It’s increasingly rare for the public to get that close to such an active airfield, especially in a post 9/11 world. “Parents bring their children out here, sometimes they bring a meal and have a little picnic,” Koerth added. Thousands are drawn to the observation area each year due to its unique proximity to the busy airfield. “You can’t really see into the cockpit, but you can see more of the aircraft and sometimes I particularly like to look at the landing gear as it’s lifting off,” Koerth said. That means public observers get a spectacular view of departing and arriving traffic, taxiing aircraft, as well as the ever-expanding terminal. “I’m just so fascinated by it.”įor years, the overlook has been positioned northwest of the airport’s terminal and not far from runway 18-center. “Lots of times my wife has to drag me away because I’ll spend hours here,” he said. “I just thoroughly enjoy coming here and watching the jets take off and land!”įor many like Koerth, the overlook is like an amusement park without the admission. “There’s nothing better than the sound of that thrust being wound up, those engines being wound up,” Koerth said as he got a closer look at the runway through a pair of binoculars. Jim Koerth is one of those aviation lovers who will take advantage of any chance to visit the airport overlook at Charlotte Douglas. The overlook is known as one of Charlotte’s “best kept secrets.” It’s a popular spot for aviation enthusiasts, families, and even people on a first date. But airport officials recently put out a statement assuring people the observation area will not close, but be relocated. Many have expressed concern on social media that the airport overlook will close for good due to that construction. It attracts thousands of families and aviation enthusiasts each year. That area is only a few hundred feet from one of the airport’s runways.
In fact, construction on a new taxiway on the north end of Charlotte Douglas International Airport will eventually impact the popular “overlook.” As airports continue to grow in order to handle increased traffic, as well as be ultra secure in a post 9/11 world, observation areas for the public have become harder to find.
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