Places to avoid plane spotting?

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

As a keen spotter/photographer I'm trying out as much airports as I can, so far I've done plane photography at:

Heathrow
Gatwick
Luton
Edinburgh
Southampton
East Midlands
Bristol
Dublin
Brussels
Cologne
Hamburg
Frankfurt
Dusseldorf
Zurich
Salzburg
Toulouse
Amsterdam

The latter is currently the best I've ever done

I am wondering which ones to avoid though? Some places are quite accomodating even though you might think it's somewhere to avoid. IIRC Iran seems to be ok.

Many places in Europe is ok although Paris CDG requires a pass.

Damascus is probably obvious to avoid unless you've lost the plot!

Anyone know of any places to give a wide berth and avoid at all costs?

I'm not talking about avoid because low variety/rubbish place/very quiet, I mean avoid as in you are likely to get arrested/questioned/booted away or worst

 

[WatcherZero]

Plane spotting and number recording is illegal in Greece. They have arrested and tried plane spotters. Similarly British planespotters have been arrested and tried in Kenya, Cyprus and UAE.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

In terms of absolute no-go areas I would say the Arabian peninsular. But there used to be exceptions within the UAE as ramp permits (at quite a hefty price) were available at Sharjah and one of the other small eastern airports. I don't know if they are still available. And Israel would also be a bad idea.

I wouldn't risk Russia (or any of its remaining "client" state neighbours) without attempting to organise advance permission in writing. Which you might not get but equally you could find in the right place might not be needed!

Iran might be OK but not if you hold a UK or US passport: we are still "dodgy" nations in their eyes.

Japan is a definite yes. Airport viewing decks are very popular with the locals, not many of whom are necessarily interested in aircraft!

The USA was brilliant until 9/11. Now the security paranoia around airports makes photography a difficult subject to which any hard and fast rules can be applied. In general the further south and west you go the more laid back the people tend to be and that tends to be reflected in their attitude to security issues. I've not been there for over ten years so any airport specific experience of mine could easily be out of date.

And Watcher Zero's comments about Greece are not strictly accurate. Spotters arrested there had been photographing at the perimeter of a military base where there were very clear signs that photography was banned. But noting registrations at a civilian airport is fine.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I was thinking that, is it Greece that has the airport a bit like Saint Maarten where there is a low wall at the end of the runway? I've known people not having issues.

UAE surprises me considering they have an air show like Farnborough at Dubai.

I know aviation groups like Aeroprints/Ian Allan do tours to Dubai, but is probably easier with a tour. I know they do India something I wouldn't do Solo.

Same with Russia, I'd do that with a spotter tour as it usually ties in with the Russia Air Show.

All the viewing decks in the States dissapeared after 9/11 didn't they?

 

[WatcherZero]

And Watcher Zero's comments about Greece are not strictly accurate. Spotters arrested there had been photographing at the perimeter of a military base where there were very clear signs that photography was banned. But noting registrations at a civilian airport is fine.

They didn't have any cameras when at the military bases as was proven at their retrial and had received written permission from the government but not the military.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

North Korea, with prior permission, is very open to plane enthusiasts taking photographs

You get followed in the Nevada desert if spotting the JANET flights

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

All the viewing decks in the States dissapeared after 9/11 didn't they?

Most of those within airport boundaries did. But there were still some officially provided locations close to perimeters. LAX and Cincinnati spring to mind. And attitudes to spotting off car park roofs varied. At New York's airports this was stopped long before 9/11. I was very politely removed from the roof at Chicago Midway in late 2001 (ie weeks after 9/11). On the other hand I have been on group trips to Las Vegas and Phoenix where such locations seemed perfectly acceptable.

 

[richw]

Plane spotting and number recording is illegal in Greece.

Having travelled to Greece many times, this is not quite right but a good rule to play safe and don't do it.

Its illegal to spot, record and photograph in military sites. The vast majority of civilian airports double up as military airports.

In Crete I was driving along a coastal dual carriageway and there were "photography forbidden" signs for about a 10 mile stretch. I have since found out there is a navy dock at the bottom of the cliffs at that location. So no scenic coastal snaps neither!

 

[Hornet]

I was thinking that, is it Greece that has the airport a bit like Saint Maarten where there is a low wall at the end of the runway? I've known people not having issues.

Skiathos.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Iran is a bit of a strange place, the people are very welcoming, but there is always a feeling of being watched and that the police/military could stop and search you at any moment. We were touring a military museum and the whole time were closely shadowed by uniformed soldiers, strictly policing the no photography rule. They wouldn't even let us down to see the line-up of historic T55s.

As a British citizen you are not allowed to travel without a registered tour guide on a fixed program, so unless you were on a dedicated plane spotting trip, you probably won't get any shots there.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Interesting, never knew that with Iran sounds a bit like North Korea

I read a report when someone did an organized trip to North Korea to the Wonsan Air Day taking in pleasure flights on some very interesting Russian aircraft (IL-76 and AN-2) and said they were very welcoming, photters by the runway, could freely walk around the apron and thet had no problem them snapping the military aircraft on the base. Only thing no-one was allowed to take a picture of was inside the AN-2. Had to have tour guide for the stay in North Korea but that was it.

That military museum in Iran, was it a policy for no pictures at all? Shame to have a museum where you can't take pictures for your own records.

I know in Thailand you cant take shots of military aircraft, and on a subject of military, there was some naval ship on display somewhere but only Thai nationals were allowed to walk around it.

Hornet - Skiathos! That's the one, thank you

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Interesting, never knew that with Iran sounds a bit like North Korea

It felt like I expect NK to be, particularly our guided tour of the museum underneath the Azadi Tower which was a highly surreal propaganda display that felt very communist-era.

That military museum in Iran, was it a policy for no pictures at all? Shame to have a museum where you can't take pictures for your own records.

Yes, it was rather odd, particularly since most of the stuff in the museum was historical - antique weapons etc, hardly military secrets.

As close as we could get to the T55s behind the museum.