Changing Face of Spotting

[Poshgirl]

Have started to discuss this subject on spotters site where I write blog. One of the contributors asked about spotting a drone that takes off from a runway, unmanned military flights. Then there's AirCar.

The discussion then went "back to basics". Spotting anything with a registration is personal choice. Whether to include gliders, balloons, microlights. Then the ethics of whether you log an actual sighting or take it from the likes of FR24, RadarBox, BigJetsTV, etc.

An interesting topic. Your views are welcome. Of course, if I use you comments on the site will acknowledge.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

'Spotting' has changed dramatically since the days when I first stated. I've been interested in aviation for as long as I can remember, probably even pre-dating my first flight on a BEA Airtours Comet 4B at the age of six. My Dad noted my interest (in his youth, he was very much into train spotting - back when trains were real trains, hauled by steam locomotives) and would regularly take me to BHX. It was very quiet back then and I thought I'd had a good visit if I saw two Britannia 737-200s on the ground at the same time. Skip forward a few years to when I was ten and myself and my cousin first journeyed form Bloxwich to BHX to spend the day watching planes. That evening, my Dad drove over to collect us. On his way through the old BHX terminal, he stopped and bought us both a copy of Ian Allen's Civil Aircraft Markings 1974. I was baffled. It was just a list of aircraft. Once my Dad explained about recording the registrations of aircraft we had seen and underlining them in the book, I was hooked. From our garden, I could watch aircraft at cruise level from the north around STAFA to the south at HON. This was known as 'dot spotting' and frowned on by some. It was incredibly difficult back then to try to chase up the registrations of those aircraft that I had seen. Another example, was one autumnal evening when I was still living at my parents, I was in my bedroom listening to my trusty Sony Air-7 airband receiver. The visibility at LHR was dropping, so at about 8pm, I told my parents that I was off to the airport (BHX) and drove 30 minutes to get there. I didn't stay long, but while I was there a BA B767 diverted in from it's CDG-LHR service. A few days later, when I was in the BHX viewing lounge, I mentioned this to the other spotters and no one would believe me.
Fast forward to today and I no longer collect registrations (I do record the identity of aircraft that I fly on), I'm far more interested in aviation photography. But the biggest change is the availability of information. The likes of FR24 can tell you what aircraft are on a service before they land and the high altitude flights and BA B767 that I saw would be easily confirmed. On the whole, this is a good thing, but there was something magical about arriving at an airport and not knowing what might turn up.
As for people that want to record a drone departing from a runway - that's completely up to them. Make the hobby what you want it to be. There are no hard and fast rules. Except one - NEVER fudge a registration.

Kevin

 

[JENNYJET]

Spotting is to me one of life's simple pleasures and it costs what you allow for. The excitement of seeing a Wardair DC10 land and observe how it dwarfed everything else including the Elmdon terminal buildings will remain my moment of when my interest was formed , the beauty of the aircraft despite it's size and the incredible climb rate on take off....these little things grabbed me as a young teen skipping school for a greater interest and avoiding the police patrol,......great memories

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I've never been a spotter, probably because my interest in civil aviation didn't begin until I was in my late 20s. It's clearly an extremely popular hobby and I sometimes wonder if I've missed out on a fascinating aspect of aviation.

I began in the guise of an irate Bristol rate payer who could only see some of his rates money being used in what he considered to be a profligate manner to prop up a loss-making and little used airport, which the then city council-owned airport was in the 1960s and 1970s. I used to fly in those days but infrequently compared with later years and I usually had to fly from Heathrow as Bristol didn't offer much.

In the ensuing decades (made much easier since the mid-1990s when I first went online from home) I determined to learn as much as I could about the operation of airports and airlines, particularly the economics. In that I've been very fortunate to have met both in person and in cyberspace extremely helpful members of the industry at various levels right up to airport CEO who have been patient and kind explaining the often arcane (to me) intricacies of trying to make money running airports and airlines.

Over the years I've come to appreciate the worth of and need for airports around the country and will argue that position with anyone of a different view. However, I'm not an uncritical supporter and I have no doubt that at times airports by their actions or lack of action are their own worst enemy.

Airport company officers and management's first duty is to the shareholders which invariably means using their best endeavours to operate the business in a viable, sustainable and profitable way. That might mean some airports, especially smaller ones, having to concentrate on a relatively small core of routes with few airlines and little variety of aircraft types. That isn't what many spotters want to see. They want as many airlines and types of aircraft as possible.

Occasionally people will look back fondly to the 1980s and 1990s when charter flights were in much greater evidence than they are now since the coming of low-cost airlines. In those days at even modestly-sized airports there was often a profusion of relatively small airlines and aircraft types operating for tour companies. That was entertaining for spotters but the focus of the industry is different these days.

I mentioned Bristol Airport so will give it as an example. In the 1980s it was handling fewer than one million passengers a year. Most of the traffic was charter which led to an array of often overseas airlines with their various types including Soviet-manufactured aircraft to Yugoslavia. That probably created more interest than the same airport's offering pre-pandemic when nine million annual passengers were handled but with fewer airlines and aircraft types.

