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PHL → CAE
Which side of the plane to sit from Philadelphia International Airport (Philadelphia) to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (Columbia)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side provides a superior view of the urban Northeast Corridor including Philadelphia and the D.C. area, followed by the rolling Piedmont hills and a direct view of Lake Murray upon landing.
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Philadelphia Skyline
Excellent views of Center City skyscrapers shortly after departure from PHL.
DC Urban Corridor
Look for the sprawling urban layout of Baltimore and the outskirts of Washington D.C. to the west.
Blue Ridge Foothills
The distant silhouettes of the Appalachian range visible on clear days over the Piedmont region.
Lake Murray
The 'Jewel of South Carolina' is often clearly visible on the final descent into Columbia.
The right side is ideal for late afternoon flights to catch the sunset over the Appalachian foothills. Keep your camera ready during the final 15 minutes of the flight; the plane often banks over Lake Murray, providing a perfect view of the dam and islands before touching down at CAE.
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Delaware Bay
Extensive views of the wetlands and industrial shipping lanes along the Delaware River valley.
Chesapeake Bay
A broad perspective of the massive estuary, including its intricate eastern shore inlets.
Lake Gaston
A beautiful man-made reservoir straddling the border of North Carolina and Virginia.
Carolina Pine Forests
Vast stretches of dense Southern pine forests that define the landscape of the mid-Atlantic.
Sit on the left for morning flights to avoid the harsh glare of the sun. This side is better for spotting the distant Atlantic coastline and the intricate patterns of the Chesapeake Bay's tidal marshes. If the flight path stays further east, you may catch a glimpse of the Virginia Beach shoreline.
Get eSIMs for United States
Get eSIMs for United StatesDistance: 841 km (523 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 24 min
Departure: PHL (39.87189865112305, -75.24109649658203)
Arrival: CAE (33.93880081176758, -81.11949920654297)
Route Type: Domestic
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