Spotter

Anchorage, United States of America

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) Plane Spotting Guide

Best place to watch planes land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport: 3 spotting locations at PANC, with coordinates, view bearing, fence notes, focal length, and the sun schedule. Updated Tue 27 Oct, 03:14 local.

Spotting locations at PANC

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) plane spotting guide. Focal length badges are 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m, unless a landmark keeps the lens spotters use on site, including 50-200mm at airside gates. Click a location to open the live map centered on that spot.

  1. Short final 07R - sunny side

    Calculated perimeter

    150-600mm
    Coordinates 61.16529, -150.06525
    View bearing 60.7°
    1234 m to 07R
    Best sun: afternoon 17:00

    Elevation and fence notes. Field elevation 152 ft. Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.

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  2. Short final 07L - sunny side

    Calculated perimeter

    150-600mm
    Coordinates 61.17228, -150.03071
    View bearing 119.2°
    1234 m to 07L
    Best sun: afternoon 17:00

    Elevation and fence notes. Field elevation 152 ft. Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.

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  3. Climb-out 33 - sunny side

    Calculated perimeter

    150-600mm
    Coordinates 61.21081, -150.01528
    View bearing 184.1°
    1234 m to 15
    Best sun: midday 10:00

    Elevation and fence notes. Field elevation 152 ft. Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km beyond the far end of the departure runway, offset 280 m to the sunny side of the climb.

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Lighting schedule by spot

Morning is 07:00-11:00, midday is 11:00-14:00, and afternoon / golden hour is 14:00-18:00. CLEAN FRONT LIGHT means the sun sits behind the camera. BACKLIT / GLARE means the sun is in the lens. The JetPhotos camera note names the lens and the hours to keep or avoid.

Spotting LocationMorning (07:00-11:00)Midday (11:00-14:00)Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00)JetPhotos / Camera Note
Short final 07R - sunny side

Runway 07R

SIDE LIGHTSIDE LIGHTCLEAN FRONT LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 15:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
Short final 07L - sunny side

Runway 07L

BACKLIT / GLAREBACKLIT / GLARESIDE LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 17:00. Avoid 10:00-13:00 harsh backlit contrast.
Climb-out 33 - sunny side

Runway 33

SIDE LIGHTBACKLIT / GLAREBACKLIT / GLARERecommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 10:00. Avoid 12:00-17:00 harsh backlit contrast.

Questions

What is the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) plane spotting guide?

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) plane spotting guide lists 3 locations at PANC, with coordinates, view bearing, elevation and fence notes, and a focal length badge (50-200mm, 70-200mm, 100-400mm, or 150-600mm). Start with Short final 07R - sunny side at 61.16529, -150.06525, view bearing 60.7°, lens 150-600mm. Listed spots include Short final 07R - sunny side, Short final 07L - sunny side, Climb-out 33 - sunny side. Each location links to https://planespottingmap.com/airport/PANC?spot=short-final-07r-sunny-side so the interactive map centers on that pin. The lighting table covers morning (07:00-11:00), midday (11:00-14:00), and afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00).

What is the best place to watch planes land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport?

The best place to watch planes land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport depends on the active runway and where the sun sits. The top-ranked spot right now is Short final 07R - sunny side, 1234 m from runway 07R, view bearing 60.7°, best in the afternoon (17:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens. Open it on the map: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/PANC?spot=short-final-07r-sunny-side CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the schedule is the hour band that puts the sun behind the camera.