Photography "Harassment" at airports

[Walter Steed]

[Wolf Kotenberg]

I never got harrassed at BFI but people in black smoky window SUV's sure arrive quickly after i park and pull out my camera. One instance the sheriff puleed two cars, one blocking my exit and asked several questions about my reason for taking pictures. My friends who photograph trains also seem to have similar issues. I actually don't care that much but I do call the airport and tell them where i am at and my business there ( in a public area no less outside the airport perimeter fence ) I think they should deputise us photographers .

[Ztex]

A couple of my stories...I have posted these on another forum....

This is a bit long winded but...

Number 1

I was hassled today for taking a photograph of a military C-26 Metroliner at a city owned airport. (Ft. Worth, Texas) the aircraft was on the ramp in public view. I parked next to some other cars near the fence, got out took 2 photos through the fence. As I was leaving the parking area a man it a truck stopped me and asked me if I worked "there" (the hanger he pointed to said "ATK Alliant Techsystems" on it..I am aware of the business that ATK is in. That is why I wanted the pic of the aircraft.. ) I answered no...he was on the phone an soon a man in Air Force BDU's and another in black T-shirt with a badge at his hip and a man with an city airport shirt and radio came and asked me to erase the photograhps. They asked for my name and address...I showed them my D/L. They told me I was in a "restricted area" and furthermore "Photography is not allowed at the airport" I politely complied and left the area.

BUT:
The aircraft was visible from off airport property, that's how I saw it in the 1st place.
There were no signs placing restrictions on my movement where I was photographing.
The aircraft ultimately departed the field from the public runway between a Piper Arrow and a King Air. ( I was too late to photog this)
There were 4 very determined men facing me...one with a badge, one in Air Force uniform, one with the city, one a do-gooder working for ATK (on the way home from work when he saw me)
I was in no way in a position to start an argument about my rights...I did, politely, let them know how stupid I thought they were...how I could go home and get the long lens and take the shot...how I had been taking pis for years..how I belong to the museum on the field..and we take lots of pics from the museum...duh!

I found this on theCity web site...CITY CODE, Part 2 Division V...
Sec. 3-148. Photography; movie productions; polls.
(a) It shall be unlawful to utilize photographic or moving picture equipment for the purpose of picture-taking or moving picture photography in or near any area designated as a restricted area within the airport unless such person has obtained a permit from the airport director.

The definition of "Restricted Area" is as follows...Restricted area - shall mean any portion of the airport to which no ingress is permitted except upon specific authorization by the director.

So the guy from the City was "correct" is saying "Photography is not allowed at the airport"

I did mention to him there was a fly-in at the field, with hundreds of people with cameras...JUST LAST WEEKEND!
I have since found photographs of virtually the same aircraft on Airliners.net.

I have been taking photographs at this airport for 25 years....never had this kind of hassle.

Just beware of where and what you are photgraphing.



Number 2
_____________________________________________________________
A few weeks ago I was at my local Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY), where I learned to fly and have many friends on field.
The Met Life blimp was there and I stopped in on my lunch hour, like I have been prone to do since about 1984 or so.... and I was followed by a t-hanger tenant.
I stopped my car and got out to introduce myself to this fellow that was tailgating me across the airport at 10 MPH... He had questions like Who are you? What is your business? Real accusatory in nature. When I told him I was taking photos of the blimp he asked me "is that your aircraft?"
Good grief....
He told me I needed permission to be on the field...I produced the airport managers card and told him I had his permission....He didn't like that at all.

I spoke with the airport manager. He understood my plight.

Today...I was at the same airport (GKY) and a fellow with a local flight school waved me down and proceeded to ask the same type of questions in the same belligerent nature as the t-hanger guy. I gave the same response about my hobby and my history at the airport...he told me "we reported your license plate to the TSA" and walked away.

I had immediately had another discussion with the airport manager. He was quite nice and understanding. He rolled his eyes at the TSA comment and offered me his card again and suggested that I ask for permission before taking pictures of the flight school aircraft. (flown predominantly by folks of Arab and Indian persuasion)

We had a nice chat. All is well between the city official and I...

The moral to this story is that there are some overly cautious people out there that seem ready to catch the next Osama or Mathias Rust or whom ever. They see it as their purview to adjudicate who is right and who is wrong. But at public airports I have certain privileges of access and expect to be treated fairly, and I inturn will deal with everyone in a fair, friendly and courteous manner.

The AOPA has put out guidelines on how to deal with GA airport security http://www.aopa.org/airportwatch/

They publish the TSA hot line phone number and encourage folks to call in suspicious activity. They also ask that we get to know each other at the airport become familiar with the folks who inhabit the the airport and become good neighbors.

