Scottsdale Airport -Spotting Guide

Scottsdale Airport -Spotting Guide

October 13, 2021 - last modified on May 16, 2024

The Scottsdale Airport is 12 NM Northeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor located in the heart of the Scottsdale city. Scottsdale was opened in 1943 as a training airport for PT-17 Stearman pilots. The airport traffic now is mostly Executive and GA, with a little bit of military thrown in the mix now and again. Common airlines at this arport include SetJet, Flexjet, Wheels Up and Netjets.

Ross Aviation handles about 50% of all airport traffic. Flexjet is a major customer and can be frequently seen on the Ross ramp. Signature handles about 25% of all airport traffic. Netjets aircraft are serviced by Jet Aviation. SetJet is also based at Scottsdale, and their CRJ200s can be seen at Tac Air.

Flights schools located at this airport include Leopard Aviation, Sierra Charlie Aviation, ATP & American Flyers. All of these are commonly seen working patterns at this airport. Helicopters are also very commonly seen at this airport.

Written by Jake Youngs, Jacob Reppert and André Klöckner. Last change: May 2024 / Spot 8 added

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
03/21	8249x100ft, 2514x30m. asphalt
Terminals	The main terminal & Business Center is located at 15000 North Airport Drive. The Two Main FBO’s are Ross Aviation and Signature FBO. Other FBO’s include TAC Air, Southwest Jet Center, and others.
Spotting Information
Ladder	A 3-4 step ladder or truck bed equivilant is preferred for spots 1, 3, 7 and 8. Airport does not have a problem with the use of a ladder.
Car/Public Transport	We highly recommend the use of a car, even if there is a bus depot at the south end of the airport and various bus stops scattered around the perimeter of the airport.
Drinks/Food	There are restaurants nearby the airport, notably at the Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland commons, but drinks and food are easily found at Spot 6. There is the Volanti restaurant, and there are also drinking fountains on the main level by the restrooms.
Hotels	The Best Western Plus Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites is located directly across the street from the main terminal (Spot 6). Otherwise some rooms of the Marriott Hotel at Spot 5 offering a view of the 21 approach path.
Season	The best time of year to spot at this airport is between October and May during the cooler months, The most notable weekend of the year for spotting is during the Waste Management PGA tour.
Security	Security isn’t a massive issue at this airport. If you have a giant camera and lens setup, an OPS guy ‘might’ come and see what’s going on, but even then, it’s only on weekdays. Nobody has issues with spotters getting photographs of airplanes, but don’t get photos of people.
Runway Usage
08/21	Runway 21 is active about 80% of the time, however if Runway 3 is active its usually in the mornings.

	Spot #1 – Denali Investments Parking Lot – 03 movements
WHERE	Located at the Denali Investment parking lot at 7652 E Acoma Drive. The parking lot is on N 76th Place. A 3-4 step ladder or truck is preferred for shooting over the fence at the spot, but you can shoot through the mesh if need be. Update March 2024: a gate has been installed at this point and it might be closed, especially on weekends. In this case visit spot 7.

WHAT	Best coverage for all Runway 03 movements, portions of both taxiways and the Ramps across the way.

TIME	Good from sunrise through midday. Heat haze will be an issue as the day goes on, regardless of season. In the heat of summer, heat haze will become an issue for aircraft on the runway around 9:30am or so.

MISC.	Even this place is on private property, spotters are common and never faced issues. There are no amenities nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	Runway: Diamond = 300mm; Gulf = 180mm Taxiway/Ramp: Falcon = 220mm;

	Spot #2 – Raintree Cul-De-Sac – 21 departures
WHERE	This spot is located right next to the tower and airport fire station at 78th way and Raintree Drive. You can park in the Cul-de-sac and spot from there or the nearby field.

WHAT	From here you can get the 21 departures.

TIME	Good from sunrise through midday. Heat haze will be an issue as the day goes on, regardless of season. In the heat of summer, heat haze will become an issue for aircraft on the runway around 9:30am or so.

MISC.	There are no amenities nearby. As of March 2022, this spot is currently inaccessible due to construction.

FOCAL LENGTH	Falcon = 220mm; Cessna 172 = 600mm

	Spot #3 – Dirtbag Ranch Training Facility – 21 movements
WHERE	This spot is located next to the threshold of Runway 21. The address is 15820 N 84th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Just go around to the backside of the building and park anywhere along the fence. A 3-4 step ladder or truck is preferred for shooting over the fence at the spot, but you can shoot through the fence if need be.

