how many professional pilots are also spotters?
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Bear Island
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Find it is useful to know what you are looking at when a French controller tells you to line up after the Airbus 318 .. when they do most of their talking in French, there are 4 holding points in use filled with various products of mssrs Boeing/Airbus, so there has to be some common ground... as for noting the reggies ???
Nope .. definately mad.
Nope .. definately mad.
Oops pardon me
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Manchester England
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Spot and be proud of it! All you closset anoraks, its time to come out!
A flight deck is the best spotting position on the airport. Look at all those fantastic pics on Airliners.net Lots of those were taken by jocks or crew.
I have known crews request that they need to stop on the ramp for some technical problem when the real reason was to get that top pic of some obscure IL18 or DC8!
Aircrew spotting logs always look impressive when you show them off to the "by the fence brigade"(No offence) Two or three airports in one day in different countries! All payed for by the airline and being payed while doing it. Luxury!!!
Coop & spotting Bear
A flight deck is the best spotting position on the airport. Look at all those fantastic pics on Airliners.net Lots of those were taken by jocks or crew.
I have known crews request that they need to stop on the ramp for some technical problem when the real reason was to get that top pic of some obscure IL18 or DC8!
Aircrew spotting logs always look impressive when you show them off to the "by the fence brigade"(No offence) Two or three airports in one day in different countries! All payed for by the airline and being payed while doing it. Luxury!!!
Coop & spotting Bear
Join Date: Jul 2002
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There is a large spotting-scene in ZRH. When good wx prevails, its advisesable to come by foot, bike or public transport as the parking areas near thr 16 and 14 are too crowded. You see the amateurs with the smaller cameras and you see the serious folks with the serious equipment. Plenty of pilots and atcos down there too.
But generally the average atco here looks down on spotters and are absurdly proud of the fact that they cant distinguish between an A318 and a DC8.
But generally the average atco here looks down on spotters and are absurdly proud of the fact that they cant distinguish between an A318 and a DC8.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Don't see anything wrong with spotting personally. In this industry we need a bit of gen. knowledge. eg. At EGLL, you get an instruction "...line up behind the departing Speedbird A320", and there are about 20 BA aircraft in front of you....always thought it might help knowing the differences between aircraft/airframes.
However standing in an anorak, at the end of the runway with a pair of bi-nocs, a notepad and a list of registrations might be a tad over the top....
However standing in an anorak, at the end of the runway with a pair of bi-nocs, a notepad and a list of registrations might be a tad over the top....
I'm Just A Lawnmower
Join Date: Aug 2002
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I've always thought that those who are so immersed in the subject that they can tell you the exact difference between 747-300 and a 747-400 are a bit wierd.
Oh, and by the way, it's DC-8, not DC8
Oh, and by the way, it's DC-8, not DC8
Only half a speed-brake
Oh, can't you?
On a external familirisation 737 walk-around in our hangar (me, an ab-initio cadet, others perhaps experienced on various beasts), we only reached our aircraft after giving 20 minutes to adouring a local mogul G-V covered in dazzling water droplet diamonds as she was having a shower. The only curve-interrupting thing was the devilish Kollsman IR thingy .... aaah. And those overwing emerg. exits, speachless we stood.
And then we proceed on to the belowed one that keeps us from being hungry. Nevertheless, I see why DiCarpio (pun intended) talks about "iron" on silver screen.
Ciao,
FD.
Edited for the sloppiness of my browser/uplink.
On a external familirisation 737 walk-around in our hangar (me, an ab-initio cadet, others perhaps experienced on various beasts), we only reached our aircraft after giving 20 minutes to adouring a local mogul G-V covered in dazzling water droplet diamonds as she was having a shower. The only curve-interrupting thing was the devilish Kollsman IR thingy .... aaah. And those overwing emerg. exits, speachless we stood.
And then we proceed on to the belowed one that keeps us from being hungry. Nevertheless, I see why DiCarpio (pun intended) talks about "iron" on silver screen.
Ciao,
FD.
Edited for the sloppiness of my browser/uplink.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Balix,
mate, its not hard, one has winglets, the other doesn't!! Exactly my point. When ATC ask you to line up behind the 300, and there are a right mix of 300s and 400s in front of you (bearing in mind SAA operated at one point all the pax versions of the 747 out there), your gonna have a bit of fun aren't you?
