Aircraft Spotting.

AKA What's a Plane Spotter ?

What do you say to someone who askes you what you do as a hobby ?

I find it hard to explain my hobby to a so called outsider, but some time ago i found the following piece of text on the web, that might help explaining our hobby to the ones that don't quite understand it :

What's a Plane Spotter ?!?

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Introduction

::: To answer the question "What's a plane spotter ?" we must go back in time and go back to the roots of spotting aircraft over 60 years ago. For those of you who want the short version click here.

::: During WW II the Royal Air Force used a large number of volunteers to observe incoming aircraft. Due to the lack of sophisticated radar equipment at that time, the information gathered by these observers was critical in planning and executing defensive counter air operations. The volunteers of the Observer Corps where the first true aircraft spotters trained in recognizing aircraft, their colors and their distinctive markings and codes.

::: Today aircraft spotting is fortunately a peaceful hobby for many people. There are many different ways to practice this hobby. Some people are interested in civil aviation while others prefer the military branch. Some are only interested in operational aircraft, while others enjoy going to museums and watch preserved planes. Some “don’t do” transport aircraft while others “do” only fighters.

::: Among these people you will find different kind of spotters. Some people just like to watch, some are photographers, others write down the aircraft registration number or listen to airband frequencies on their radio or scanner. Of course a mix of these specialties is a familiar sight among the spotters. Let us look at these different specialties and find out what it is all about.

‘The Watchers’

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::: A well known sight at the fence of an airfield or base are some people who just like to watch the aircraft taxi, depart and land. Most of them have no aviation related hobbies but the simply are intrigued by the ‘wonder of flight’. Impressed by the size of big airliners or the power and agility of fighter aircraft, they enjoy being there to watch. Most of these casual plane watchers don’t have much knowledge of the aircraft they’re watching, the just have a good time. Most of the time you find there families with children or businessmen stopping over for a break. Amongst these people are a few former aircraft spotters who had to lay down their past hobby for one reason or another but still have a weak spot in their harts for aviation.

‘The Photographers’

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::: Photographers are probably the biggest group if you look at the different ways to practice the hobby of aircraft spotting, although there is a strong connection with the ‘Number-Writers’, but more on that later. Photographers can practice their hobbies also in many different ways. Some try to take a picture of every aircraft they see, while others only take pictures of aircraft in a (near) perfect position, situation or weather. There are people who hate static aircraft shots. They want speed, action and agility. Their challenge is to get that split second action shot of a fast-moving jet. Others prefer a aircraft parked spacious, with sun (most important), no barriers, stepladders, people or ‘remove-before-flight’ streamers.

‘The Number Writers’

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::: A second major group of aircraft spotters are those who write down registration numbers. As each aircraft has its own unique registration number (there are exceptions on this rule) they are trying to ‘collect’ as much numbers as possible. The only requirement for number writers is that they have to see the aircraft themselves. Just copying someone else’s numbers is not part of the game. The numbers obtained are often stored in a database together with other items like construction numbers, squadron numbers, codes or special markings.

‘The Listeners’

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::: These are the people who are listening to the airband radios and scanners. They try to follow the conversations between pilots or between the air traffic control and the pilots. This way they can ‘predict’ when or what can be expected to land or take off from a airfield. Sometimes they are able to track a certain flight for hours e.g. when it crosses the Atlantic.

What drives them ?

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::: Spending lots of money to travel all over the word to see exotic aircraft or waiting for many hours near the fence of an airbase is not something everybody enjoys to do. The motivation for spotters to do so, is as divers as there are people. Hoping to catch a picture (or tail number) of a unique or rare aircraft is something all spotters dream about.

::: What photographers and number writers have in common is that they all like to 'have' that one aircraft out of a group of series they have been missing for years (picture and/or number). Another common goal for spotters is to get something 'complete', like all aircraft from a squadron or to 'get' all the F-16’s from a certain airforce. (You can compare it with collecting poststamps.) This quest is almost never over because changes in the inventory happen. Planes will swap from squadron to squadron or that airforce is buying some more F-16’s as replacements. Keeping track of the history of an aircraft (when did it fly with squadron x or when did it crash) is also a vital part of the hobby. While aircraft spotting can be done on an individual basis, most spotters nowadays are member of a aviation group or spotting society. Here they meet each other to exchange information, photo material or just for fun. A number of these groups are listed at the linkpage.

A word of caution

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::: Aircraft spotting is not a world wide accepted hobby especially after ‘9-11’. While some authorities regard these spotters as possible terrorists, others see them as spies. Although neither is true, please be careful where to go and how you behave. In some countries it is forbidden to take pictures and in some it is even forbidden to look at their aircraft or be in the vicinity of an airfield. But there are also pleasant contacts with the authorities. Like at the Glasgow Airport where the airport police contacted the local spotters and asked them to report any suspicious persons (no, I don’t mean spotters) wandering around the fence. Also there are many airbases organizing small events for spotters and allowing them to visit their base to take pictures from stationed as well as visiting aircraft.

::: We can continue to explain the phenomenon of spotting for a long time. As you have found out there are no strict rules or regulations to qualify someone as a plane spotters. There are simply too many different ways to practice this hobby. Maybe you want to have a look at the short version of this article here.

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Short version:

What's A Plane Spotters ?!?

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You have spotters who are interested in civilian aviation.

You have spotters who are interested in military aviation.

You have spotters who just like to watch aircraft.

You have spotters who take pictures

You have spotters who write down registration numbers.

You have spotters who listen to airband radio emissions.

You have spotters who combine some of the above.

You have spotters who have a special subject.

You have spotters who are often organized in groups or communities.

You have spotters who live for their hobby

You have spotters who have a life ;-).