FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
Just about to embark on a vacation to the US.
Not in the NYC area but in the southeast region.
It's normal practice for us Brits to enquire about photo restrictions at civil facilities prior to pitching up and going "hunting".
Why oh why are your bizjet FBO's so anti enthusiast , I've written to a good few now politely enquiring about public area viewing etc and the response has been so negative its close to paranoia.
I've been told in advance not to point my camera at certain aircraft parking ramps - arent these airports public places ??? in the UK it is perfectly okay to photograph anything from or whilst standing on public property such as a road or footpath without let or hindrance , is it not the same in the US ?
Sorry to say but having visited the US more than 8 times , as regards our hobby over a period of 17 years it is getting worse , it used to be the best destination for our hobby.
It's still our favourite vacation location , and as ALLIES with the same views - sometimes difficult to understand the change in attitude thats going against our hobby and any chance of carrying it out without getting hassle or non co-operation from airfield tenants.
Bet they wouldn't mind if I pitched up in an aeroplane !:(
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
It's more about "passenger secrecy" The last thing a CEO (or elected official) wants is to be photographed getting off a private aircraft with a member of the opposite sex who is not related to them, nor works for them. Others do not want the public to know they are flying on a private jet, or which one. It is paranoia, it is well over-blown, but a lot of it stems from Sept 11 2001. It shouldn't, but it does, and its sad.
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
Obviously you never incurred the wrath of the Metro Aviation FBO at LHR years ago, or more recently Signature at LTN :roll: Next time your at LTN, watch how quickly they close the doors after pulling an aircraft in or out.
It happens in the UK too, it's not just here in the US. There are many FBO's in the US that are friendly to spotters, however they tend to be the smaller local companies, and not the larger multi-national ones.
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
lijk604/markg
Thanks for the replies - its total paranoia and overkill with some of the attitudes you come across
Yes your right about the smaller ones , the larger ones could certainly learn a thing or two from them !! like PR and common sense :roll:
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
The FBO at KABE has always been very accommodating with me, letting me go out on the ramp to shoot departures. All they asked is that I don't shoot the N-number.
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
Hi to all,my first posting to what i must say is an excellent site,having visited the U.S many,many times over the last 17 years,and with three visits planned for next year,it has been very noticeable how various FBO's have become so "anti spotter"its absolutely ridiculous.I can remember many years ago being allowed onto a ramp run by Banyan Aviation at Fort Lauderdale exec,(still operating?,i'm not sure)with a Columbian AF Learjet parked on the ramp!!,not sure it would happen nowadays.Signature have,in my experience have always been hostile,and now they are spreading their wings in the UK things are no better.Myself i'm not interested in who gets on/off corporate jets,but try telling the police/security services that.There used to be a guy based at White Plains called Bob Weinwurzel(great guy) who worked for Seagrams,who had worked for Phillip Morris at Teterboro before they moved up country,who on being contacted would give you an escorted tour of the facillites,he would take you on board Grummans,125's all sorts.Again cant see that happening nowadays.
All the best
Neil Harris..
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
Many thanks,hope to post as much as i can ...
Neil...
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
Quote:
Originally Posted by microlight
lijk604/markg
Thanks for the replies - its total paranoia and overkill with some of the attitudes you come across
Yes your right about the smaller ones , the larger ones could certainly learn a thing or two from them !! like PR and common sense :roll:
Neil, John is on point with what he says about secrecy and the privacy that FBO managers wish to maintain for their customers. We had an situation on JP.net where an FBO asked us to take a number of pictures down because the photog shot the faces of the people in the planes and apparently some of the owners had some "issues" with being seen. We left the issue between the photog and the FBO.
Re: FBO's why are they hostile to spotters/photographers
Neil
Banyan are still at FXE and still as friendly as ever, but no ramp tours any more!
Mark