Planespotting Orlando — KMCO
Orlando International is Florida's busiest airport and the arrival gate for theme-park holidays, which gives it a traffic mix you will not find at a business hub: low-cost carriers by the dozen, leisure widebodies from the UK and Europe, and Latin American airlines alongside the US majors. The field occupies the former McCoy Air Force Base, hence the MCO code. Four parallel north–south runways split into a western pair, 18L/36R and 18R/36L, and an eastern pair, 17L/35R and 17R/35L, so the whole airport flips between south flow and north flow with the wind. Unusually for a US airport, MCO runs an official planespotting programme: register online and you may photograph from designated garage levels and a parking lot. Outside the fence, McCoy Road under the 18 approaches is the local favourite and is relaxed and legal. Florida thunderstorms build most summer afternoons, so plan mornings in the wet season, and let Spotterra flag diversions such as widebodies dodging weather at Miami.
- CMP239 B738 8 225 ft
- SWA201 B737 7 450 ft
- JBU546 A320 6 025 ft
- JBU85 BCS3 4 475 ft RWY 17L
- SWA4590 B738 2 900 ft RWY 35L
- N8262U P28A 1 900 ft
- AAL724 B738 1 875 ft RWY 36L
- N812DA C172 1 075 ft
Conditions right now
Runways
- 18L/36L 3,671 × 60 m · 12,044 × 197 ft asphalt
- 18R/36R RWY 18R 3,668 × 60 m · 12,034 × 197 ft concrete
- 17R/35L 3,052 × 45 m · 10,013 × 148 ft concrete
- 17L/35R 2,991 × 45 m · 9,813 × 148 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: 09:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody82%
- Widebody9%
- Bizjet4%
- Cargo3%
- Turboprop1%
- GA1%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
McCoy Road — 18L/18R arrivals
The best-known Orlando spot, on a public road north of the airport right under the approaches to the western runways. Arrivals on 18L and 18R pass close and low, and a short drive along the road lets you switch between the two paths as the light moves. Families come here to watch too, and security rarely shows interest.
- Getting there
- From the terminals take SR-436 north toward downtown, turn at the frontage road beside the Turnpike and follow it to McCoy Road. Park off the roadway on the shoulder areas locals use; restaurants and a gas station nearby. Car is the realistic option.
- Best time
- South flow (18 arrivals). Sunrise to around noon at the first position; in the afternoon move further along McCoy Road until you are on the other side of the approach path.
- Lens
- 50–250 mm; an A321neo fills the frame around 80 mm.
Official spotting areas: Terminal Top garage, Garage C, South Park Place
MCO lets registered spotters use levels 9 and 10 of the Terminal Top garage above Terminals A and B, level 6 of Garage C beside the new Terminal C, and the South Park Place economy lot. The garages give a wide panorama of the airfield and gates; South Park Place is closer to the action and the most useful for photos.
- Getting there
- Apply via the planespotting page on the airport's website (flymco.com) before you go; approvals are time-limited. Normal parking fees apply. Garage C and the Terminal Top garage are reachable on foot from the terminals; LYNX buses and Brightline trains also serve the airport.
- Best time
- Garages in the morning, when haze is lower; distances are long, so expect heat shimmer later in the day.
- Lens
- 300–600 mm from the garages; 100–400 mm at South Park Place.
Airport Lakes Park, Shadowridge Drive
A city park with a lake just north of the field where arrivals to 18L come in at a good distance, with 18R visible further away. It is a pleasant, legal place to spend a morning with shade and space.
- Getting there
- Park in the lot off Shadowridge Drive. The lakeside boardwalk and shelter were closed after storm damage at the last report, but the park itself is open — check the current status before relying on the boardwalk.
- Best time
- South flow, sunrise to about noon.
- Lens
- 200 mm for 18L arrivals; 400 mm or more for 18R.
Wiley Drive cul-de-sac — 36L arrivals
A dead-end road in the southwest corner by the Southwest Airlines maintenance hangar, on the approach to 36L. On north-flow days it gives clean side-on arrivals and departures off the 18s when the flow reverses.
- Getting there
- Drive to the end of Wiley Drive and use the cul-de-sac. No services of any kind — bring water, especially in summer.
- Best time
- North flow (36L arrivals). Afternoon and golden hour.
- Lens
- 100–200 mm; a 767 is about 110 mm, a 737-800 about 170 mm.
South Cell Phone Lot (Red lot)
The south-side waiting lot backs onto the perimeter fence beside 17R, where departures rotate in front of you and aircraft taxi toward 35L. A pickup bed helps to clear the fence.
- Getting there
- Follow signs from Jeff Fuqua Boulevard south to the cell phone and parking lot, drive to the fence end. The first minutes are free, then a parking fee applies.
- Best time
- South flow departures, afternoon until sunset.
- Lens
- 55–300 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
Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue, Allegiant, Delta, American and United fill the field with A320-family and 737 traffic from across the US and Canada, including Air Canada, WestJet and Porter. The widebodies are leisure-driven: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic from London and Manchester, Lufthansa, Edelweiss, Aer Lingus, Icelandair, Emirates from Dubai, and LATAM, Azul and other Latin American carriers. Cargo is modest. Peaks come at spring break, the summer holidays and Christmas, with UK and European arrivals in the afternoon.
FAQ
What's that plane over Orlando?
Spotterra's live map shows what is flying over Orlando and central Florida right now — type, registration and route — so you can spot a Virgin A350 or a diverted widebody as it lines up.
Can I spot legally from MCO's parking garages?
Yes, if you register. MCO's planespotting programme approves spotters for set areas: Terminal Top garage levels 9–10, Garage C level 6 and the South Park Place lot. Apply online before your visit and carry the approval.
Which runways does Orlando use?
MCO runs either south flow (17/18) or north flow (35/36) depending on the wind, using all four parallels. McCoy Road works in south flow, Wiley Drive in north flow.
When is the best time of year to spot at MCO?
Winter and spring bring dry air, clear skies and peak transatlantic leisure traffic. In summer, aim for mornings before the afternoon thunderstorms.
Spotterra watches the sky over Orlando
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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