A Beginners Guide to Plane Spotting

A Beginners Guide to Plane SpottingA Beginners Guide to Plane SpottingPlane schmierblutung isa great way to learn about and enjoytheaviation industry andtheaircraft and airlines that encompass it. For anyone who enjoys airtuchs,plane spotting makes a great hobby. Whetheryoure interested in becoming a plane spotter yourselfor yourejust intrigued by the endeavor,the information in this article should help you understand the nature of the hobby better. And when youre ready to begin plane spotting, hopefully, this information willhelp you getoff to a good start. Whats the Big Deal? Why do people stand around watching airplanes, anyway? The answer to that is a simple one, really Plane spotters like airplanes. With that said, there are different types of aircraft spotters with different tactics and goals. Some aircraft spotters record the registration number (also called the N-number) of every airplane theyve ever spotted in an attempt to log as many as possible or to remember which ai rcraft theyve spotted. Others photograph as many aircraft as they can, paying attention to the different types and liveries, and sharing their photos in online communities. Aircraft spotters sometimes make it a goal to spot every airframeor type ofliveryfrom a particular airline.And still there areothers who like to watch airplanes fly overhead without regard to the operator or type of aircraft. How to Get Started Plane spotting is as simple as going to the nearest airport and watching airplanes. (Really, it is)There are certain unwritten rules and guidelines to follow in order to keep the peace with airport management personneland other plane spotters, but for the most part, all you need to do to get startediswatch and, if youd like photograph airplanes. Long-time plane spotter and NYCAviation owner Phil Derner, Jr., suggests looking online for plane spotting information. You can find out more about plane spotting in your local area by starting your search online. Or, youcan re search and ask questions onthe message boards at NYCAviation. If you can find other spotters in your area, dont be afraid to ask for their advice. Theyll be able to tell you the dos and donts for thelocal area and can share advice on how to get started. Where to Go Finding a place to go can be difficult for beginners. But you can legally spot aircraft from just about anywhere. Plane spotting is perfectly legal if youre on public property and not in a restricted area, says Derner.Some private property owners will allow aircraft spotters, too, but they obviously reserve the right to ask you to leave if they wish. Derner warns that no matter what, cooperating with local authorities is important. If airport security personnel or local police ask you to leave, then you should leave. Whether they are right or wrong, its best to cooperate. You can always seek legal advice later if you feel that your rights were violated and you want to take action. What to Look For Once youve found a location, you can begin looking for aircraft. But how do you know what to look for? There are a lot of options here. First, you can always just sit and watch without really looking for anything in particular. But if you want to take plane spotting a step further, you can join the ranks of experiencedplane spotters and learn to identify aircraft. When identifying aircraft, youll look for distinguishingcharacteristicssuch as the registration number, size, engine location, wing shape and paint scheme, to name a few. You can also search for a particular aircraft that is supposed to arrive or depart, based on a public flight plan database like FlightAware, where you can track flights anddetermine the departure and destination airports for most aircraft. Equipment The equipment you find necessary for plane spotting will depend on your own personal preference for how you want to spot aircraft and what you wish to do with your new hobby. You can use a sheet of paper or a computer dat abase to log aircraft information, for example. Or, if you plan to take pictures, youll probably want to invest in a decent cameraand lots of memory cards. Many plane spotters have additional equipment that assists in finding and tracking airplanes. A transceiver is helpful for listening to communications between air traffic controllers and aircraft. Sometimes an ADS-B receiver is used to locate aircraft. At the very least, youll want a chair, a good pair of binoculars and an aircraft spotting guide to assist in identifying airplanes. The Rules There are certain unwritten rules for plane spotting. Some are common sense, and some are discovered as you go. Climbing or touching the airportfenceormessing around with airport lighting systemsarent allowed, for example. Some airports also have very specific rules about photography and will only allow spotters in designated areas. In general, remember to be considerate of the airport, property owners and other spotters. Plane spotting i s a simple hobby thats available to virtually everyone. For more information about plane spottingor to view aircraft spotting guides, visit NYCAviation.com.