Confirmed Spotting Weekend Airside Tour - Discussion

[Jacob P]

Originally Posted by chris d

There was always an interest in this kind of thing - it's great to see that it has become a reality. I would love to see it become a more regular thing if there is a way to make it happen.

I believe Zurich airport does a similar tour, offering advantageous locations for photography, clear of fences and light-posts and other similar annoying obstructions that we hate to see in our photos.

Here in Prague Airport there is a spotting club whereby you pass a security check and get your ASIC (or equivalent over here) issued as a spotter and can access the airside areas of the airport with relative ease for photography purposes (great for those special movements). There is also the possibility to hire an escorted card to take up to 5 PAX anywhere in the airport to photograph and all this can be arranged with 24 hour prior notice not to mention the escort costs about $100 for 4 hours for up to 5 people, I'm just in the process of getting my ASIC so will see how it pans out (will put pics up in few weeks).

In addition to this we also have spotting platforms by each of the RWYs which raise you above the fenceline about 2M *** well as customised photography holes in the fence big enough to it you 500MM lenses. If anyone ever come to Prague (PRG) let me know and I'll organise something for you here.

Would be awesome if you guys could get something like this in SYD eventually. Have been told it has taken the spotters here 5 years to get to this stage with ongoing airport negotiations but also the airport is trying to improve its public image which is why its important for them to integrate the spotting community.

[Kieran Wells]

Originally Posted by Kurt A

For the application, well this must be printed and then filled out manually, as it requires your signature. So get down to your local Officeworks, or internet cafe and print out the form and complete all the sections above the word "Sponsor". The rest will be done on the day. Simple!

Any Officeworks store will be happy to assist you in your scanning needs. We can scan to a USB, Printing per page starts at 10c per page black and white. All stores have these services available, but if you are close to Blacktown, feel free to pop in and say Hi to me!

[Maikha Ly]

I'm with Chris on this one. I've been a little paranoid that emails aren't received and I'll lose my spot, particularly with how far I'm travelling.

[Lee G]

Rug up nice and warm for the weekend people ...........

"However, by the weekend a low tracking across the bight is expected to push the warmth away and replacing it with a surge of cold, strong southerly winds mainly affecting Southern NSW.

Snowfall is likely on the highlands of those areas."

16 should be in operation on Saturday if the BoM is correct.

[Kieran Wells]

Originally Posted by chris d

I wonder if we are actually going to get a courtesy reply to let us know that our emails with photo identification and the rest have been received?

I got one late this afternoon. There sure is a lot of paperwork to go through with them, and im sure a response will come in due time.

[Nigel C]

Maikha, you won't lose your spot. Only a certain number of applications were taken and you were one of them.

I'm sure there's no issues with the applications and you'll get a response pretty soon. If I'm not mistaken the applications were all meant to be in by close of business today, so perhaps they'll be bulk sorted in the next day or so.

16's works out pretty well for what's planned I think. Temps are forecast to be from 13-21.

[Kurt A]

Hi guys,

Rest easy. I have been in contact with Anne at SACL, and everyone's documents have been accounted for except 1 (applicant notified).

Time to sit back, relax and look forward to the weekend

Don't forget, we're actually kicking things off on Friday afternoon down by the 34L Beach wall, then over to the City for a meal and drinks at Bungalow 8. Looking forward to seeing you then.


P.S: For those on the tour, don't forget to actually bring the ID that you sent to Anne, with you on the weekend. If you forget, that would be a silly, embarrassing and miserable error

P.S.S: Please make sure you're on time. You don't want to be the embarrassed one standing there as we depart.

[Maikha Ly]

Looking forward to this weekend, and putting some names to faces!

Originally Posted by chris d

My email has been particularly unreliable in recent weeks, hence my concern.

Likewise my work email which I registered for the tour with.

[Tim Bowrey]

A question for the organizers only,

Myself and a few others who are on the tour are a little concerned about the location for photography. There is supposed to be southerly winds on Saturday giving us 16 ops but I have noticed from other runway side shots that they are taken from the western side adjacent to taxiway Alpha making it backlit. Because ours is in the morning are SACL going to put us on the eastern side of the runway near the touchdown zone?

This is what I am referring to. Link

Thanks and looking forward to it!

[Kurt A]

All stationary photography locations will be on the eastern side of 34L/16R. Our access/tour has nothing to do with past events etc. We have approval for our own proposal.