Cheers.
mate, its not hard, one has winglets, the other doesn't!! Exactly my point. When ATC ask you to line up behind the 300, and there are a right mix of 300s and 400s in front of you (bearing in mind SAA operated at one point all the pax versions of the 747 out there), your gonna have a bit of fun aren't you?
Cheers.
I'm Just A Lawnmower
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Speed Freak
I'm well aware of the difference. I was simply having a little dig at some of the contributors for not knowing that DC-8 has a - in it. These things matter to the average enthusiast
I'm well aware of the difference. I was simply having a little dig at some of the contributors for not knowing that DC-8 has a - in it. These things matter to the average enthusiast
Join Date: Jul 2002
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I know my aircraft types. There has been the odd occasion when I didn't know what the aircaft I was talking to looked like. Example: AN22. Or should that be AN-22 ???
Some of my co-workers were suprised to find out that the target doing 400kts ground speed at FL370 was infact a turbo prop. P180
Some of my co-workers were suprised to find out that the target doing 400kts ground speed at FL370 was infact a turbo prop. P180
Join Date: Jul 2001
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As Balix says it can depend on how deeply you get into it that determines how others see you. For the sake of this discussion I'll admit to being a spotter but only because I love spending time at airports watching the action and appreciating the hardware. When I'm away with work I like to have lunch beside the local airport watching the comings & goings. I have zero interest in collecting information or taking photos. I have never wanted to fly for a living but did possess a restricted private license for a while. I had to choose financially between becoming a PPL or buying a boat & the boat won. So my passion is yachting, but that doesn't detract from my love of watching anything to do with aviation. I suppose I'll still be a wannabe geek spotter to some, but do I really care? More power to the serious spotters I say!
Cheers
dghob
Cheers
dghob
mate, its not hard, one has winglets, the other doesn't!!
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/511283/M/
It's back to spotting school for you !!
Join Date: Jan 2002
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FlightDetent
That picture of the (and I know this designation will prolly get me flamed) Tu-154M ....... golly, I nearly reached for my fly
Whilst not taking registrations or having ever gone on an official "spotting" trip, apart from air shows that is, pérhaps I should be classified as a mere "keen observer"? But I do observe, and I can tell you ad nausem the difference between a 727-200 and a -200Adv, a 707 and a 720, and a A300B2 and a B4, and various other bits of equally pedantic and useless bits of aviation related information. But it's important to know this stuff if you work in aviation! I deffo signed up in order to get to play with the darling things in my own way, and certainly wouldn't enjoy having the same type of job in möst any other field. It's cutting edge technology (albeit 1970s technologz in 'my' airline), the extremely high cost and an unforgiving natural environment that spawns the process of developing a system to manage and mitigate risks that attracts me. It also gives me the perfect oppertunity to get up close and personal when it suits me.
It would hardly be the same with city busses ...
I'm a buff proud and of it! (but don't tell anyone
)
Whilst not taking registrations or having ever gone on an official "spotting" trip, apart from air shows that is, pérhaps I should be classified as a mere "keen observer"? But I do observe, and I can tell you ad nausem the difference between a 727-200 and a -200Adv, a 707 and a 720, and a A300B2 and a B4, and various other bits of equally pedantic and useless bits of aviation related information. But it's important to know this stuff if you work in aviation! I deffo signed up in order to get to play with the darling things in my own way, and certainly wouldn't enjoy having the same type of job in möst any other field. It's cutting edge technology (albeit 1970s technologz in 'my' airline), the extremely high cost and an unforgiving natural environment that spawns the process of developing a system to manage and mitigate risks that attracts me. It also gives me the perfect oppertunity to get up close and personal when it suits me.
It would hardly be the same with city busses ...
I'm a buff proud and of it! (but don't tell anyone
)
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Well i'm sure by just looking at my username you can see where I stand on the subject!!
Having been "spotting" for over 28 years now I constantly question my sanity! Especially stood next to a runway in the freezing cold yet, when anybody asks me why I do it I am completely unable to give a coherent answer!
I remember a few years ago some physchiatrist coming up with an interesting theory that it was all to do with an inbuilt need within the human psyche, harking back to when we were all hunters to "collect" things.Actually, if I sit down and really think how much time I devote to all things spotting then I find that it amounts to something like 40% of my DAILY waking day
I have travelled the world over spotting, much much more than I would have done if I was'nt a spotter.In fact spotting and knowing other spotters has me now working in Paris for an airline in operations and getting paid to go spotting everyday!!
