NZFF

Having just had a few days aound airports and airstrips to get a few photos, it is bad to read what is happening in other parts of the world:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...set/8525945.stm

And a longer, interesting article here:-

http://insnews.org/world/focus/2006/03/plane.spotter.htm

I only hope that this does not spread, so that we do not get to the state that even looking at an aircraft is counted as preparing for air sabotage. The world is going mad, seems a long time ago that people were innocent until proved guilty, now it is very much the reverse. At least NZ is not so far down this dangerous path.

Smooth landings (and good photos).

Interesting reading HT. I agree, NZ is not too far down that paranoid path....but we have started. Im not sure about other NZ airports, but CHC is getting a little strange.
About a month ago , i was up on the observation deck, and saw (and heard) a guy being told to leave the area, he was taking pics (of aircraft) with a very long lens.
Speaking to him later, it turned out that an ANZ pilot had complained along with a couple of visitors to the airport.......odd.

They better watch for me once i get the camera, I'll be camping there ...........next thing you know Bird watching will be a form of treason.....what an age.
Travel safe.

I dont think its going to get any better , growing up around Christchurch Airport , the fence line was only waist height ... such the respect we had for the authority owning the airport land , today 10 foot fencing barbed on top , the idiots today carrying pencil type lasers make it worst .

Splitpin wrote:

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Feb 21 2010, 10:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

About a month ago , i was up on the observation deck, and saw (and heard) a guy being told to leave the area, he was taking pics (of aircraft) with a very long lens.
Speaking to him later, it turned out that an ANZ pilot had complained along with a couple of visitors to the airport.......odd.

Quite strange case... ive been there few times, no problem(actually was even taking photos when Governor-General was boarding, two weeks ago). But certainly have often communication with AvSec and police in AKL. But the complaint from pilot... in New Zealand, something new for me, cuz i have same case in Ukraine in Kyiv Boryspil, and a pilot from Donbassaero(or as they called in UA-Soviet Style Aero) complained on me, telling ground to check me(but the only difference, that i was on the tree )

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Feb 21 2010, 12:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I dont think its going to get any better , growing up around Christchurch Airport , the fence line was only waist height ... such the respect we had for the authority owning the airport land , today 10 foot fencing barbed on top , the idiots today carrying pencil type lasers make it worst .

But at least that's not 2m height concrete fence. Unfortunately idiots with lasers, drunked idiots that sometimes crossing the fence are the problem

Still seems chillaxed at Wellington.

With the pilot complaint... I'm sure that was a mix up. Pilots are always accomodating for this I think.
Pilots are like musicians. They all love it cause it either costs so much to get there or the fiscal reward is not as great!

I guess though, when people have their black telephoto lenses (not the Canon L's which are unmistakable) they can look dodgey from a distance...

I too am surprised to read about the incident at CHC. If pilots and AVSEC cannot tell the difference between a long lens and a gun, then perhaps they should change jobs. I hope that NZ does not turn into the sort of place where merely looking at an aircraft makes you a suspect. Photography used to be a normal hobby, now it seems that photographers are becoming suspects. Where will this all stop?

smooth landings.

happytraveller wrote:

QUOTE (happytraveller @ Feb 26 2010, 01:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I too am surprised to read about the incident at CHC. If pilots and AVSEC cannot tell the difference between a long lens and a gun, then perhaps they should change jobs. I hope that NZ does not turn into the sort of place where merely looking at an aircraft makes you a suspect. Photography used to be a normal hobby, now it seems that photographers are becoming suspects. Where will this all stop?

smooth landings.

Guys, i checked with the person concerned, and sadley the complaint did come from a pilot.....maybe he was having a bad day. Seems odd, its not as if the camera was being pushed through the cockpit window or anything.
Cant really add much more to that....but i guess if a pilot feels strongly enough about it , to contact AVSEC, then they have to look into it......

Cheers.

having been to india numerous times (once before 9/11, once after it and once after the mumbai hotel attacks) i can tell you things are just getting worse and worse. Hell, now days they dont even like you taking pictures of planes from inside the airport.

d3fai13r wrote:

QUOTE (d3fai13r @ Feb 25 2010, 05:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quite strange case... ive been there few times, no problem(actually was even taking photos when Governor-General was boarding, two weeks ago). But certainly have often communication with AvSec and police in AKL. But the complaint from pilot... in New Zealand, something new for me, cuz i have same case in Ukraine in Kyiv Boryspil, and a pilot from Donbassaero(or as they called in UA-Soviet Style Aero) complained on me, telling ground to check me(but the only difference, that i was on the tree )

But at least that's not 2m height concrete fence. Unfortunately idiots with lasers, drunked idiots that sometimes crossing the fence are the problem

Up a tree!! ......