Many people, who are not into it, see it as an odd hobby but
it's considered a popular pastime worldwide for people, including me,
who are keen about airplanes and flying, who are constantly amazed
by the ingenuity of human ability at getting a giant tin bird up into the sky.
I learned this and experienced the awesomeness first hand in the year 2010
when I decided to go for a walk with my camera on a whim
at Kuala Lumpur International Airport which was near to my college
where I did my Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.
In 2010. Don't remember I had this phone before.
But you can see how happy I was during my first plane spotting at KLIA.
From Anjung Tinjau KLIA. One of the very first shots I had there.
Sri Lankan Airlines A340-300. Didn't have a good camera at that time
but it didn't stop me from developing the hobby,
AirAsia X A330-300 climbing out from KLIA.
Emirates A330-200 landing at KLIA.
AirAsia A320 approaching KLIA.
Me posting under an engine of Singapore Airlines B747-400
in Singapore Airshow 2012.
The jumbo jet.
I have even met some people who are really passionate, for them,
plane spotting is simply genetically coded in his DNA.
The hobby itself is actually free but a real spotter will never get satisfied,
they don't mind spending a fortune on getting some really good gear
for plane spotting to make it easier and more fun
as it has evolved from its roots of using nothing but binoculars
to a high tech, real-time game, some examples of the equipment are;
- A smart phone or computer which has an internet connection to get the latest update of airport operations(flight schedules) and also the live tracking of the airplanes.
- A dedicated radar decoded and radio scanner or the application(Liveatc.net) to keep track of the airplane movement, activities and the usage of the runways.
- Some maps or guides for spotting where you can easily find on the Internet.
- Some decent binoculars to check out the airplanes in details.
- A tripod to take some steady shots and videos.
- A good DSLR with a telephoto lens because the airplanes never flies low and near to you.
Pictures starting from here were taken with my new camera.
AirAsia X A330-300 taxiing to the low cost carrier terminal after landing.
AirAsia A320 "A true Malaysian" livery taking off from Kota Bharu Airport.
AirAsia A320 "World's best" livery retracting its landing gears after takeoff.
Weststar helicopter landing at Kota Bharu airport.
Malaysia Airlines prior to landing.
One Malaysia livery of AirAsia A320.
Piper Warrior 3
Plane spotting actually originated in World War 2
where some countries involved in the war encouraged their citizens
to look out for enemy aircraft to warn of an impending attack.
Britain even had the Royal Observer Corps which was
a civilian defense organisation operating between 1925 to 1995.
( Link --> Royal Observer Corps )
Today, plane spotting or known as aircraft spotting
is not about preventing an attack or terrorism
but about aviation or airplane enthusiasts looking to snap a picture
of the interesting flying craft which they like,
whether they are airliners, fighters, helicopters, airships or hot air balloons,
it's all up to their personal interests :)
This picture doesn't belong to me.
As well as this picture. Airship.
And this also from the Internet.
It's Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Festival btw.
However, after the 9/11 incident, plane spotting is accused
of being a threat to national and air security,
thus, in some countries, for example, Malaysia,
even though there's no rules against amateur photography on airport property,
the airport authority police have no tolerance for plane spotting,
forcing spotters off the airport whenever they find spotters
near to the sensitive areas at the airport,
that's why I have never been to the hot spots,
like the most famous Ladang near KLIA
to avoid being asked to show my identity card by the police.
"Adik, IC mana?" :D
Probably plane spotting is more accepted in the western countries
like Los Angeles which openly encourages plane spotting
on their social media outlets, asking spotters to send in their best shots,
anyway, just make sure you know the rules of that particular country
before you start spotting so that you won't get into any legal troubles.
From the Internet. A very nice shot you have there, dude :D
Picture from: http://www.travelstart.co.za
Make sure your girl won't feel bored
if you're bringing her to spotting :DD
From the Internet.
Sexy. I mean the airplane :DDD
From the Internet. Great posture. :DDDD
From the Internet.
Spotting at a place like this it the bomb!
This is professional. haha!
Besides, there're also some sites or forums on the Internet
where spotters share their techniques, tips, photos,
locations they think are best for plane spotting
and discuss everything aviation related.
Belows are some of the really good sites:
Malindo ATR72-600 vacating the runway after landing.
KLM B777-300ER Skyteam livery climbing out from KLIA.
Malaysia Airlines B737-800 Oneworld livery resting at the apron.
Malaysia Airlines B737-800 Retro livery taxiing to the main terminal buidling.
The 100th Airbus in the world which belongs to Malaysia Airlines.
Just landed. Turning into high speed taxiway.
AirAsia latest livery.
Japan Airlines
Malindo Airline B737-900
At the end of the day, everyone who ends up
being an aviation or airplane geek must have their own stories to tell
and plane spotting simply combines their love and enthusiasm for aviation.
"There's always something to see, new liveries, new airlines and new fleets,
bringing surprises to the spotters every time they go spotting."
If you wish to know more about plane spotting,
just do some reseaches about the spots in different airports,
come on any given day, especially the sunny ones,
you'll find enthusiastic and knowledgeable people there
with their eyes and cameras focused on the skies.
Reference : Be an aircraft spotter.
Airborne.
Rock and roll.
Let's fly high, baby.
1 comment:
May I know where is the nice spot for plane spotting at KUL? Any runway will do. Thank you
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