how many professional pilots are also spotters?
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: England
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heathrow Director,
I guess I am ashamed to be a spotter because at my local airport, there are certain spotters/individuals who give what we do a bad name!
And the people in my work would have a field day taking the pi$$ so it's just not worth the hassle telling them! But whenever the subject comes round about planes or holiday destinations, soemtimes I go a bit too indepth!!
Best Wishes
Adam
I guess I am ashamed to be a spotter because at my local airport, there are certain spotters/individuals who give what we do a bad name!
And the people in my work would have a field day taking the pi$$ so it's just not worth the hassle telling them! But whenever the subject comes round about planes or holiday destinations, soemtimes I go a bit too indepth!!
Best Wishes
Adam
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a word to all you professionals out there,next time you spot a spotter.
Years ago I was once standing alone at the crash gate at the 23 end at GLA on a cold winter's day when a taxying AA DC-10 came along and stopped right in front of me.
Armed with my camera I zoomed in to the cockpit windows and saw the pilots give me a wave. It made my day.
Seem to recall it was mostly USA pilots who obliged in this way.
Years ago I was once standing alone at the crash gate at the 23 end at GLA on a cold winter's day when a taxying AA DC-10 came along and stopped right in front of me.
Armed with my camera I zoomed in to the cockpit windows and saw the pilots give me a wave. It made my day.
Seem to recall it was mostly USA pilots who obliged in this way.
Quite a few closet enthusiasts in the profession, especially where photography is concerned. Only knew of one pilot who was an active 'spotter' as such - i.e. interested in collecting a/c registrations.
You tend to know the one's who don't have any enthusiasm for aviation - they tend to be a very unhappy bunch with what they have/do and constantly whinge. Sometimes feel they need a serious kick up the backside and to reflect on their own unhappy lives before criticizing others....
Anyway, as for me, well known in the company for my hobby - aviation photography. Often pop outside at lunchtime with the camera.
You tend to know the one's who don't have any enthusiasm for aviation - they tend to be a very unhappy bunch with what they have/do and constantly whinge. Sometimes feel they need a serious kick up the backside and to reflect on their own unhappy lives before criticizing others....
Anyway, as for me, well known in the company for my hobby - aviation photography. Often pop outside at lunchtime with the camera.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: western europe
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess I am ashamed to be a spotter because at my local airport, there are certain spotters/individuals who give what we do a bad name!
I pop down to our local strip if anything interesting is around .... sadly times are changing ..... security has just about eliminated one of the best spotting sites I've ever seen and a photo like the one I took years ago is sadly just a memory ....
One of the things I've noticed about the real pro's in the spotting world is they seem to have the best cam's .... scanners etc ... and virtually nothing coming/going is unknown to them .... the most inconspicuous exec jet etc can suddenly arrive for a splash and dash before crossing the atlantic and these guys seem to know everything about it, even the owner etc etc .... never failed to be impressed by their depth of knowledge .....
I've always though one of the benefits of having lots of spotters around an Airport is they would be the first to call the "Polite men" in the event of anyone being seen on a Sabotage attempt ..... our local Airfield specializes in attracting guys and gals hell bent on holding Anti-war prayer meetings in the middle of the airfield ........
Spotter / photographer / enthusiast as well - have been to many different locations to get that rare machine but am just as happy spending a day at my local ga airfield during the summer months. Have met some interesting people doing this hobby including pilots / ATCO's etc. I was involved with a restoration project for a number of years and regularly visit local aviation groups who manage to get some fascinating speakers. Next week on consecutive evenings at different groups I will (hopefully) see Peter Twiss and Graham Pitchfork. Other speakers I have seen over the last couple of years have included John Farley, Eric 'winkle' Brown, Dick Stratton, Dr Robert Pleming.
Yes it might seem a strange hobby but is it any more strange than, say hitting a small white ball with some sticks, or fishing or any other interest that people are enthusiastic about.
Yes it might seem a strange hobby but is it any more strange than, say hitting a small white ball with some sticks, or fishing or any other interest that people are enthusiastic about.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Not a pilot but,
During my spotter phase at Newcastle in the 1960s, I found it was my commercial sensitivities which were waking up, rather than any urge to fly. I used to count the passengers onto the London-bound Ambassadors and work out the load factor (times 100, divide by 55) or more pertinently look at the four or five who boarded the Dan-Air Dakota to Kristiansand and wonder how the hell it could ever make money.
Still doing it for a living, 40+ years later.
Still doing it for a living, 40+ years later.
From the other side .......
I never spotted aircraft registrations. But from the other side of the fence I must say it gives a bit of a buzz when I take my PA28 in somewhere unusual at wekends to have a couple of 12 year olds look quite excited that they have "got" one they have not seen before, just because I fancied a jolly.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Adz555666,
Its a shame isnt it? We all have our own interests and hobbies, but those with an interest in anything different from the norm i.e football or going out and getting wasted every night or weekend, get an absolute slating!
Ive had a love of all things aviation for as long as I can remember and have got used to the slating and p!!s taking. Im not even a spotter/ photographer!
As I fly also, I generally find that a sting of jealously is also attached to the banter! Some people just cannot handle others living thier dream. Its not our fault we dedicate ourselves to acheiving our deams.
Do not be ashamed in any way!!
excrewingbod
I know what you mean on that one too. Why work in aviation if your not interested!! Generally aviation is not something that you can fall in to like sales/ marketing/ banking etc. You usually have to want to get in to it. And put a fair amount of work in too!
