YGBSM: Airport Photography

[Typhoon1244]

So I'm stuck in DFW (which is my domicile but no longer my home) with nothing to do. I decided to go for a walk and, since I'm staying in a hotel very close to the airport perimeter, I took my camera along to see if I could get any good airplane pictures. Not far from my hotel, there's a FedEx MD-10 parked at the fence between the FedEx and BAX buildings. I sauntered over and snapped a couple of pictures before a security guard confronted me and said "you can't do that."

I identified myself immediately, even showing him my DFW SIDA badge and ASA ID card. He hesitated, but ultimately shook his head and repeated "you can't do that." (I might add that this guard's accent was Middle Eastern or, perhaps, east African.) At any rate, I did the right thing: I was polite, apologized for the intrusion, and left the area.

Can anyone explain to me how security is enhanced by prohibiting a pilot with a valid security badge from taking pictures of airplanes at his home airport from outside the AOA for his personal use? Does that make sense to anybody? Am I out of line for being miffed about this?


(The great thing about zero-tolerance policies is that they take zero-brains to enforce.)

 

[justApilot]

ehhhhhhhh.......and what law did he say you were breaking?

 

[Citationkid]

You should see the post at a.net and jp.net on the same topic, sure is a shame. Kids can't even have hobbies (even if they are a little weird non-pilots) these days.

 

[EagleRJ]

Just goes to prove my suspicion- that a lot of the people we've hired to enhance security at airports are the people who washed out of deep-fryer training at McDonald's.

You should have told the guy he should apply to the TSA. They're looking for people with cunning intellect such as his.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

yeah really, off airport property? F HIM..

but really, try having cameras around an airport overseas....bad news...they will swarm and confiscate in a second..

Im not sure why?...but anyways..

 

[2000flyer]

Not too many years ago you could find a park, parking lot, viewing area at nearly every major airport. On a Sunday afternoon many would be packed with plane watchers, parents and children and so on. Try finding one today that isn't either blocked off or has signs posted up the ying-yang warning of the dire consequences should you be caught "looking over (or through) the fence. Yet, while at the FBO I can grab my camera, stroll around the ramp and snap away with nary a second glance.

I can find dozens of internet sights listing every aircrafts manufacture date, who bought it, where it is based, what the company does, who the principals are, where an airline flies, etc. I can go to one of many websites and track flights. I can go to an FBO's weather computer and if they have a flight tracking programs on it (WSI), I can track a flight there. You tell me where the harm comes from someone snapping a picture of an aircraft on the ramp, landing or taking off? For heaven's sake, I can go to the manufacturers website and find similar pictures!

2000Flyer

 

[Flying Illini]

You should have ask him to pose with the airplane in the background! If you were outside the airport fence I don't think you did anything wrong. Even without airline ID and a SIDA badge, you didn't do anything wrong. You should tell him about the airport at St. Maarten (TNCM) and see what he says!

 

[kevdog]

You should have told him you were working for Microsoft updating the DFW scenery for FS2004. That would have gotten you off.

 

[skyking1976]

I had the same experience at DEN a few years back. Both my friend and I had SIDA badges for DEN, "security" showed up and chased us off saying that we weren't to be within 300 yards of the airport perimeter fence. Also, we could have our airport badges confiscated if we didn't comply. Now, I have sat through that boring-ass SIDA video more times than I care to admit. Nowhere in its content did I see anything about standing closer than 300 yards to a perimeter fence.

SK

 

[Chas]

911 aftermath ...

As a law enforcement officer you would not believe the # of calls recieved regarding filming/video taping of airplanes we get . You cannot even photgraph airplanes outside of airports without some " good samaritan" calling 911. Its embarrassing to have to even answer such a call. Those calls always end with me saying "have a great day and enjoy yourselves". Chas

 

[ShawnC]

Now, I have sat through that boring-ass SIDA video more times than I care to admit. Nowhere in its content did I see anything about standing closer than 300 yards to a perimeter fence.

SK

Does that mean that you can't go within 300 yards of the fence from the inside of the airport too?

 

[Ted Striker]

Meanwhile I can taxi past the Founder's Pavillion on the south side of DFW while God knows who waves, takes pictures, eats lunch, loads a stinger missle, etc, etc within 50 yards of my airplane. They could touch me with the rifle barrel if they wanted to.

 

[GogglesPisano]

You should have turned the camera on him and yelled "Eemagrachionn!"

 

[bigD]

At AUS, there's a graveyard that sits right off the approach end of 17R. Years ago, we'd take lawn chairs and coolers of booze to the graveyard and kick back and watch the jets land right over the top of us. It was pretty awesome.

I haven't been there in awhile though - dunno if you can still get away with that. Maybe I'll find out this weekend.

 

[skyking1976]

Does that mean that you can't go within 300 yards of the fence from the inside of the airport too?

I doubt it. Someone may consider it a jail break attempt.

 

[Citationkid]

Think you guys had it bad? Hell two of my friends (both 15) were plane spotting at LGA trying to get some good pics for a.net and had two cameras and a scanner with them. They were pulled aside, taken into a interigation room, parents were called and were forced to delete all their photos. Let me see if I can find the post they made about it.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Not too many years ago you could find a park, parking lot, viewing area at nearly every major airport. On a Sunday afternoon many would be packed with plane watchers, parents and children and so on.

2000Flyer

How sad!!!!!!

My parents took me to TPA starting when I was 4 and we would watch the planes take-off and land. I believe this is where my love of airplanes and aviation began.

 

[TurboS7]

What will all the photographers at airliner.net do???I had one taking a picture of me at the end of the runway at EDDN from a tree stand. This dumb U.S. pilot thought they were deer stands. oh. well.

 

[Immelman]

Can anyone site written *law* on this matter? Citation Kid, your friends, regardless of their age, may have a lawsuit on their hands.

Oh wait, I'm sorry, there is a law on the books about this: The Patriot Act.

 

[Typhoon1244]

...there is a law on the books about this: The Patriot Act.

Ah yes, the Silly Putty law. It means whatever the government decides it means at the time.