Planespotting Anchorage — PANC
Ted Stevens Anchorage sits almost exactly on the great-circle line between East Asia and the US mainland, which makes it one of the busiest cargo airports on the planet and a pilgrimage for anyone who loves freighters. Korean Air Cargo, Cathay Cargo, China Airlines, EVA, Atlas, Kalitta, UPS and FedEx all stop here to refuel or swap crews, so 747-400Fs, 747-8Fs, 777Fs and MD-11Fs come through in numbers you won't see anywhere else. Three runways handle it: the parallel 07L/25R and 07R/25L, and the long diagonal 15/33. In practice arrivals land on 07L/07R most of the time, heavy departures roll on 33, and when the wind turns northerly everything moves onto 15. On top of the heavies there is a uniquely Alaskan layer — Everts Air DC-6s, Lynden's civilian Hercules and Northern Air Cargo freighters — and Lake Hood seaplane base right next door. Light is the catch: in deep winter you get a few hours of low sun, in June it barely gets dark.
- UPS96 B748 6 325 ft
- —
- GTI516 B744
- FDX9080 MD11
- GTI873 B744
- MX1
- ASA49 B39M
- TNV124 SW4
Conditions right now
Runways
- 07R/25L 3,768 × 60 m · 12,362 × 197 ft asphalt
- 14/32 3,530 × 45 m · 11,581 × 148 ft closed
- 15/33 3,336 × 46 m · 10,945 × 151 ft asphalt
- 07L/25R 3,222 × 46 m · 10,571 × 151 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 22:00
Typical traffic mix
- Cargo58%
- Widebody14%
- Narrowbody14%
- Turboprop9%
- Military5%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Point Woronzof Park (mound by the 15/33 perimeter road)
The classic Anchorage location and the one in most famous PANC freighter shots: an elevated clearing along runway 15/33 with the Chugach range behind departing heavies. When 33 is in use you get the heavy take-offs; when 15 is active, both arrivals and departures pass in front of you. Traffic on the 07/25 pair is out of view, apart from aircraft taxiing to the cargo ramps.
- Getting there
- Car only. From the airport take Postmark Drive to its end, then Point Woronzof Drive towards the park; follow the gravel road along the fence and stop at the mound on the right. Park at the foot of the hill, never on the fence side. The access road closes at 23:00 — be out before then. No toilets or food.
- Best time
- Afternoon into evening (roughly 14:00 until late in summer, 15:00–20:00 in spring and autumn), when the sun is in the west behind you. Best on runway 33 departures or full 15 operations.
- Lens
- 50–300 mm; the mound lifts you over the fence, so no ladder.
Point Woronzof Drive by the UPS ramp
A few hundred metres further south along the same road, right at the fence opposite the UPS ramp. You are closer to 15/33 and its parallel taxiway than at the park, so heat haze is less of a problem, and you catch departures that turn south or don't use the full runway length — UPS in particular.
- Getting there
- Continue south on the Point Woronzof road past the park for about 500 m; park on the roadside where the UPS ramp appears on your left and shoot through the fence.
- Best time
- Mid-afternoon to evening with the sun in the west; works for 15/33 traffic in either direction.
- Lens
- 50–350 mm depending on how far down the runway the aircraft is.
Fuel tanks hill (runway 33 / taxiway V)
Further along the same access road, a small hill beside the fuel farm barriers gives a tighter view of runway 33 and taxiway Victor. Good for side-on shots of heavies lining up and rotating; the old position on top of the yellow barrier is no longer allowed.
- Getting there
- Follow the Point Woronzof route and continue until the yellow-orange barriers; park on the road shoulder and climb the hill (slippery when wet). Stay away from the gate.
- Best time
- Mid-afternoon until sunset.
- Lens
- 70–200 mm.
Northern hill at the runway 15 approach
The morning counterpart to Woronzof: a short walk along the fence brings you to raised ground near the start of runway 15. Ideal when 15 is in use for arrivals and departures, and heavies rotating off 33 can also be caught. Aircraft taxiing to the cargo ramps are usually backlit here.
- Getting there
- Same approach as Point Woronzof; park on the shoulder near the runway 15 end, cross the road and walk 300–400 m on the path between the fence and the forest. Moose and bears use this path — carry bear spray and keep to open ground.
- Best time
- Sunrise until around noon, with the sun in the east and south-east.
- Lens
- 100–400 mm; a 747-8 on final fills the frame at about 60 mm, a 737 needs around 150 mm.
South Airpark mound (runways 07L/07R)
An elevated mound south of the parallel runways that covers arrivals and departures on 07L and 07R plus traffic taxiing to runway 33. Since the 2025 construction a wall stands behind the fence: 07L/25R remains fully visible, but views of 07R/25L — especially side-on — are restricted and the nearby taxiway is no longer usable.
- Getting there
- From the airport drive Jewel Lake Road south to Raspberry Road, turn right and continue past the South Airpark hangars, then take the second road towards them and park at its end before climbing the hill. Airport staff sometimes call the police; carry ID. A small step helps with the fence.
- Best time
- Mid-morning to early evening in summer, from late morning in spring and autumn. Heat haze is common on warm days.
- Lens
- 50–400 mm.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Transpacific freight is the backbone: Korean Air Cargo, Cathay Cargo, China Airlines, EVA Air and Nippon Cargo, plus Atlas, Kalitta, National and Western Global, and big FedEx and UPS sorting operations — 747-400F, 747-8F, 777F and MD-11F in quantity. Passenger flights come from Alaska Airlines and its regional partners, Delta, United and summer carriers such as Condor and Icelandair. The Alaskan layer makes the place: Everts Air DC-6s and DC-9 freighters, Lynden Air Cargo L-382 Hercules, Northern Air Cargo 737s and FedEx feeder Caravans and ATRs. C-17s from nearby JBER pass through the area. Summer, with long days and salmon-season flying, is the high season.
FAQ
What's that plane over Anchorage?
Check Spotterra's live map: it shows every ADS-B-equipped aircraft around Anchorage right now, freighters included, with type, registration and route. Free and in the browser.
Which runway is used most at PANC?
Arrivals normally land on 07L/07R and heavies depart on 33. With northerly wind everything shifts to runway 15, which is when Point Woronzof and the northern hill get the full show.
Can I spot in Anchorage in winter?
Yes, but the usable light lasts only a few hours around midday in December and January. Summer is the opposite — light from early morning until late evening, which is why most spotters visit between May and August.
Are there wildlife risks at the spots?
Yes. Moose and bears roam the woods around Point Woronzof and Kincaid Park. Stay near your car, don't leave food out and carry bear spray if you walk away from the road.
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