Sad?? maybe, happy?? definitely!!
Having been "spotting" for over 28 years now I constantly question my sanity! Especially stood next to a runway in the freezing cold yet, when anybody asks me why I do it I am completely unable to give a coherent answer!
I remember a few years ago some physchiatrist coming up with an interesting theory that it was all to do with an inbuilt need within the human psyche, harking back to when we were all hunters to "collect" things.Actually, if I sit down and really think how much time I devote to all things spotting then I find that it amounts to something like 40% of my DAILY waking day
I have travelled the world over spotting, much much more than I would have done if I was'nt a spotter.In fact spotting and knowing other spotters has me now working in Paris for an airline in operations and getting paid to go spotting everyday!!
Sad?? maybe, happy?? definitely!!
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Now that my Diabetes is stopping my airline career after 40 years, its back to the end of the runway to get the photo's - instead of from the Flight Deck!! Hand the taxying over to the F/O and tell him to slow it up a bit and hey presto, another unique picture!!
Never was much of a number collector, but always have carried a camera with me ( well not always in the late sixties/early seventies to my great regret ) not just for the aircraft but some of the scenery could be quite fantastic!!
Amazing how few pilots were enthusiasts - perhaps it was just a case they felt too embarassed to admit it.
Never was much of a number collector, but always have carried a camera with me ( well not always in the late sixties/early seventies to my great regret ) not just for the aircraft but some of the scenery could be quite fantastic!!
Amazing how few pilots were enthusiasts - perhaps it was just a case they felt too embarassed to admit it.
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Thought I would resurrect this one and add a few points of my own.
From my time in aviation you do generally get two distinct types. Those who happily admit to being spotters or serious enthusiasts, and those who would rip you appart if you so even breathed a hint of being interested in aviation. Funnily enough it generally seems that the people who work in the aviation field are the least interested! A chain of thought that I for one certainly can not understand.
Im not a number cruncher or even a photographer, but still love being around aviation.
To the serious spotters out there... Good on you all! Its often a pleasure to chat to you all before I go flying!
From my time in aviation you do generally get two distinct types. Those who happily admit to being spotters or serious enthusiasts, and those who would rip you appart if you so even breathed a hint of being interested in aviation. Funnily enough it generally seems that the people who work in the aviation field are the least interested! A chain of thought that I for one certainly can not understand.
Im not a number cruncher or even a photographer, but still love being around aviation.
To the serious spotters out there... Good on you all! Its often a pleasure to chat to you all before I go flying!
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I've been a spotter (cival number cruncher only) since I was about 6.
Got a job working at my local airport when I was 16, thought I'd landed on my feet!
Work & spotting at the same time!!
Except for the pi$$ takeing from my work mates!
After 4 years, got fed up of seeing planes everyday, then getting up early to go see "more planes" on my day off so gave it up!
Then about 5 years later, started spotting again and have carried on ever since!
But my workmates at my current job dont know that I do it and never will do!!
Adam
Got a job working at my local airport when I was 16, thought I'd landed on my feet!
Work & spotting at the same time!!
Except for the pi$$ takeing from my work mates!
After 4 years, got fed up of seeing planes everyday, then getting up early to go see "more planes" on my day off so gave it up!
Then about 5 years later, started spotting again and have carried on ever since!
But my workmates at my current job dont know that I do it and never will do!!
Adam
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Nothing to be ashamed of at all... I've been a spotter on and off for 55-odd years; some of my work colleagues knew.. others didn't. It simply does not matter.
No, the REAL barking nutcases are those ATCOs and pilots who drive steam trains in their spare time.......... (onloy 'cos I'm dead jealous).
No, the REAL barking nutcases are those ATCOs and pilots who drive steam trains in their spare time.......... (onloy 'cos I'm dead jealous).
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I'm a pilot and a spotter. The last muppet!! I had sitting in the right hand seat couldn't tell the difference between a 1-11 and a 747 he was a total whelk! who's joke of an ambition was to fly(Ha Ha Ha) an airbus,
Buttonpusher
I'm no spotter , but I'll always look in the sky if I hear a plane, and I always give the spotters at the airport a wave if I can, especially in Manchester, theres always lots there.