WHAT	This spot is best for capturing landings and departures on runway 21, as well as traffic holding short of Runway 21. Taxiway Bravo is also about 20 feet from the fence.

TIME	Good from sunrise through midday. Heat haze will be an issue as the day goes on, regardless of season. In the heat of summer, heat haze will become an issue for aircraft on the runway around 9:30am or so.

MISC.	Even this place is on private property, spotters are common and never faced issues. The nearest available restaurant is Kneaders Bakery & Cafe located at 15505 N Hayden Road.

FOCAL LENGTH	Around 200-250mm for the Learjet, KingAir, Phenom

	Spot #4 – Frank Lloyd Wright BLVD – 21 arrivals
WHERE	The best place to park for this spot is at 16101 N 82nd Street behind some stores as shown on the map. Usually the parking lots are pretty empty. From there you can get on the sidewalk and walk anywhere along Frank Lloyd Wright BLVD for decent shots.

WHAT	Best for capturing traffic on short final for Runway 21.

TIME	This spot is adjustable, so it works any time of the day.

MISC.	No restrooms available at this facility.

FOCAL LENGTH	200mm works for aircraft on very short final

: Parking Lot

: North Side

: South Side

	Spot #5 – Scottsdale Marriott Parking Garage – 21 arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located at 16770 N Perimeter Drive on the top level of the parking garage of the Scottsdale Marriott hotel. Parking at the garage is free, and available to the public. The top level is usually pretty open and not used that much.

WHAT	Traffic on short final for Runway 21.

TIME	Depending on time of year, afternoon to sunset.

MISC.	Restrooms available inside hotel. Nearest restaurant is Agave Southwest Bar & Grill, located inside the hotel.

FOCAL LENGTH	200mm focal length minimum, 300mm preferred in some cases.

	Spot #6 – Volanti Spotter Balcony – All movements
WHERE	This spot is located on a balcony at the main terminal building located at 15000 N Airport Drive. To access this spot, go up from outside the staircase on the North side of the building, or go upstairs through the Volanti Restaurant. Parking is avialble across the street. The balcony is split. One half of it is owned by the restaurant and the other is “usable” by the restaurant. They usually expand out and use it in the cooler weather, but it’s still available for spotters. As far as we know you can get access to the balcony from the outside staircase 24 hours a day, and I have gone up there to do long exposures of stuff on the ramp.

WHAT	This spot covers the entire Ross, TAC Air, and Jet Aviation Ramp, and give you a view across to the other FBO’s. You can see about 80% of the whole runway and taxiways. You will be able to see 100% of airport movements from this spot.

TIME	Works for any time of the day depending on the angle of the planes. However lighting is best afternoon through sunset. Nighshots are possible too.

MISC.	Restrooms, drinking fountain and water refill station are all available inside the building. Nearest restaurant is Volanti, right next to the spotter balcony.

FOCAL LENGTH	Focal lenghts vary depending on what you’re captruing. Focal lengths from 24-300 will cover most but focal lengths including 400mm to 600mm are best.

Picture of the balcony

	Spot #7 – Crash Gate – 03 movements
WHERE	There is an empty area with crash gates behind some office buildings at E Redfield Rd. Get behind the buildings and place yourself along the fence. A 3-4 step ladder or truck is preferred for shooting over the fence at the spot, but you can shoot through the mesh if need be.

WHAT	Best coverage for all Runway 03 movements, portions of both taxiways and the Ramps across the way.

TIME	Good from sunrise through midday. Heat haze will be an issue as the day goes on, regardless of season. In the heat of summer, heat haze will become an issue for aircraft on the runway around 9:30am or so.

MISC.	There are no amenities nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	Runway: approximate 80-200mm Inner Taxiway: approximate 20-80mm Outer Taxiway: approximate 150-300mm

	Spot #8 – Dirt Lot – All runway movements
WHERE	A dirt lot between some hangars at N 78th Way. Park on the street right along the sidewalk and just make the few hundred foot walk to this spot. A 3-step ladder is required for shooting over the fence. Never run into any issues here.

WHAT	Adjacent to the southern taxiway and good for arrivals and departures regardless of the direction of traffic.

TIME	Good from sunrise through midday. Heat haze will be an issue as the day goes on, regardless of season. In the heat of summer, heat haze will become an issue for aircraft on the runway around 9:30am or so.

MISC.	Nothing is within walking distance. There is a ‘for lease’ sign that can provide at least some shade when not standing on the ladder.

FOCAL LENGTH	Citation – 100mm; Hawker – 160mm; Challenger – 135mm; SR22 – 312mm