Plane Spotting Chicago O’Hare From A Control Tower
November 28, 2025
Getting Access To The Chicago Aviation Department (CAD) Tower
Plane spotting Chicago O’Hare From A Control Tower control tower with the ORD O’Hare Airport Watch group in the summer feels like stepping into a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. In the fourth grade Weeblo’s Cub Scouts, we toured the control tower at DAY Dayton International Airport. That combined with several trips on airplanes as a kid ignited my love of aviation.
For someone who loves unique perspectives, standing high above one of the busiest airports offers an unreal view. The tower hums with energy as Chicago Aviation workers manage all non-aircraft activity. Below, runways and taxiways weave a beautiful web. For a photographer, it’s precision and chaos, framed by the Chicago skyline in the distance—on clear days.
In summer, O’Hare finds its rhythm. Long days stretch from sunrise glow to sunset fire. Heat waves warp the view, making planes float before lifting off. Every few seconds, another jet roars past—each one carrying its own story. From the tower, the choreography unfolds: an American jet taxiing, a United 777 rotating, a Southwest 737 rolling in as a Lufthansa A350 lines up. Here, you see it all—except the A380.
I never thought I would get to plane spot and photograph planes from a control tower! How often do you see aerial photos take from Chicago O’Hare?
Hanging Out With O’Hare Airport Watch
The Airport Watch group adds another dimension. Being part of a community that shares the same passion makes the experience even richer. Everyone focuses on something different—some track tail numbers, others chase light on a fuselage. For me, it’s about the emotion of aviation: the anticipation of takeoff, the curve of a departure, the power that lifts hundreds of tons into the sky.
Sharing those moments with others who understand the thrill makes the day unforgettable.
From the tower’s height, you gain perspective not just on the planes, but on the scale of O’Hare itself. The airport seems endless—dozens of gates, ground vehicles darting, and crews working quietly in the heat. With eight runways, there’s plenty of ground to cover. I often zoom in on the details: a ramp worker signaling pushback, sunlight glinting off a cockpit window, or runway wear from constant use.At the same time, wide shots reveal the grandeur of one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world.
Photographing From 180 Feet Up
Photographing from this spot, a first for me, forced me to slow down and really study the patterns of movements. Summer haze softens the skyline, while clouds rolling over Lake Michigan create shifting backdrops that change by the minute. On this day, we also had smoke from Canadian wildfires. Sometimes, the best shots aren’t the big jets but the quiet moments—the pause between departures, the reflection of an aircraft in a puddle from a passing storm, or the way the light catches an aircraft tail as it waits its turn.
We got 90 minutes to photograph from the tower and to ask questions of the CAD workers. I left the tower with memory cards full of images and a renewed sense of why I love aviation photography. The mix of access, perspective, and community makes plane spotting with the ORD Airport Watch group at O’Hare special. It’s more than airplanes—it’s the energy, the scale, and the rare chance to see one of the world’s greatest transportation hubs from a unique view.
Plane spotting at ORD is usually limited to the perimeter of the airport. Want additional plane spotting tips? Location makes all the difference when plane spotting.
ORD O’Hare Airport Watch
I am a first year member of O’Hare Airport Watch, a Chicago area plane spotting organization. Its purpose is to protect the plane spotting areas while photographing, watching, or videoing arrivals and departures. Think of it as a really cool neighborhood watch group. I joined, went through a background check, and got a membership card.
Throughout the year, OAW has different group functions. My first one was the tour of the first control tower at O’Hare. It is the one described above. I loved this opportunity to photograph departures, arrivals, and every aspect of airport operations from the sky.
