Any US Observation Decks Still Open?

Remember the good old days when you could sit and relax on the Roof at the Pan Am Terminal or visit the IAB at JFK? No need then to worry about wind shifting or runway changes. Those days seem to be gone. There was no need to drive-out to remote locations, infested with bugs and danger and wait for either arrivals or departures. Runway changes now mean having to drive to a different location. LAX had a nice observation deck but then it was enclosed in glass and the glass had lots of glare. I think it was closed finally.I was wondering if there are still any US airports that welcome spotters. I just picked-up a guide to Narita in Tokyo and they provide spotters with 2 large observation decks. How do they provide security that US airports can't? Which airports are spotter friendly?

My dad and I still have some videos from rooftop parking at JFK...you can see the videos here
http://fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Index.htm

RDU - Has official spotters deck on one side and official spotters area on the other side. They have live ATC stream.
But there is A LOT of airports in USA with official spotting areas (not necessarly decks).

Rafal

FLL has an awesome spotters area...just off to the side of 9L, and there's a big loudspeaker with FLL Tower blaring at all hours of the day and night.

GRR - Grand Rapids has a spotters park adjacent to the runway with holes in the fence and such. They also have an observation deck in the terminal.

BWI still has it's "Aircraft Observation Park". Be wary in the summer though, it's also the head of a bike trail and parking is at a premium.

PBI has a spot next to 9L/27R much like FLL - right in front of the taxiway used by the biz-jets.

HPN has an observation deck although taking pictures from it aren't possible due to the very small holes in the metal fencing.

VNY also has an observation area with the tower frequencey playing over a speaker.

There is a nice observation deck on Long Beach Airport, right by the diner.......

KMRY.

MKE has a nice one

They were nice enough at Albany to include an enclosed deck when they built the new terminal.

I was there one day all by myself and was able to take a decent picture of it.

http://www.airliners.net/uf/view.file?i ... xLrpNS.jpg

Not bad for ramp shots if you can deal with the window glare. It's a nice place to spend time waiting to pick someone up.

I was recently clued in to the Long Term Parking garage roof level at Tampa. 1st hour free but you have to keep entering and leaving to spend a good day there to beat the fees. Good views abound. Bring sunblock.

We are talking about "Decks" or observation areas in general?
If we are talking about observation areas then pretty much every single airport in US has one.

Not official spotting areas. There aren't that many major airports with official spotting areas.

I noticed a sign Airside at ABQ for the observation deck. Didn't have time to check it out though.

ABQ also has 2 outside observation areas, one at each end of the airport.

Does MSP still have the airside observation deck?

This is from my memory. Airports with "legal" spotting areas in US.

DCA
IAD
BWI
FLL
MIA
RDU
LAS
PHX
TUS
CLT
LAX
MKE
DTW
PHL
IAH
HOU
CMH
SJU

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tipek

DTW

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Nope, at one time it had a great observation deck that led to the roof of the Smith, but that closed after 9/11. Currently DTW has no official observation areas.

DTW - Parking garage, all levels.

Im surprised that no one mention LGA!! Isnt LGA Planeview Park still considered a spotting area??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tipek

DTW - Parking garage, all levels.

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Thats not official at all, heck, people get kicked out of there all the time lol.