Cleveland Spotting Guide
This is a guide to my favorite spotting locations at CLE, be sure to check them out some time!
The 100th Bomb Group Restaurant
Located at 20920 Brookpark Rd., this area is the most popular spot at CLE and gives some fantastic views of arrivals on 24R and 24L, as well as departures on 6R and 6L. You can either watch from the parking lot or the restaurant's upper deck. Be sure to thank them for the wonderful location by eating there sometime, the food is great too!
Aerospace Parkway Buildings
Located at 2001 Aerospace Pkwy. (Continue driving past the IX Center to reach it), this parking lot is mere feet from runway 6L and gives some awesome views of arrivals on both runway 6L and 6R. I recommend only coming here on weekends, as you may be kicked out if there are people working there.
The other building is located just up the road at 3000 Aerospace Pkwy, it is a smaller brown brick office building. The parking lot is not quite as close, however it is a good alternative if the other one is not available. It offers great arrival views on 6L and 6R.
The other building is located just up the road at 3000 Aerospace Pkwy, it is a smaller brown brick office building. The parking lot is not quite as close, however it is a good alternative if the other one is not available. It offers great arrival views on 6L and 6R.
Aerospace Parkway Hill
Located at the intersection between Aerospace Pkwy and Ruple Pkwy, you should see the hill near a small beige shed with a driveway, where you can park. The top of the small hill gives great views of arrivals and departures on 6L and 6R, as well as departures off of the 24's. This spot is located right next to some houses, so be sure not to disturb the residents there.
6L Approach Lights
For a more exciting planespotting experience, park in the small driveway located next to the approach lights for runway 6L (it's just after the turnoff to Spafford Rd on Aerospace Pkwy). When they are landing on 6L, The planes will come roaring directly overhead just a few hundred feet above you. This spot is probably the most exciting at CLE. You can also catch great views of departures from 24L here, as well as arrivals into 6R.
The Parking Garage
This spot is a little different in that it is rather far from both runways, meaning you won't see arrivals or departures up close. However, it offers an excellent view of the ramp area between the main terminal and express terminal (Terminal D), giving great views of ground activity from the top deck. You can also get pretty good views of 6R departures. Be aware that it costs money to get in here, the price (as of March 2012) is $3.00 per hour, but I think the view is well worth it. To get here just follow the signs to the short term garage. The best views are from floor 5, however floor 4 offers a roof in case of inclement weather.
The DHL Building
Located at 21500 Aerospace Pkwy, directly past the IX Center. From here you can watch amazingly close views of runway 6R departures and arrivals, and you will stand almost next to the aircraft on the parallel taxiway. I would recommend coming here on a weekend as it seems to be deserted then, giving you the opportunity to spot hassle free (otherwise you may be asked to leave).
24R/24L Approach Lights
This is actually 2 different spots, but they are located very close to each other. Just drive down Brookpark Rd (east from the Bomb Group restaurant) and you should see the large orange approach light poles. Each side has a small driveway leading up to a gate, with enough room to park your car. The views here are similar to those under the 6L lights, however for the opposite side.
What Will I See?
A good variety of airlines and aircraft types can be seen at CLE. Below I have listed the most common airlines at CLE and the most common aircraft types you will see them operating.
- United Airlines (737s, A320s)
- Delta Airlines (MD-80s, DC-9s, A320s)
- American Airlines (MD-80s)
- US Airways (737s)
- Southwest (737s)
- United Express (ERJs, CRJs, Dash 8s, B1900s)
- American Eagle (CRJs, ERJs)
- Delta Connection (CRJs, ERJs)
- Air Canada Jazz (Dash 8s)
- US Airways Express (CRJs, E170s)
What Should I Bring?
There is nothing required to go spotting except a passion for aviation. However if you are serious about spotting I recommend bringing the following items:
- A scanner - (The model I use is a Grecom PSR-700, but there are hundreds of models out there. Do some research and make sure it is a good model before buying one. Scanners are excellent tools for listening to the tower and other airport frequencies, really bringing the experience to life).
- If you are a serious spotter you may want to write down and keep track of the different tail numbers you see. A handy software I would recommend for logging registrations and photos is Spot2Log.
- Binoculars