As an ex Commercial Pilot and keen aviation photographer I decided to drop onto Emerald airport and take some pics. Bad idea!
Any parking to stop for a moment is non-existent. There was a small parking bay with a secure entry gate for services vehicles. I pulled into the said and started toward the security bloke at the gate. Before i spoke he said "Get back in your car and leave right now...RIGHT NOW"
I said I just wanted to put my lens through the fence and take a couple of shots of a plane on the ramp. He interrupted me and said "Get in your car and leave right now" again.
I flipped him the bird, and thought there might be a gap near the end of the terminal but found parking barriers and only a small space to turn around.
Next another Gestapo thug knocks on window and went into a tirade about parking limitations, when he finally calmed down he said I was a serious security breach because:
I was using multiple types of professional photo equipment in a high security area.
By asking where there were access points to take photos I was looking for security access.
It is illegal to be on an airport for any reason other than to board or exit a flight, or be a legitimate employee or contractor.
So I went over the road near the end of the runway and did my thing, two of those turkeys watching through bonoculars the whole time.
WOW! Just WOW!
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
G'day Kevin,
When I worked in Darwin in the very early 70s, a Galaxy (then the largest US Airforce cargo plane) landed. A friend who was a DCA tech said they had to remove the navigation aids (posts) as the wings were too wide. He said it was visible from "down the road". So instead of sleeping that afternoon (was on night shift), I drove down, found the plane & put my 400mm lens on the camera & snapped off some pictures.
My friend had taken pictures from work & in those days we had to send them away for processing. He rarely had those photos returned. Kodak must have had a "hit list"!
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
I have some good Still pics, from inside a Starlifter, for 2 trips to Butterworth, and maybe 30 pics of a C130, on a similar trip, to same place. I was on the job all 3 times.
As long as you are on public land you can snap away. BUT. But there are some exceptions. Anything with a commercial logo etc can't be photographed. But there are also many other exceptions such as in a National Park. But it's not that simple either.
So what's so special about Emerald airport that they have that level of security?
Does it handle military aircraft or something?
I quite often wander about the minor airfields in WA for one reason or another.
Whilst I hold a pilots license, no one ever asks to see it or ask my business.
So what's so special about Emerald airport that they have that level of security? Does it handle military aircraft or something? I quite often wander about the minor airfields in WA for one reason or another. Whilst I hold a pilots license, no one ever asks to see it or ask my business.
Pilots licence allows you to go airside if you have reason to do so.
Finding a lot of regional airports are locked up real tight.
Airports are commonwealth property and as such are ruled by Federal jurisdiction with particular regard to terrorism and the like.
I have no problem with what happened, I just think a little diplomacy would be the go.
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
Few years ago, standing at the fence around the strip of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Yes, of Top Gun fame) and the fence had holes in it so you could poke the camera lens through for an uninterrupted photo of the aircraft.
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Iza
Semi-permanent state of being Recreationally Outraged as a defence against boredom during lockdown.
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