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View Full Version : are cameras permitted airside?


G-STAW
10th May 2008, 12:34
Hello,

maybe in the wrong forum, mods please move if necessary...

ive seen alot of photos taken airside on various sites on the net ie A.net, i just wondered if security will let you take your cameras airside?

i know my company will probably allow me to take shots on my break, and if its safe to do so etc....

btw i work for servisair at MAN.

thankyou

G-STAW

Agaricus bisporus
10th May 2008, 15:15
Its kinda scary that anyone even thinks it necessary to ask a question like that. After all, you have said you are in MAN, nor Seoul or Moscow...

RollNow!
10th May 2008, 16:51
I always thought that was a grey area myself never have seen a proper yes or no on that one. Guess it must be ok though seeing as there are a lot of Airside amateur shots as well as pro ones.

Ok moscow i can see the no camera thing i know things like that are a little sensetive, but Seoul?

Democratic place, couldn't see a problem unless you were taking pics over the "neutral zone" ... might :mad: off the Klingons :}

G-STAW
10th May 2008, 16:56
Its kinda scary that anyone even thinks it necessary to ask a question like that. After all, you have said you are in MAN, nor Seoul or Moscow...



i dont get you, your saying it shouldnt be a problem, or...


anyway ill ask security on monday, i just thought the ramp would of been a no go areas for taking pics, i know nik french has had alot of airside pictures published from airside at MAN....

G-STAW

faz1989
10th May 2008, 17:58
I work for ICTS at Gatwick. I been told we are not allow to take photos and if we see anyone we have to inform them that they cannot take photos. As the company I work for is required to follow DSA requirements I always assume this was the reason. However someone from blackjack once mention to me that BAA does not allow people taking photos within the airport. This is also the same with video recording.
ICTS are so strict with the photo taking policy that if a staff member is caught with a camera phone, they will receive a written warning.

config-2
11th May 2008, 09:18
Hi,
It IS possible to take a camera airside but you, or should I say your company, will require a specific photographic permit obtained from BAA. On this permit will be mentioned the names of the staff from your company who have been granted permission to take pictures.
Hope this helps....

Happy snapping.

G-STAW
11th May 2008, 09:32
Hi,
It IS possible to take a camera airside but you, or should I say your company, will require a specific photographic permit obtained from BAA. On this permit will be mentioned the names of the staff from your company who have been granted permission to take pictures.
Hope this helps....

Happy snapping.



ah right, this sounds a more safe and secure option, that will give me peice of mind when snapping, knowing i wont be put in a police van or get a AO1......

you do mention i would have to obtain a permit from BAA?but MAN is a non BAA airport, does this still stand?

thanks

G-STAW

boredcounter
11th May 2008, 11:10
If in doubt, ask your (local) HR to approach the Airport Auth. You are covered employment wise, and your company is covered (for you) by the answer received.

DLH4EM
12th May 2008, 21:17
I know at LHR it is strictly forbidden to take a camera through security for personal use. Having said that, I have taken a camera through staff search points countless times and have never been stopped about it. Even in a random check the security guard took the camera out of my jacket along with some other staff and then just said "thanks very much" and I was off again, wasn't interested in the slightest.

Plus remember most mobile phones hae a camera so it would be interesting to see a policy from airport operators about that one!

mantug01
13th May 2008, 18:10
The police airside at MAN have been stopping some of the resident spotters from taking pictures, a number of them have been complaining. But if your sensable you should be ok.

rolandpull
14th May 2008, 15:06
Interesting subject. I am always surprised to see that you can quite easily buy a digital SLR airside and nobody says that you cannot use it. There are no signs telling you in any gate room that you cannot use it. When stopped by a non airline aligned 'searcher' all they can say is "its policy". What policy? Its not covered in any lecture or briefing when you pick up your airside pass.

Its quite funny how many camera phones came out at LHR when the first A380 came in. The plods weren't interested that day................When ever there is a prang the phone camera's are out within seconds.

super aviator
14th May 2008, 19:10
At LGW myself and work buddies have to take a camera through airside every time we have to meet a flight, to record any evidence of incorrect aircraft loading or damage.... Never been questioned and got some nice pics on facebook also !!! ;)

Everyone has a camera on their mobile phones these days anyway !!??? And you can take them through......