These folks at the local muni are not being good neighbors.

Be careful out there.

I'll let you know if I get a visit from the feds...

[Florida Metal]

Got questioned for the first time yesterday at Cypress Point Park next to TPA where I take approach shots of planes landing on 36L at TPA as they come over the water.

A guy drove up in a Parks Dept Ford Ranger, but was wearing a rent a cop outfit and came to my car and asked what I was doing. I told him I was taking pictures for a website. He gave me the "I gotta ask in this day and age" speech, but was very polite and professional about it otherwise and even apologized for bothering me - I wish the cops and rent a cops at MCO would at least do this (and I even work there).

There is a Dept of Homeland Insecurity Building nearby, along with several other government buildings I found out yesterday, yet I this is the first time in about 6 visits that anyone even questioned me and I spend a good part of the day there.

[Michael Martin]

I went to PDK the other day to shoot, and as usual, NO harrassment! I love that airport! I even had a tower person contact me to let me know I shot a photo of his airplane and to see if we could arrange it so when he flies in/out for me to get a photo of his plane airborne! You gotta love an airport like that!

Now that I'm in a job where I have real steady hours, I'm going to pursue a contact at ATL to see about getting some kind of credentials (permit, letter, etc) to be able to shoot from the parking deck WITHOUT APD harrassment!

/\/\|k.e

[Florida Metal]

Doesn't the APD guy at the airport garage ride around on a bicycle with a flag on it that makes his rounds about once an hour?

Take your pictures then watch for him, leave then come back. I sat there for a good hour and a half and didn't see him until I was leaving.

[N6701]

TPA is where I do most my spotting and I have never had a problem taking pictures there from the parking garage, Hillsborough Ave, and Cypress Point Park. I also did some spotting at PIE one time at the lounge and never had any problems. The Tampa Bay area airports seem pretty photographer friendly, so I rarely spot anywhere else.

[Fasteddie07]

I was connecting in ORD on Sunday and the sun was setting so I took some nice terminal shots. My girlfriend and I were eating at the Macaroni Grill in the terminal and I was approached by a CPD officer. For those of you who know what I am talking about,that overlooks a bunch of AA gates. He asked if I was snapping pictures of the aircraft. I said yes and he said it's no problem but someone was complaining I was taking pictures of the "flightline". I have been in the Air Force for 9 years so I know what a flightline is so I think he meant ramp. The cop said he was a spotter himself(lol) and that the guy that complained was another military man. Are people that board? I tried to approach the gentleman but he was no where to be found.

[Ztex]

Gotta love the nervous Nellies in our world. Gee Whiz...If you were sneaking around and trying to hide the fact that your were photographing that would be one thing...Gee whiz.

[Bluedharma]

[Ztex]

This is the subject that never goes away.

I had another run-in with an FBO employee today.

I stopped by a local airfield to see what was around...as I am prone to do...

From the road I saw a Dehavilland Turbo Otter on floats parked on the ramp near one of the FBO's on the field.

I pulled in, parked and got out to take a photo of the airplane. There was a young lady that works for the FBO walking around looking at the Beaver at the same time.

I stood on my side of the fence and took a photo. While I was continuing to look, she walks over and proceeds to ask "What's your name...who are you...are you a tenant? " in rapid fire...I waited for her to stop and answered her questions. She told me that the FBO does not allow photography for "customer privacy" I told her that I had had conversations with the FBO and there had been no prior prohibitions placed on my activity and that I have been at this for @ 20 years and...

She said "Well, you just haven't been "caught".

She didn't seem to understand.

There was also an FAA King Air parked on the ramp...I asked her if it was ok to take a photo of the Government Airplane? She smiled ... I went on my way...

I guess I'll have to talk to the FBO again...
Gee Whiz...
_____________________________________________________________
On a better note.

I was at DFW airport a few days ago and I parked next to the fence near a guard shack and gate. The guard shack had tinted windows so I couldn't see anyone inside. I went to the fence to take a photo of a Singapore 747 on the freight ramp.

When I turned around to get back in the car, a security guard was standing there. He asked how I was doing and if I was a member of the media. I said no and he said OK!

He told me that he had to ask because the media might pull up and take a photo and then write a story about how they were able to take a picture of an airplane at an airport....and no-one stopped them! He told me that it was no big secret that there were airplanes at the airport... and to have a good day!

Finally someone with their head screwed on straight! Yahoo!

(and jeers to the media folks being a bunch of nincompoops..as usual)

[Bluedharma]

[mkiogima]

[BIKE PILOT]

And there was I thinking i'd been photographing boats all these years !

Neil

[Florida Metal]