Baffles me to this day why some try and drag it down for others.
Its a shame isnt it? We all have our own interests and hobbies, but those with an interest in anything different from the norm i.e football or going out and getting wasted every night or weekend, get an absolute slating!
Ive had a love of all things aviation for as long as I can remember and have got used to the slating and p!!s taking. Im not even a spotter/ photographer!
As I fly also, I generally find that a sting of jealously is also attached to the banter! Some people just cannot handle others living thier dream. Its not our fault we dedicate ourselves to acheiving our deams.
Do not be ashamed in any way!!
excrewingbod
I know what you mean on that one too. Why work in aviation if your not interested!! Generally aviation is not something that you can fall in to like sales/ marketing/ banking etc. You usually have to want to get in to it. And put a fair amount of work in too!
Baffles me to this day why some try and drag it down for others.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Isle of Man
Age: 71
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've been "spotting" under various guises now since the age of 8 (I'm a youthful 53 now). It never fails to amaze me the vehemence of most Engineers about spotters. It's as if they consider it a crime to be remotely interested in the machines they work on. And yet they will trot out chapter and verse about any aeroplane you can think of, but of course, they're not really interested!!
After a long spell in the Air Force and keeping my hobby firmly under my hat (for most of the time) I've now decided that, at my stage in life, I couldn't give a monkey's stuff what some fool thinks of my hobby. Working for a British airline at a small airport I have managed to bag 16 free return flights thanks to my pictures - something that others find amazing. Especially as they are with rival airlines!!
The fact is, spotters are weird, but no weirder than the sports freaks, the boat nuts and the golf fanatics. It's a hobby, no more or less.
skiddy
After a long spell in the Air Force and keeping my hobby firmly under my hat (for most of the time) I've now decided that, at my stage in life, I couldn't give a monkey's stuff what some fool thinks of my hobby. Working for a British airline at a small airport I have managed to bag 16 free return flights thanks to my pictures - something that others find amazing. Especially as they are with rival airlines!!
The fact is, spotters are weird, but no weirder than the sports freaks, the boat nuts and the golf fanatics. It's a hobby, no more or less.
skiddy
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Pass?
Age: 49
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Skiddy,
I feel the same way, as I work for the same small airline most people laugh and joke about our genuine interest in aviation.
I consider it a privilage to work in the same industry as my hobby, not many people have that pleasure.
I feel the same way, as I work for the same small airline most people laugh and joke about our genuine interest in aviation.
I consider it a privilage to work in the same industry as my hobby, not many people have that pleasure.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: western europe
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I never spotted aircraft registrations
......
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Earth
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Honestly I think over here in Germany there must be quite a few pilots, who are also spotters.
Example: The A 380 approached Düsseldorf on Sunday and there were according to our TV a few "delays" caused by pilots, who were eager to see the Airbus. I cannot judge upon it because I am no pilot and I was not there either. I did not bother to get up at 4 am on Sunday to get a good place in the first row to the observation deck. About 70.000 - 100.000 people did. That was quite enough. I am relying on the media in this case, perhaps there might be some truth in it.
I have just read a forum comment about this matter from a so called LH BAe pilot, who had a regional flight going from EDDL on Sunday around that time. He talked about definitely taking his camera along. I guess that would be considered as spotting.
Just wrote the word "so called" because one has to be cautious, although I do not wish to consider him a liear. The forum was a hobby flight simulator forum (for the home computer) and his profile also said that he was LH BAe pilot. I guess it might be true. My two cents are just that he committed in this case an even more serious "crime". Just kidding of course, but I made the experience in this forum that people using their home computer as gaming platform are bashed for it. Even more than spotters. So a pilot doing that and being a spotter would for people be kind of a... well *insert suiting word here*
For me it is normal. Most people became pilots because of an interest in the matters of flying. Of the recent flying students many might have had or perhaps still have software products on their computer and many photos on their hard drive as well.
About myself: I for my part do not really call myself a spotter. I do not do it professionally and I do not really collect those pictures. I just also take my DigiCam along to work sometimes (I work for a contractor company at the airport).
Example: The A 380 approached Düsseldorf on Sunday and there were according to our TV a few "delays" caused by pilots, who were eager to see the Airbus. I cannot judge upon it because I am no pilot and I was not there either. I did not bother to get up at 4 am on Sunday to get a good place in the first row to the observation deck. About 70.000 - 100.000 people did. That was quite enough. I am relying on the media in this case, perhaps there might be some truth in it.
I have just read a forum comment about this matter from a so called LH BAe pilot, who had a regional flight going from EDDL on Sunday around that time. He talked about definitely taking his camera along. I guess that would be considered as spotting.
Just wrote the word "so called" because one has to be cautious, although I do not wish to consider him a liear. The forum was a hobby flight simulator forum (for the home computer) and his profile also said that he was LH BAe pilot. I guess it might be true. My two cents are just that he committed in this case an even more serious "crime". Just kidding of course, but I made the experience in this forum that people using their home computer as gaming platform are bashed for it. Even more than spotters. So a pilot doing that and being a spotter would for people be kind of a... well *insert suiting word here*
For me it is normal. Most people became pilots because of an interest in the matters of flying. Of the recent flying students many might have had or perhaps still have software products on their computer and many photos on their hard drive as well.
About myself: I for my part do not really call myself a spotter. I do not do it professionally and I do not really collect those pictures. I just also take my DigiCam along to work sometimes (I work for a contractor company at the airport).
Last edited by Avrel; 14th Nov 2006 at 18:11.
