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Plane Spotting at Pearson Airport 101
"Plane spotting" is an odd hobby, and most certainly isn't for everyone. But those that do it are really into it and seem to enjoy themselves immensely. I learned this first hand the other day when on a whim I decided to take a curiosity-induced drive around the perimeter of Toronto's Pearson International Airport and see what I could learn about the phenomenon that is plane spotting.
After making my way around more than half of the airport, I pulled up to the Wendy's at Airport Rd. & Orlando Dr. because I noticed a queue of twinkling lights in the distance - an indication that the nearby runway was being used for landings (it wasn't until later that I learned that this particular runway is Pearson's longest at 3.3km). I snagged my camera bag, and took a walk around. It didn't take long to have my first encounter with a plane-spotter...
The first fellow I met was wearing a jacket with the words "Airport Watch" written boldly across the back. "Are you watching the planes?" I asked. "Yup," he responded courtly, as he tuned his walkie-talkie-like device and looked up into the sky before turning to walk away. Clearly he wasn't in the mood to talk to me, a newcomer to the scene. I made my way directly under the landing path, and snapped a few photos.
Across the street, on the chain link fence that separated public from private property, a sign reminded me to stay on my side of the fence. It made me think about security, and for a moment I considered packing up and going home rather than facing the potential consequences of meeting airport security staff who might think I'm a terrorist plotting some sort of evil scheme. That's when I met Stephan, a younger guy from Nova Scotia who (unlike the first plane-spotter I spotted) was smiling and approachable.
From his ears, he pulled out his headphone buds. At first I thought he was listening to music, but from his pocket, he pulled out his radio. "What are you listening to?" I asked. "The air traffic control tower, and the planes on approach, which are on different frequencies," he explained. "This is a cheaper one. You can pick one up at Radio Shack."
From his other pocket he then pulled out a piece of paper. As he unfolded it, he watched the horizon ahead of us. "A few big ones are coming soon. If you stick around between 3pm and 4pm you'll likely to see this British Airways 747." His info was from the internet, and detailed. The airlines, the type of planes, and their projected arrival times were all listed, along with a list of radio frequencies he could tap into to listen to the communications between the pilots and controllers.
A few mid-sized Airbuses came in. It's rather amazing how low the planes are at this point.
Stephan was pretty sure that gigantic 747 would be arriving soon, and advised that I join him in moving off to the side to get a better view. "It's too big for the camera to stay here," he suggested.
He also told me a little about plane-spotter photography, and pointed me to a super cool web site for submitting and viewing the best of the best. "You've got zoom," he said, nodding to my camera. "Try to capture the exact moment the tires hit the ground and the smoke shoots out."
Then came the moment we'd been waiting for - the arrival of the massive British Airways 747. As it approached I marvelled at just how HUGE it was. I backed up a little further. I wanted to include my new friend Stephan (who'd come all the way from the downtown core by public transit to see this and taken me under his wing for the experience) in the frame.
Here's the moment in all its glory:
Despite shooting in rapid succession at a wide angle, I couldn't even fit the plane in the frame!
So there you have it... plane spotting at Pearson 101. It's not likely that I'll take up this rather geeky, somewhat strange hobby. But admittedly, it was a lot of fun. Had I been alone, and not had the pleasure of meeting my teacher Stephan, I don't think I'd have enjoyed myself nearly as much. Oh, and to see another (much larger format) view of a massive plane we managed to catch please check out this snap. Crazy eh?
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for reference:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1160389
What's the schedule for that Antonov AN-124? That would be completely mind blowing to see.
So who's going to find the flight schedule for the Antonov beast?
BUT I did stumble upon this <a href="http://flightaware.com/analysis/allflights_movie.rvt";>INSANE graphical representation</a> of air traffic over the US on Nov21, 2006. CRAZY!
May 7th this year was a Monday
May 10th last year was a Wednesday..
guess we'll have to keep an eye out.
Here's a link to my shot of it taking off:
http://hame.ca/tribe/an124-May1006.jpg
I have seen suggestions (which I can see the point of) that spotters are good for security as they tend to notice people who are checking out points of entry to the airfield rather than the planes, etc. Some airports actually enlist spotters to help in this regard.
