Spotting guide for: KIAH - George Bush Intercontinental
George Bush Intercontinenal Airport is the largest airport in the Houston
area.
IAH currently ranks 3rd in the United States among U.S. airports with scheduled
non-stop domestic and international service (over 181 destinations), with
39.7 million passengers through IAH in 2005 and 48 million passengers through
IAH and HOU.
With 30 destinations in Mexico, IAH offers service to more Mexican destinations
than any other US airport.
9th busiest airport in the U.S. for total passengers (from ACI-NA, 2005 N. Amer.
Traffic Report).
6th busiest airport in the world for total aircraft movements (ACI-NA World
Traffic Report 2005).
7th largest international passenger gateway in the nation (ACI-NA World Traffic
Report 2005).
20 passenger airlines. 5 passenger terminals.
Terminal E for international travelers.
14 all-cargo airlines at IAH, handled more than 751 million pounds of cargo in
2005.
Houston headquartered
Continental Airlines largest hub with over 700 daily
departures.
New FAA air traffic control tower.
New Terminal Link above ground inter-terminal passenger train between terminals
B, C, D and E.
New $440 million, 880,000 sq. foot Terminal E and Federal Inspection Services (FIS)
with 84 primary inspection booths that can process over 4,500 passengers per
hour.
More than 550,000 sq. ft. of cargo space in the new IAH CargoCenter.
Publicly accessible areas that do not require any prior notification
to spot.
Areas such as parking garages that require prior approval or
notification to airport security to spot.
Areas that to not require notification to spot, but are at your own
risk! You may be asked to leave by Airport security or by police.
Restricted area! Do not spot here, or you will be asked to
leave by airport security or police.
Food / Drink! Spotting sometimes requires a lot of time out in
the sun. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, and get food
when you need it.
Gas!
These orange lines indicate where the final approach path of a
runway intersect or pass near a spotting area.
WARNING: The information provided on this page is intended for the sole use of
aviation enthusiasts to properly practice their hobby. HoustonSpotters.net or
its members assumes no responsibility for any actions and/or conduct during their
hobby practices, or any consequences of following the instructions provided here.
The user acknowledges and understands that aviation enthusiasm can draw attention
and suspicion from others, and all enthusiasts are encouraged to act in a respectful
and open manner towards law enforcement officers, to carry their ID on them at all
times, and to report truly suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies.
Site 1: Lee Road
Lee road is the only official public spotting area for IAH.
It offers an incredible view of planes coming in. The planes are about 100 feet above your head when they pass over! It is a large gravel parking lot located on the edge of Runway 27. It has a gate that is opened in the morning and closed when it gets dark, by airport security. There are pylons that mark the area along with several large yellow garbage cans for any trash you find in the area or take there yourself.
It is very important to pick up trash in this area even if it is not your own as something could get sucked into the engine of a jet.
HAS has also provided portable restroom facilities on site at Lee road. We
would like to thank HAS for providing and maintaining this feature of the
spotting park.
No prior notification is required to spot in this area.
Directions:
From Hwy 59:
Take the Will Clayton Parkway exit (Left if coming from the south right if you're coming from the north) You will go through one red light with a Jack in the box on the right. Proceed west on Will Clayton until you come to Lee Road. The road is not directly across Will Clayton so you will have to take the left and U Turn to get to Lee Road. Turn right when you see the sign for Lee Road. The spotting area is ahead on your left. (See the Map Area 1)
From Beltway 8:
While on Beltway 8 take the Airport exit for JFK Blvd North. You will go though several red lights. Follow the road until it curves to the right. Follow
the signs for the Hwy 59 / Airport Exit. After the road curves to the right it will turn into Will Clayton Parkway. Follow the road until you see the sign for Lee Road. Turn right on Lee Road The spotting area is ahead on your left.
Examples of photos taken from Lee Road:
Site 2: A/B Garage
The A/B garage spot is the 7th or 8th level on the north side of the parking garage complex located in the middle of the airport.
From the A/B garage you have a good vantage point of the planes landing on 26
L/R as they are taxiing out. You also have a good vantage point of them
touching down as they land on Rwy 08 L/R.
You also have an excellent view of the ramp area just beneath you as you are about
70 ft. in the air.
Most takeoffs occur on 15 L/R and most planes will taxi by you in this area. If
you walk across to the south side of the south side of the parking garage you
can catch the action of planes taxiing and taking off on 15 L/R.
You can get to the garages by following the signs from either Will Clayton
Parkway, or JFK Boulevard
The garages are one of the spots that require you to inform HAS (Houston Airport
System) security before spotting or taking photos there. Call in to security either when you get there, or shortly before.
Their phone number is 281-230-1300
Examples of photos taken from A/B garage:
A/B South
A/B North
Site 3: D/E Garage
The D/E garage spot is similar to the A/B garage spot except that you get a bit closer to the international terminals.
You can get to the garages by following the signs from either Will Clayton
Parkway, or JFK Boulevard
The garages are one of the spots that require you to inform HAS (Houston Airport System) security before spotting or taking photos there. Call in to security either when you get there, or shortly before.
Their phone number is 281-230-1300
Examples of photos taken from D/E Garage:
Site 4: DB Schenker(East Cargo, Formerly BAX Global)
The DB Schenker (Formerly Bax Global) parking lot (see Google map above for exact location), is technically private property. If you are asked to leave, you must comply with their wishes. With that said, we have not been run off from there, as it is very publicly accessible.
This spot provides a view of planes landing on 26L, and you are nearly underneath them.
This spot requires that you inform HAS (Houston Airport System) security before spotting or taking photos there. Call in to security either when you get there, or shortly before.
Their phone number is 281-230-1300
Examples of photos taken from Bax (East Cargo):
Site 5: Aviators Pub
Aviators is a pub located at: 2738 Greens Rd Houston, TX 77032
They are located right off of the approach end of the 15's. This is private property and if you are asked to leave, you must comply with their wishes! With that said, we have not been run off from there, as it is publicly accessible. We have asked for permission to spot there before, and have never been turned away.
Even though this spot is off of airport property, you must still inform HAS (Houston Airport System) security before spotting here. Call in to security either when you get there, or shortly before.
Their phone number is 281-230-1300
The best time of day to get photos from here is the late afternoon when the sun is setting and behind you.
Examples of photos taken from Aviators Pub:
Communications Frequencies:
Frequency
Type
Description
119.100
Approach
Runway 8L / 26R (during peak traffic times)
124.350
Approach
Approach - West
120.650
Approach
Runway 8R / 26L (during peak traffic times)
120.050
Approach
Approach - East
134.000
Approach
Runway 9/27 (during peak traffic times)
ASOS
Automatic Surface Observation Service (ASOS) (281-443-6397)
124.050
ATIS
Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) (281-443-1744)
133.600
Class B
Houston Class B / Departure East
123.800
Class B
Houston Class B West
134.450
Class B
Houston Class B South
119.700
Class B
Houston Class B North
128.100
Clearance Delivery
Clearance Delivery
132.250
Departure
Houston Departure North/East
126.675
Departure
Houston Departure West
127.125
Departure
Houston Departure South
122.400
Flight Service
Flight Service Station (FSS)
118.575
Ground
Ground - West
121.700
Ground
Ground - East
119.950
Ground
Ground
126.225
Other
Construction NOTAM Information
130.825
Ramp Control
Continental - Ramp Control - North (Terminals C and D)
131.275
Ramp Control
Continental - Ramp Control - South (Terminals C and E)
121.625
Ramp Control
Continental - Ramp Control - West (Terminals A and B)
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