Aircraft photography
 

Hi guys,

I am very interested in aircraft photography and would love to give it ago. The only thing holding me back is the thought of being arrested for being at a runway taking the photos. I see on Airliners.net | Airplanes - Aviation - Aircraft- Aircraft Photos & News this website is dedicated to it, so people do take the photos. im just wanting to know if there are rules, or a pass of some description so i dont get arrested and charged.

Thanks

Jamie

Jamie - don't worry. So long as you are not trespassing on private property you are not committing any offence taking photographs of aircraft at your local airport in the UK.

Cheers.

does that include large airports like Edinburgh, Glasgow or Prestwick?

Have a read of this thread - it includes the relevant bits of law with regards to spotters...

http://www.pprune.org/spectators-bal...ay-er-not.html

Plenty of public areas around Glasgow and Edinburgh from which you can photograph aircraft. There are sites on the web which even help you locate the best spots. Best is to carry identity on you in the event you are checked. Police may from time to time decide to make security checks. Be polite and co-operate. They're only doing their job. Generally, they leave you to it. Sadly, now and again, you may come up against a self-important type who will want to make a display of authority without legal foundation. It's up to you if you want to comply or kick up a fuss. There is no law which forbids you to photograph civil aircraft from a public area.

Reminds me of taking some pickies from a public road, off airfield at SEN, followed by, carting off to SEN Terminal Building, frog matched through it full of passengers by 2 large coppers, interviewed by Special Branch officer, then released ! All with the wife to be in toe !

New terror laws? This was in 1984 ! Happy days :)

These days SEN seems not to be problem Jamie-Southend with its only one weekly scheduled flight :hmm:

http://www.plane-spotter.com/Jpegs/8...l_building.jpg

All the time we (two Norwegian aviation enthusiasts) stayed at the airport we didn't see any Police, and we were free to take all the pictures needed. Our mission for visiting the airport was to fly with the weekly flybe flight to Jersey. But then we experienced a different first of during our stay at Southend - we were both singled out for a full checked-in luggage check. They emphasized that it was a random selection, but we were the only two picked out for this treatment and we were also the only non-UK passport holders on the flight - I wouldn't call that random. For me it wasn't that bad - spending five minutes in privacy with a lovely young lady. She did commend my shirt tast and hadn't it been for her hi vis vest and the uniform I would have asked her out for dinner strait away ;)

In the UK I have only been approached by the police twice - once outside Terminal 4 at Heathrow and the other occation was on the southside at Manchester. The threesome at Heathrow came out strong, but I ended up with "a good luck with the hunt" and the team leader admitting he was one of us. At Manchester it was a bit different. The southside is patrolled by police from Cheshire, and my friend's comment after this short interview was: "That's the worst intelligence gathering I have ever experienced - and I should know with my intelligence background". We were allowed to continue out hunt for the perfect rotation shot ;)

As was said onthe original thread its a question of which officers stop
you some will be perfectly happy with your being there and your answers.
some wil start the NICK NICK Routine "YOU CANT STOP THERE "
Be polite as best you can best not to argue get you nowhere but what
you are doing is not illegal using a camera is not illegal if your not in
the wrong place. accept the piece of paper explaining why they
stopped you one more for the collection Total of 7 in week is the most
i have heard.It helps there figures good for chief constables records.

TONY