After 9/11 they put up concrete barricades, no-stopping signs, and enforced it with patrol cars.
The last time I seen the Antonov was during the Sunday I think when the replica of the Avro Arrow was on display outside.
Even as a kid (and still now today) I always wanted to get up close to the cockpit but thanks to some event a few years ago, that chance went bye-bye.
Might have to take a trip out there to watch the planes come in the near future.
I have to add that it is NOT a "geek" experience. It's an excellent way to spend time, not only when you don't know what else to do with your time but also as a Sunday afternoon kinda' thing especially experiencing it with someone who has never done it before. It is exciting and loud and quick. A small but free rush if you will. Try it once if you haven't already.
Very pleasant article - thank you!
I have never considered plane spotting an 'odd' hobby! Been doing it since 1973!
True plane spotters track aircraft registrations (tail numbers)! These seem to be European spotters, whilst those in North America would be considered photographers!
http://www.surfingtheapocalypse.net/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?noframes;read=155763
I found his frequency information here:
http://www.canairradio.com/yyz.html
But I can't find his arrival information. Does anyone know where he got that from?
Thanks!
Sometimes just to relax and getaway from it all I'd sit and watch some jets on arrival... now I want to do it again and bring my camera!
http://audio.liveatc.net:8012/cyyz_twr_app.m3u
I don't know, but if you figure it out, please let us know. :)
Thanks!
thanks I really wanna try this.
In Spain, town planner Joseph Manchado is part of a small group who gather with their long lenses and foil-wrapped sandwiches at Majorca's Son Sant Joan airport.
In January last year Mr Manchado saw a Boeing 737 on the airport tarmac. He pressed his camera shutter button while speculating idly that some US millionaire was in town. Then he put the picture of the Boeing (tail fin number N313P) on airliners.net, and forgot about it.
Within a few days Mr Manchado starting getting strange calls and emails. ...Months later, he got a call from Germany's ZDF television. A man called Khalid El-Masri had come to them claiming he had been kidnapped by the CIA from Macedonia, bundled onto a plane and taken off to a prison many hours away. Several months later, after allegedly being tortured, he was flown back and dropped in Albania.
One of the planes thought to be involved was one Mr Manchado had photographed. It was believed that it had flown on to Macedonia that very same day. With the photo in their hand, ZDF reporters were able to persuade Skopje flight control to give them a printout of the flight plan. The aircraft had gone from Palma to Skopje and from there to Baghdad and Kabul. Mr El-Masri's story, convincingly told but difficult to believe, fitted.
Took this by the fence off Airport Rd on Canada Day.
There was a tonne of people around to check it out.
Sorry for the quality of the pic.
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/7987/a380.jpg
Going to take my kids there today to check out the planes. I am sure they are going to FREAK OUT, as I will likely as well.
Thanks again.
YYZ plane spotters are talked about in this blog entry about the landing of the world's largest commercial aircraft in Toronto.
http://20minutesoffame.blogspot.com/2009/09/playing-to-social-media.html
Check it Out at:
http://20minutesoffame.blogspot.com/2009/09/playing-to-social-media.html
http://www.acarsd.org/world_ACARS_reports.html
London airport site is the best I've found, anything like this for YYZ?
http://www.lhr-lgw.co.uk/
thanks
By the way, I did see a Peel region cop by the fence area telling all the people parked there to move their cars.
You can get all that info off of flightaware or flightstats. As for frequencies just print off the approach charts for each runway, as they should be listed on there. To find out which runway, generally speaking and plane will land against a prevailing wind. I'm assuming you know that being a piot yourself. Otherwise, tune into approach control and listen for the approved approach runway that day.
Regards
Would one of these do well in Toronto?
keep up good work fellaws
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If anyone here is a serious plane spotter and likes to vacation in the Caribbean, vist St. Maartin (Dutch side) on Maho Beach. I stayed at the Maho Beach Hotel and Casino. Best plane spotting you will ever see. Nothing like a 747 100' over your head. It's fairly expensive there, but well worth the experience. If you have visited airliners.net, you will notice a ton of pictures come from that beach.
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I am taking my boyfriend on a date to the orlando and airport location. I am packing a pic nic for us! If you have any advice feel free to share!
Thanks for this great blog!
Carolyn
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Thanks!