Of the hundred-plus daily departures in summer about 60% would be easyJet with its Airbus A319/320/321 aircraft and most of the other larger jets, after the phasing out of the TUI Boeing 757s, were/are still Boeing 737-800s (Ryanair, TUI and now Jet2) with a TUI Boeing 787 popping in and out most days. KLM and Lufthansa Regional bring some variety with its E190s and occasionally Boeing 737-700s in the case of KLM, as does Loganair with its small Embraers. The rest are by and large turbo-props, mainly ATR 72s. A few other airlines also operate but they don't look beyond narrow-bodied Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

So although BRS is over nine times busier than it was in the late 1980s the variety of airlines and aircraft types is less. I wonder if that means that young people aren't as likely to become spotters in the future, particularly when many are force-fed the seemingly endless diatribes about aviation and the environment.

 

[JENNYJET]

If, as a youngster, would I retain an interest with the current crop of aircraft types? No way, too dull. It now requires poor weather or repatriation to bring the different and oddities to our airport and with BHX, a smattering of visitations to STS formerly Monarch.

 

[Poshgirl]

Unfortunately, spotting has become "same old, same old" as far as commercial airliners are concerned. That's probably why some spotters are looking for something different.

When eye-watering amounts of money are involved, airlines will have fleets that are the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Some well-known airlines are already scrapping A318/319/320s not even 10 years old. At least, there's a thriving second-hand parts market and imaginative recycling.

When my interest in aviation started it was exciting to see the likes of B707, Caravelle, Viscount, Vanguard, Coronado, VC10, Trident, Comet, Britannia, B727, DC9 at BHX. All had their own distinctive features. I can also remember the flying school and the short runway (06/27) being used for Jersey European 146.

During lockdown, whichever version, BHX has hosted more military traffic than during repatriation flights from Afghanistan. In fact, the RAF embraced the need to inform (via Twitter) where their C17 and A400M could be seen, after many general public enquiries. Where I live, have been lucky to see something different. Okay, have had to resort to FR24 for identification purposes. The two Beagle Terriers a few weeks ago were a surprise. Frustratingly, still unable to identify the Cessna 172(?) that was showing great interest in my washing a month ago, lol!

Yes, if you stick to commercial airliners then it is getting boring. Perhaps including GA, military, etc would bring more excitement. Bottom line is it's down to personal choice.

 

[JENNYJET]

My biggest regret has been leaving Birmingham for a life in Worcestershire but the demands of an employer forced it. Not going to the airport on a Friday evening or the weekend with a camera in the hope of the next mystery to arrive is what I miss most. Of course, we now have the internet to inform and educate and to confirm Poshgirl, personal choice is key to the hobby. Some go for registration marks and others go for type. For me it is the noise of a jet and since the demise of BAC One Eleven and DC9 and perhaps B737-200, even the jets have become ghostly silent, even the military versions adhere to noise abatement!

 

[rollo]

This is a sort of spotting ‐ my wife and I are currently residing in Waterloo for a few days and are right under the Heathrow flightpath with a steady stream of aircraft passing over with a large amount of widebodies in particular.

I had a look yesterday at Heathrows arrivals board and counted around twenty-four arrivals from the USA alone between 0600 and 1100 which seems pretty good.

Back home to Worcestershire later today and on a spotting note does anyone remember the excitement of getting "a picture cop" back in the day.

Never look at aircraft registrations these days and haven't for many years.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Although I've never been someone who has recorded aircraft registrations numbers I do remember flying regularly in the 1980s with Britannia Airways/Thomson Holidays on their Boeing 737-200s, nearly all of which bore the name of famous Britons.

Our children were young then and they used to delight in checking the name of the aircraft on our latest flight, although the registration numbers never came into it.

Funnily enough I can still recall the names of a number of these aircraft: Jean Batten (I think she was actually a New Zealander - early flight pioneer); The Hon CS Rolls; Florence Nightingale; Sir Frederick Handley Page; Sir John Alcock; Sir Henry Royce; Amy Johnson; George Stephenson; Lord Brabazon of Tara; Earl Montgomery of Alamein.

I also remember flying on another Florence Nightingale and an Audrey Hepburn. Both were owned by KLM and were either Boeing 747s or MD11s - we used to fly regularly from the UK via Amsterdam to western Canada and western USA in the 1990s and both types of aircraft were used at various times.

So perhaps I am a subconscious spotter although more interested in aircraft names than registration numbers.

 

[Poshgirl]

TheLocalYokel, you've certainly stirred some memories for me too!

Have flown on Jean Batten and Florence Nightingale (Britannia one). Recall they also had a Brian Johnston, to honour the cricket commentator. Can't remember whether it was 737 or 757. Can also remember BA naming their aircraft. The BAC 1-11s named after counties. Naturally, County of West Midlands was BHX based but think County of Glamorgan was too.

