Orlando International Airport - Spotting / photography Info - John Spencer
Parking Garage
Rooftop
I will start with the
“official” spotting spot, the rooftop floor 9 of the parking
garage.
You must get a “use of facilities” form from the aviation
authority’s offices, located on the 3rd floor, main terminal
side A, to the left of east security checkpoint gates 70 to 129.
You need a valid ID. The form is free, and it will last the
whole of your visit, so if you are there two weeks, put your
start and end dates on. The office is only open 08:00 to 17:00
Monday to Friday though.
You can also walk across
level 9 to the southside, but the sun will be straight in front
of you then.
Heat haze here is your
worst enemy, even when they are off the ground. You won’t really
know how its affecting your shots until you review them on your
computer.
Heintzelman Boulevard
This location was shown to me by a local. I would recommend not
getting too comfy here as someone will eventually report you to
security/the police and you will get a visit; my visitor was
obnoxious, but hey ho!
A
lot of work has gone on in the last few years on this new road,
Heintzelman Boulevard. This is located to the east of the
airport, between the newest runway (35R) and the main part of
the airport.
If
you head north along this road, you will see a couple of
“pull-ins” to the right. I used the most northerly one, nearest
the bridge where aircraft will cross the road. You will also get
a great view of aircraft taking off from runway 35L, as you can
see in the shots above.
Just remember that you
will be moved on… be courteous to whoever comes to speak to you…
even if they are not!
Wiley Drive
My
favourite place at MCO. Again, not a legitimate “spotting” spot,
but I’ve encountered no problems here over several visits. I
even had a chat with a really nice cop on one occaision!
This is on Wiley Drive, located in the southwest corner of the
airport, near to the Southwest hangar and the old fire dump;
watch out for the alligator in the large pond!
You are right next to runway 36L, the main runway for all biz
jet and cargo traffic. The sun can be a bit of a problem early
on in the day, but it’s easy enough to cope with and you will
even get some “wildlife” pics between aircraft – I saw deer here
in April!
Tradeport Drive
Like all US airports, there are quite a few FBOs at Orlando
International, and they vary in friendliness! Tradeport Drive is
the main road for these businesses, which is to the west of the
airport. There are a couple of places where decent shots of
aircraft either parked, taxiing or on maintenance can be taken;
like all places though, just use a bit of forethought and park
sensibly, even if it means a little walk in the hot sun, its far
better than attracting the wrath of someone who might then call
the police.
Cessna have their Citation centre here, on Bear Road, which is
off Tradeport Dr. You can park safely in their car park and get
some shots through their fence. If asked not to take a picture,
please comply with their wishes. Aircraft seem to be here for a
few days at a time, so try again the next day and don’t annoy
them or we may lose their goodwill.
If
you stay on Bear Road, it will take you across the end of the
runways to where the B52 is parked in the memorial garden. B52’s
were based here many years ago when it was called McCoy Air
Force base – hence the MCO airport code! There is also a ramp
area opposite the B52 where some aircraft seem to be “day
parked”, including Frontier, TACA, Icelandair on my visit in
April.