An Avgeek's Guide to Plane Spotting in 2026

What plane spotting is now

Plane spotting used to be binoculars and a notebook. It's still that — but layered with live ADS-B feeds, ATC scanners, and high-resolution photography.

Tools to bring

• Camera with a telephoto. A 100–400mm zoom is the workhorse focal range.
• A flight tracker to see what's inbound, what airline, and what aircraft type. FlightyFlow shows the registration on each flight, which is what you'll log.
• An ATC scanner app to listen to tower frequencies. LiveATC.net is the standard.
• A wind app so you know which runway will be active.

Where to spot in the US

• LAX — In-N-Out parking lot at 9149 S. Sepulveda is the most famous spot in the world.
• JFK — Costco rooftop in Brooklyn for arrivals on 22L; Bayswater Park for short-final shots.
• SFO — SFO Park-N-Fly garage roof; Coyote Point Park for long lens.
• DFW, ATL, ORD — established spotter zones with viewing platforms.

Where to spot in Europe

• LHR — Myrtle Avenue in Hounslow for 27L approach shots; the Renaissance Hotel for ramp.
• AMS — Polderbaan threshold (the famous one); Spotters Hill near 18C.
• MUC — Aussichtshügel ("Visitor's Hill") inside the airport park.
• ZRH — Heligrill for the long lens; Birrhard for departures off 28.

Etiquette

• Don't trespass. Most airports have official spotter zones for a reason.
• Don't point lenses at security infrastructure. You'll attract attention.
• Be friendly to crews and ground staff if they walk by; the community has a great reputation worth protecting.

What to log

The classic minimum for each sighting:

• Date and time
• Airline + flight number
• Aircraft type
• Tail number / registration
• Your location

A flight tracker app gives you the first four automatically once you tap the live aircraft.