Sydney Spotters Cool Your Jets!

[QldPilotGuy]

Call this a public service announcement for the good of Australia.

This is obviously not aimed at everyone, Aviation is a tight knit community and most of the time those who are in it try to look out for each other.

HOWEVER, there is always exceptions to the rule. It was pouring rain this morning in Sydney and so I took my 2 little nephews, one a baby the other only 2 to watch the planes at Sheps Mound. No one else was there so yes I did park across a parking line marking so that my nephew could sit on my lap and watch the aircraft.
Still with the car park not full and the rain stopped my sister got out to feed my baby nephew and prepare to leave.

We were approached by a spotter (camera in hand) demanding to know why we parked across the line and being rather intimidating to my sister.

Now I don't know who he was but SERIOUSLY, mate get a life, at what point is it EVER ok to face off with a mum and her 2 kids in the car because a car is parked over the line. You are there to take pics of aircraft and the park was set up to also allow among others CHILDREN the pleasure of seeing Aviation up close and personal.

I know spotters are serious about what they do and kudos to them, its great to have a hobby, but if I see this behaviour from ANYONE spotter or not aimed towards anyone then my next call will be to the Federal Police.

Public Service Announcement Over.

[Pinky the pilot]

then my next call will be to the Federal Police.


Suggest you report the abovementioned incident anyway.
Of course, little or nothing may be actually done about it but then again...:hmm:

[Capt Fathom]

little or nothing may be actually done about it

Careful. They may just close off the whole area.
Like a lot of these situations, some of the regular users seem to think they own the place, and police it accordingly!

[wiggy]

Apologies if he was one of “ours”....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557783/Plane-spotters-recruited-for-anti-terror-work.html

[TBM-Legend]

/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-111412/Plane-spotters-knew-risks.htm


In Greece its a trip to the slammer....

[YPJT]

Wiggy,
There was a similar system that was being proposed by the Fed and state plods in Oz a few years back called Airport Watch. That too was a lame duck which now appears to have been appropriately euthanised.

[DaveReidUK]

There was a similar system that was being proposed by the Fed and state plods in Oz a few years back called Airport Watch. That too was a lame duck which now appears to have been appropriately euthanised.

And some years ago, London Heathrow had a similar scheme, now defunct.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/755x595/ee65f0734abb4f5b35090429da869bdc5b2687d8_658db0e38dda325636c 8b7d36e587f22a2401167.jpg

[Hotel Tango]

OldPilotGuy, I think the incident is disgraceful but I certainly would not consider it typical of the average spotter/aviation photographer. My experience is that on the whole they are a very decent bunch of guys and girls (yes, there are girls too). Unfortunately, in our society there are always bad apples in EVERY walk of life (including pilots). So, please let's not tar plane spotters just because of one idiot!

[oldlag53]

Essex Police have a very active Planewatch scheme going at STN. We have an excellent relationship with them, including monthly meets at the Aerozone. Each applicant receives an ID card which obviously doesn’t give any special access but helps the police identify ‘friendlies’ when on patrol.

i have had several lengthy chats with police who seem genuinely interested in our hobby!