CANADA
CALGARY (CYYC/YYC)
Calgary has two viewing parks, the best of which is at the end of runway 34, off McKnaight Boulevard. The Best Western Port O Call hotel is across the road from the Aero Museum and on the corner of McKnaight and McCall Way at the end of the runway. Overlooks the main runway and general aviation hangers that are situated at the southern end of the airfield. There are a few bits that land on the parallel runway that disappear but you will be able to read off 95% of the movements from here. You can walk to the viewing park from here. GA areas also a short walk and friendly, ask for access. The second viewing area is smaller, and located down McCall Way near the WestJet hangar. Weekdays are best with a lot of GA and Biz. Plenty of stored aircraft parked around the airport, takes around an hour and a half to do the full circuit.
Updated 16 February 2008
EDMONTON (CYEG/YEG)
Gate B16 has good views of the biz ramp and everything taxiing into and out of them, as well as the seaplane approach and the departures runway. No views of arrivals from here though.
Added 23 February 2008
MONTREAL (CYUL/YUL)
Top of the multi-storey car park has good views and no problems. The Airport Hilton has great views over the airfield. There is also a remote parking lot here and you can spot and photograph with no problems.
Added 30 September 2007
NANTON LANCASTER MUSEUM
About an hour drive south of the international airport:, it's free entry but donations are appreciated.
Added 16 February 2008
RED DEER INDUSTRIAL (CYQF/YQF)
Very friendly, ask at Air Spray reception for access and you should get a tour of the hangars, then out onto the ramp and told to go where you want as long as you don’t go near the active runway.
Added 27 September 2007
TORONTO (CYYZ/YYZ)
Landside, there is a free elevated monorail that links the two terminals. It is attached to the side of the multi-storey car parks behind the terminals. From the other (non-Air Canada) terminal monorail station there are quite good views over the whole airfield. That terminal also has quite good views landside through glass, from the far left side of the terminal. You are in a cul-de-sac, with views of the Jazz commuter fleet on the left hand side, with the international pier on the right hand side. In the distance, in the gap between the two piers, you have a limited view of the taxiway and runways behind. The left hand pier of terminal 1 has views of the 2 runways but the Westjet terminal is out of sight. The Sheraton Gateway at terminal 3 has great views, specifically room 659, though any room on the 6th or 7th floor is good. Email or call the hotel and request a room with an airport view, they will accommodate you if they can. The hotel overlooks the ramps that are used by Westjet and most of the US airlines, and the taxiway and runway that connects the end runways. The runways at either end of the terminal can be monitored, but anything arriving or departing is difficult to read off, so it’s best to make sure you log everything as it taxis past. Airband radio and SBS are both useful for picking off the numerous biz jet movements as well as the FedEx cargo movements. There is a Wendy's restaurant down the road, which is next to the threshold of the runways at the northern end of the field. To get to this area, cross the walkway to the terminal and take the lift to the ground floor. Turn left outside the terminal and continue along the footpath at the end. Turn left at the main road and then continue walking for around 15 minutes and just look for the low flying aircraft.
Updated 27 September 2007
VANCOUVER (CYVR/YVR)
Plenty of nooks and crannies to drive around in, will take about an hour and a half.
Added 1 March 2008
WINNIPEG (CYWG/YWG)
The Four Points Sheraton hotel is situated across the road from the terminal and a room on the 5th floor and above gives views of the terminal and runways.
Added 19 September 2007