Qantas have continued the naming theme. They held a competition for naming their 787 fleet. From the thousands received, the final 8 were selected. Amongst them, Waltzing Mathilda!

 

[Aviador]

It certainly is interesting to learn what drives people's interest In aviation. Like @JENNYJET I too am driven mainly by the noise that is emmitted to create the power and force it takes to get these huge machines into the air. Although aircraft don't have the same noise as they once did, even the quietest of engines today can still emmit their own characteristic rumble which can often be just as appealing as that created by aircraft from the bygone era.
Admittedly I have never been particularly interested in collecting registrations Although they do come in handy from time to time if you want to know the history of an aircraft.
Similarly, although I have been to a number of air museums, they don't provide me with the same level of interest to do it on a regular occasion. It's kind of like looking at a closed book without being able to read the inside.
What is for sure is the interest in aviation is diverse and will live on for many years to come.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

TheLocalYokel, you've certainly stirred some memories for me too!

Have flown on Jean Batten and Florence Nightingale (Britannia one). Recall they also had a Brian Johnston, to honour the cricket commentator. Can't remember whether it was 737 or 757. Can also remember BA naming their aircraft. The BAC 1-11s named after counties. Naturally, County of West Midlands was BHX based but think County of Glamorgan was too.

Qantas have continued the naming theme. They held a competition for naming their 787 fleet. From the thousands received, the final 8 were selected. Amongst them, Waltzing Mathilda!

TUI names its Boeing 787s, some of them anyway. I've just checked Jethro's Fleet Listing and find there is a 'Mr Patmore' and another is 'Mrs Patmore'. I believe this couple won a competition to have aircraft named after them. The other names don't seem to have a theme

I think BA gave some of its Boeing 757s names. I remember travelling on one from Heathrow to Zurich around 1990 that was something Castle. Reminded me of the Great Western Railway, the real one not the current upstart, with its legendary Castle-class locomotives, each bearing the name of a castle (often ruins) in their territory.

 

[JENNYJET]

Did not BA name their aircraft after rivers?, Trent, Severn etc.!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Did not BA name their aircraft after rivers?, Trent, Severn etc.!

I think it depended on the aircraft type. I found an excellent link that lists the BA fleet (current and historical). If you click on an aircraft type (and then any sub-type that shows up), followed by the number of aircraft in the fleet then scroll down it lists all the details for that type including names.

BA Fleet List

Kevin

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Did not BA name their aircraft after rivers?, Trent, Severn etc.!

I think it depended on the aircraft type. I found an excellent link that lists the BA fleet (current and historical). If you click on an aircraft type (and then any sub-type that shows up), followed by the number of aircraft in the fleet then scroll down it lists all the details for that type including names.

BA Fleet List

Kevin

Some of the 757s were given names of castles. I've found a list of some of the BA B757-200s with castle names but I can't post a link as the site doesn't seem to allow it.

These are some examples:

G-BIKG Stirling Castle
G-BIKM Glamis Castle
G-BIKS Corfe Castle
G-BMRG Caerphilly Castle

I used to take cine film of holidays and other family events. I transferred all my cine film onto video tape many years ago and it's all catalogued which gave me an idea. Earlier this evening I viewed part of the 1990 Swiss trip which was for a holiday and lo and behold there are some shots of Mrs Yokel boarding the 757 at LHR. I do remember that we were taken on a circuitous bus trip to board the aircraft at a remote stand. The name of the aircraft is in shot - Raglan Castle.

I've now done some Googling and find its registration was G-BIKV. There are pictures of it on a specialist aviation website. Raglan Castle is not shown in the list I mentioned in the first paragraph above.

I must be careful. I might become hooked on this spotting thing.

 

[Poshgirl]

Yes JennyJet, they did. As Kevin said, the name depended on type of aircraft.

Aviador, engine sound does it for me too! An RB211 fitted B757 has the most amazing sound, especially in the climb. The A320 also has a distinctive sound, rather tinny lol! Not sure whether it's CFM; so many different engine packages.....

There's something about the Chinook; hear it before you see it. Many enthusiasts believe the finest engine sound comes from the Merlin.

 

[JENNYJET]

Thwop Thwop Thwop, hear it coming long before sight of it, Chinook helicopters are wonderous to behold. Frequent flyover en route to Brecon to deposit soldiers to their fate.......

 

[JENNYJET]

As to engine music, I have noticed a distinct howl coming from CEO versions of A330, usually when running idle or taxi settings. I also agree about RB211, the project that broke the company before being nationalised!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Thwop Thwop Thwop, hear it coming long before sight of it

That's why it's nicknamed the 'Wokka' by the troops who fly onboard.

Some years ago, I was watching an RAF Chinook display at a Duxford airshow. At one point, it made a tight turn resulting in the rotor blades being face on to the crowd. There was the most incredible deep 'duga, duga, duga' sound. The guy commentating the airshow immediately said 'I want that as a ringtone!'.

Kevin

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I must be careful. I might become hooked on this spotting thing.

Slippery slope, TLY

Kevin