PLANESPOTTING GUIDES

Albany International Airport Plane Spotting Guide

alb	Best Spotting Locations	General Airport Info	Radio Frequencies	Approach Charts

| Spot A: Sicker Road (West)

Views: Runway 19 landings and departures, aircraft taxiing to runway 19, runway 01 departures and landing rollouts.

Directions: From NYS Route 7, turn south on Albany-Shaker Road, take your first left on Sicker Road, then follow Sicker Road to the dead end.

Security: Albany County Sheriff’s Department patrols the airport perimeter and occasionally will approach spotters. As always, carry your ID and be polite.

Photography: 70-200mm will work at this location for aircraft on the runway. Taxiing aircraft will require 50mm or wider, though longer lenses can be used for head-on or tighter shots. Photography is good for the afternoon.

Notes: You need to shoot over or through the chain-link fence at this location. There is a gate at the dead end that has room to stick a lens through.

Some photos shot from this location:

Photo by Daniel J. Evans

| Spot B: Sicker Road (East)

Views: Runway 19 landings and departures, aircraft taxiing to runway 19, runway 01 departures and landing rollouts.

Directions: From NYS Route 7, go south on Old Niskayuna Road, then right on Sicker Road. Pull off in the turn-around near the end or pull off the road adjacent to Allied Waste and the Control Tower.

Security: Albany County Sheriff’s Department and Colonie Town Police have occasionally approached spotters at this location. More often, they drive by and wave. Always carry ID and be polite. This location is on public property.

Photography: 100mm is enough for aircraft on the runway. More length is needed for departures off of runway 01 once airborne. For aircraft on the ground, you need to shoot through a chain-link fence. For runway 01 departures, you can get pictures of the departing aircraft once they get above the fence. This location is good for the morning.

Notes: N/A

Some photos shot from this location:

Photo by Daniel J. Evans

| Spot C: Albany Shaker Road Parking Area

Views: Good for runway 01 approaches.

Directions: Follows signs for the airport. A small parking lot is off of the north side of the road at the south end of the airport.

Security: There are no reports of police approaching spotters at this location. As always, carry your ID and be polite.

Photography: Best -suited for 70mm and up. Only airborne aircraft at this location. Though visible, runway shots are obstructed by two chain-link fences, and step-ladders are NOT recommended, as it is considered a safety concern. This location is good for the afternoon.

Notes: This location is popular with families and people waiting to pick-up passengers.

Some photos shot from this location:

Photo by Daniel J. Evans

| Spot D: Terminal Observation Deck

Views: This location offers you ramp views of the gates in the B&C terminals and more distant views of the A gates and yet more distant views of both runways. The observation deck is a semi-circle giving views to the west and around to the southeast.

Directions: Located on the third floor of the passenger terminal, you can just take the stairs that are just to the left of security or take the elevator.

Security: There are no reports of spotters being approached in this area that is commonly occupied by other people waiting for flights. Always be courteous and carry your ID.

Photography: 70mm and up will be required. Reflection in the glass may affect photography, and heat haze will sometimes affect shots as well.

Notes: It is common for ATC audio to be piped into the obersation deck’s PA system.

Some photos shot from this location:

Photo by Daniel J. Evans

| Spot E: Old Niskayuna Road

Views: This spot offers arrival and departure views for runway 28. The taxiway is close, but partially obstructed.

Directions: From NYS Route 7, go south on Wade Road, then right on Old Niskayuna Road (turn at the tank/helicopter monuments), then take the road to the end.

Security: Albany County Sherrif’s Department and Colonie Town Police have occasionally approached spotters in this location, though they more often drive by and wave. As always, carry your ID. This location is on public property.

Photography: 100mm and up, though you can use wider for taxiing aircraft through some obstructions that may interfere. Location works anytime during winter, or afternoons in the summer.

Notes: Runway 28 is usually used only when there is a strong westerly wind. A ladder is helpful, and snow banks become handy.