-12s tip over a ridge with a traffic circle and touch down on a runway that ends right at Baie de Saint-Jean. How the approach works, where to stand and what to watch out for.

Plane spotting in Sydney: spots at Kingsford Smith Airport

Sydney Kingsford Smith is Qantas’s home, an A380 airport and, with Shep’s Mound, has an official spotters’ hill. Which runway does what, where the well-known spots are, why the light works differently in the southern hemisphere and which rules apply at the fence.

Plane spotting in Tokyo: Haneda, Narita and the observation decks

Tokyo has two big airports and a spotting culture that welcomes visitors: open observation decks at Haneda, purpose-built spotters’ hills at Narita and an aviation museum right at the runway. The guide for your trip.

Plane spotting trip to the USA: rules, rental cars, gear and worthwhile destinations

The USA is the land of short walks to the approach: a burger joint under the flight path, parks next to the runway, freighters against a mountain backdrop. What to sort out before your trip – from ESTA and batteries in carry-on luggage to rental cars and time zones to the destinations that are really worth it.

Gravelly Point in Washington: approaches to Reagan National up close

On the Potomac shore near Arlington, jets on approach to Reagan National thunder over the lawn just a few dozen meters up. How Gravelly Point works, which runway direction in use you need and what to keep in mind on site.

The most spectacular airports in the world: where landing becomes an art

Short runways, slopes, steep approaches, mountain valleys and beach landings: an overview of the most demanding airports in the world – why crews have to train especially for them and what that means for you as a spotter.

Spotting bucket list: the most legendary plane spotting spots in the world

From a beach under the approach to a runway that disappears at high tide: these spots belong on every plane spotting bucket list. What makes them special, when the trip is worth it and where you need to be careful.