5 Most Impressive U.S. Airport Final Approach Views

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by 10023

What is there to see in Dallas?

try finding a window seat on the right hand side of a plane landing at DAL (not DFW) and you'll quickly figure it out.

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by 10023

O’Hare can be good if you’re on the right approach and sitting on the left side of the plane.

MDW is hands-down the most impressive Chicago approach.

[10023]

Originally Posted by JAYNYC

try finding a window seat on the right hand side of a plane landing at DAL (not DFW) and you'll quickly figure it out.

I’ve flown into Dallas several times. It’s not an impressive cityscape.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by JAYNYC

try finding a window seat on the right hand side of a plane landing at DAL (not DFW) and you'll quickly figure it out.

Don't you have it reversed? If you're landing from the south into Love Field (DAL), you need to be on the left side of the plane to get the view of downtown. It's very nice. If you're on the right side, you only see sprawl. If you're landing from the north into Love Field, you don't get any view except for sprawl.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by 10023

I’ve flown into Dallas several times. It’s not an impressive cityscape.

See my previous email. Were you on the left side of the plane landing from the south into Love Field, looking directly down on downtown? My favorite aspect is the huge new development adjacent to the north side of downtown. I find it to be impressive. If you've seen this exact view, and you don't find it impressive, that's OK.

If you were landing at DFW (the main airport handling longer routes and international routes), I would agree with you.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by JAYNYC

^ That is hands-down the best angle to view DTLA. Love seeing it from that perspective while heading up the 110 north from the 105. Clear view of US Bank Tower (sorry - still the tallest IMO), Wilshire Grand and Aon Center. Would be great to see DTLA build out (in density and height) from west of the 110 (Koreatown East) to east of US Bank Tower (Arts District); I think it would essentially create the new default postcard shot of downtown.

Also, that pic was taken with a zoom lens, so the actual view doesn't look like that. But it's a great view in person nonetheless.

[Will O' Wisp]

I'll just post this so we can all get on the same page on what a northbound approach in DAL looks like
• Video Link

My personal opinion is that DAL has a nice approach but its not really standout compared to a lot of the airports already posted here.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by Will O' Wisp

I'll just post this so we can all get on the same page on what a northbound approach in DAL looks like
• Video Link

My personal opinion is that DAL has a nice approach but its not really standout compared to a lot of the airports already posted here.

Thanks for posting. It's much appreciated, but there are some things about this video. It's way outdated (2010). The view is much different now, especially the development adjacent to downtown, and the weather was pretty gloomy.

I'm trying to find a more updated one with better weather conditions. Haven't had much luck yet, but will post if I can find a good one.

[maru2501]

Originally Posted by JAYNYC

MDW is hands-down the most impressive Chicago approach.

It is if you want to freak out and believe you are about to land on top of a gas station

[Buckeye Native 001]

Originally Posted by maru2501

It is if you want to freak out and believe you are about to land on top of a gas station

Seriously. Theres a reason ORD was built...

[CastleScott]

Thank G*d. That's where I live. I don't want hundreds of planes zooming above me every day. The frequent news and traffic copters are bad enough.

I see planes daily and nightly here as the Wifie and me live under Sacrmenato's (SMF) flight path-no complaints..

[SFBruin]

I haven't flown into very many airports:

1. SAN
2. LGA, from the right side of the plane, from the approach in which the plane flies above the Hudson River.
3. SFO
4. LAX
5. ORD

[AviationGuy]

Here's a pretty good updated video of the approach over downtown Dallas, with all the new development adjacent to downtown. The weather was beautiful, although the flight date was 1/23/18, so there wasn't much greenery. Also in the video you can see the fairly new bridges over the river.

This gives you a good sense of how close you are to the buildings on approach.

I apologize for my comments on the earlier video, but I just wanted to provide a better view. Hope you all like.

BTW, you can skip to 7:05 for the downtown views.


• Video Link

[Sun Belt]

^Huge difference from the 2010 video.

[Will O' Wisp]

^^I'll second that, it's been a few years since I went through DAL and that's a huge difference from what I remember. It's not quite an LGA or an LAX, but it looks like northbound DAL can hold its own now with the top tier US approaches.

[jtown,man]

If Atlanta and Dallas continue to densify, improve transit, and creates a better urban environment, shit...their urban areas are actually quite large for what they are and could be sustainable as an urban area you could ditch your car in the future.

I realize some of yall will say "people already do that there" or "never, its not PREWAR"...but thats just my opinion.

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

Don't you have it reversed? If you're landing from the south into Love Field (DAL), you need to be on the left side of the plane to get the view of downtown. It's very nice. If you're on the right side, you only see sprawl. If you're landing from the north into Love Field, you don't get any view except for sprawl.

I flew into DAL (Love Field) twice this week and twice last month. All four times, regardless of which city I flew in from, we always landed from the south.

I've sat on both sides of the plane flying in, and when landing, you fly directly between downtown and uptown. From the right (port) side, you get a dramatic, up close view of the entire downtown skyline - a view to which only the approaches in to San Diego and Chicago Midway compare domestically, in my opinion. From the left (starboard) side, you get a slightly less dramatic (yet impressive, nonetheless) view of the surprisingly dense uptown and Central Expressway corridor.

I have a few video clips of my recent landings there - happy to share a link if you let me know of a site besides youtube or Vimeo that's ideal for hosting short clips.

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

My favorite aspect is the huge new development adjacent to the north side of downtown. I find it to be impressive.

The area to which you're referring is Uptown. Its proximity to Downtown Dallas is similar to that of Midtown Atlanta's to Downtown Atlanta, and although Uptown Dallas doesn't have as much height as Midtown Atlanta, its density, building design and rapid growth is impressive by Texas metro standards.

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by jtown,man

If Atlanta and Dallas continue to densify, improve transit, and creates a better urban environment, shit...their urban areas are actually quite large for what they are and could be sustainable as an urban area you could ditch your car in the future.

I agree. I've always noticed a similarity in the structural layout of both Dallas and Atlanta's core, particularly in Uptown Dallas and Midtown Atlanta (towers built close to the actual street they're on). Houston's Galleria area is somewhat comparable, but loses out on a ton of density because the area's towers are built away from the street, with large yards, parking garages, etc.) positioned in between the buildings and the streets.

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

Here's a pretty good updated video of the approach over downtown Dallas, with all the new development adjacent to downtown. The weather was beautiful, although the flight date was 1/23/18, so there wasn't much greenery. Also in the video you can see the fairly new bridges over the river.

This gives you a good sense of how close you are to the buildings on approach.

I apologize for my comments on the earlier video, but I just wanted to provide a better view. Hope you all like.

BTW, you can skip to 7:05 for the downtown views.


• Video Link

As previously noted above, I've flown into DAL several times recently and shot a couple short clips I'd be happy to share. I don't have a YouTube account, nor do I care to create one just for this purpose. Is there an alternate way to share short clips that you'd recommend?