Dallas Addison Airport - Spotting Guide

Dallas Addison Airport – Spotting Guide

May 27, 2021 - last modified on November 30, 2023

Dallas Addison Airport (ADS/KADS) is a smaller airport in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is located roughly 15km north of the downtown of Dallas. The airport was opened back in 1954 and is nowadays home to roughly 620 aircraft as of 2015 with ~260 operations a day – mainly general aviation stuffed with a few charter and cargo flights.

Interesting subjects paying regular visits to ADS are Ameristar (Cargo) DC9s or Dassault Falcon 20s and Sierra American B732s. In addition, the famous N370BC privately owned B732 is also based at Addison.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Dayon Wong and Yixin Chen. Last Update: 2020

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
15/33	2195m / 7203ft
Spotting Information
Ladder	A ladder is useful at almost all points, but not really recommended. So rather stand on your pick-up’s/car’s back, that is more normal here.
Car/Public Transport	Definitely needed as public transport around the airport is poor.
Drinks/Food	There are plenty restaurants along the busy roads north and south of ADS.
Hotels	Plenty hotels around in the DFW Area, however none are special spotting hotels.
Season	Summer is mostly hot causing haze but great light conditions in the morning and evening hours for the runway movements. Best time is spring or early fall.
Security	Spotting is not forbidden at ADS, however you may look suspicious to some employees here. So always carry an ID with you and be prepared to be asked or checked. Always stay friendly, explain it is your hobby and most importantly, do not hang at the fence for longer times! However, local police is very nice and understanding. Nevertheless ladders may be useful at some points, they are sometimes not welcomed – a car’s top therefore is no problem mostly and a good, safer alternative!
Runway Usage
General Info	15/33 is used in both directions depending totally on the wind.

	Spot #1 – Stephen Gould Corporation – 15 Movements
WHERE	This spot is located northeast of the airport on the eastern side of the Stephen Gould Corporation, which is off Midway Rd. Simply approach the hall here and position your car/yourself along the fence in the east. Ladder needed here as the fence is on a little hill and thus too high in order to be cleared with a car’s top.

WHAT	From here you can nicely see 15 Arrivals and Line-Ups.

TIME	From early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Keep a low profile here as this is a business car park with a nearby company running quite busy especially on weekdays. So keep the camera down as long as you do not need it in order to attract attention. In addition, heat haze may also be a problem on runway shots plus due to the street in between your view may be disturbed/hazed additionally sometimes.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm B732 = 150mm

	Spot #2 – Dooley Rd – 15/33 movements
WHERE	The spot is along Doodley Rd, which turn into a dead end road once it crossed the Addison Airport Toll Tunnel northwards. Just get rid of your car or pull over to the roadside and directly shot from here – either stand on a ladder or your car’s top to the clear the fence, but stay a few meters away from the fence.

WHAT	This spot offers great view onto the runway and thus all 15/33 movements.

TIME	From early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around, haze may become an issue on hot days.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm Cessna 414 = 215mm

	Spot #3 – Hangar Carpark West – 15/33 movements
WHERE	Go to the eastern end of a private hangar parking just off Dooley Rd. Make your way down to the fence there and start spotting.

WHAT	This spot offers great view onto the runway and thus all 15/33 movements.

TIME	From early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around, haze may become an issue on hot days. Keep a low profile as you are on a private parking. Ladder needed or park the car a bit away from the fence and stand on its top for taking pictures.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-500mm B732 front shot skyline = 485mm / Socata TBM = 270mm

	Spot #4 – Willey Post Rd – 33 Movements + Heavy 15 Departures
WHERE	This spot is at the end of Willey Post Rd, which ends up in the perimeter fence with a gate. You can park your car in the parking and either shot thru the gate, a ladder or from your car’s top.

WHAT	Views onto 33 Arrivals and Line-Ups as well as heavy 15 outbounds which can be nicely low here…

TIME	From early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around, haze may become an issue on hot days. Keep a low profile as you are on sort of a private parking/property.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm Challenger 300 = 150mm

	Spot #5 – Addison Cigar Shop – 33 Movements + Heavy 15 Departures
WHERE	The Addison Cigar Shop, which is located at the intersection of Lindbergh Dr and Addison Rd, offers a little viewing deck. This can be found at the facility’s western edge next to the big tree from where you can shot onto the runway.

WHAT	This deck offers great view onto 33 Arrivals and Line-Ups plus 15 Departures.

TIME	From sunrise till late morning.

MISC.	Be respectful once the shop asks you to leave the terrace (may happen if they are very busy, but normally not if you are here with groups). From the terrace no ladder is needed but once you were sent down a ladder or at least car top is useful to clear the fence from the parking. Haze and the surrounding tree may disturb your view at some points.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm B732 front shot = 310mm

The spot itsself looks like THIS and pictures taken from here like this…

	Spot #6 – Hangar Carpark East – Apron
WHERE	Located along the fence south and east of the major parking apron for bigger aircraft east of ADS’ runway. Take Glenn Curtiss Dr till its western end and there you will simply end up in front of the fence where you can then position yourself along.

WHAT	From here you can see the apron in front where Sierra American mostly parks their B732s.

TIME	Aircraft parked here are nicely lit around late noon, but basically the spot should work from later morning till early evening.

MISC.	Ladder not needed as you can shot thru the fence/from your car’s top quickly and easily. Normally there are no problems here if you are just around for a short visit, however the FBO may kick you out once you hang around for a longer time – remember, this is private property!

FOCAL LENGTH	18-100mm DC9 = 24mm / DC3 = 50mm

	Spot #7 – Westgrove Dr – 15 Movements
WHERE	Northeast of the airport there are some companies located a bit elevated along Westgrove Dr. You can park in the public car park in front of the stores and then shot from there over the fence – no ladder needed thus.

WHAT	From here you can nicely see 15 Arrivals and Line-Ups.

TIME	From sunrise till late morning.

MISC.	Keep a low profile here as this is a business car park with a nearby company running quite busy especially on weekdays. So keep the camera down as long as you do not need it in order to attract attention. In addition, heat haze may also be a problem on runway shots plus due to the street in between your view may be disturbed/hazed additionally sometimes.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm Approaching T6 = 215mm

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Julian Gurram

1 year ago

Where the Cutter Aviation Building is, next to the cavenaugh flight meusemum has been torn down is an amazing spot to veiw landings and takeoffs where the aircraft will be roughly 75-125 feet up and landing Props usally get near to the spot where you will be at while they are taxiing and private jets will roar by you while landing. 10/10 spot imo and good plus you can go to the flight meuseum.