JB007
14th May 2008, 20:25
Ooops! Took at picture of the aircraft I flew from LGW today! :=

Leezyjet
14th May 2008, 21:48
The official line is NO.

However, most people are not really bothered by it - it isn't really a highly sensitve/secret area is it ?.

I take mine in from time to time, and only been asked once why I had it - I just said it was for company use and they were fine (it wasn't of course).

On days like the final day of Concorde, AF1 and the A380 coming in, almost everyone airside had a camera/cam corder of some sort and neither the BAA or Police were bothered and now with mobile phones even more people have them !!.


If it is just a pocket sized point and shoot type camera, then you shouldn't have too much trouble as long as you are discrete with it and where you use it and what you shoot.

Quite a few of the BAA marshellers even have their big SLR camera's with them airside in their vans, so they don't usually mind as they understand the obsession/hobby.

Occasionally you may encounter a jobsworth who will pull you up (probably more likely in a regional airport as they think they are more important), in that case apologise, say you were not aware of the rules as there are no signs and it isn't explained anywhere and they will normally be ok if you are apologetic and don't get arsey with them. The worst they can do is confiscate your camera, but you would get that back later anyway.

Happy snapping.

:)

TWApilot
14th May 2008, 22:08
We are not talking about secret military bases here. Nothing at a civilian airport is classified! (except for the immigration area, they don't like cameras there).

I take my digital SLR with me almost every time I preflight my airplane, all over the world, in case there is something to take a picture of nearby. Nobody has said anything to me, nor has any sign or anything else indicated that it is illegal to do so. Only in the CIS do they frown on it, but even there, I've done it openly in some airports on a few occasions, and the security guys who were watching have never said anything about it.

I'd love to see someone tell me that I can't take a picture of the airplane I myself just flew. Common sense must prevail.

RAMPKING
16th May 2008, 16:01
i take a digital SLR regularly airside at ABZ to photograph ground equipment damage for emailing to HQ, haven't been asked at security yet what i need it for and never been challenged airside when using it.

36050100
16th May 2008, 16:39
Some thoughts:

Is a camera (or other device capable of recording images) a prohibited item under the Prevention of Terrorism Act ? Not specifically as far as I am aware.

I understand that the Airport Authority can prohibit photography under its bylaws. You are on private property and the property owner can stipulate whatever restrictions it likes (providing they are legal) on your use of the property. Prohibiting photography is not the same as not allowing anyone to have a camera in their possession. Similarly, it's illegal to smoke when in the Restricted Zone but not illegal to have cigarettes and matches in your possession. Passengers access the Restricted Zone routinely and there would rightly be an uproar if the security bods confiscated all cameras. You will have noticed that at the entrance to passenger search areas, there are signs which specifically prohibit photography, not the possession of cameras. I think this restriction is in place by virtue of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. As you leave the search area there are no signs which lift the restriction on photography but I believe that Terrorism Act no longer restricts photography. However, the Airport Bylaws will still apply.

I believe the original reason for having such restrictions in place were to do with copyright. If you were for example to photograph a terminal building from private property and have the photograph published comercially without having the owners permission, you could be in breach of copyright laws. As ever, the security stasi are re-interpreting the bylaws to go beyond the original remit of "ensuring security". Most of the photography magazines have been running articles over the last year or so covering "Photography and The Law". Most concluded that "it's a grey area"..........

racasanman
16th May 2008, 21:45
If you take the photograph then you are the owner of the photograph ,therefore,you own the copyright to that photograph.

MaxReheat
19th May 2008, 22:44
It's a very sad indictment and reflection on the insidious ongoing brainwashing perpetrated by the UK government, all under the cloak of 'the war against terror' that this question even has to asked. This isn't East Germany under the Stasi but still (for how much longer?) a free and democratic country. There are, undoubtedly, 'sensitive areas' that may be of interest to some unscrupulous individuals and merits a degree of privacy from prying cameras but does it really matter whether you snap the passing 767 (I take it we are talking about aircraft photos here) from 6 inches outside the airport perimeter fence or inside it - of course not.