A Guide to Plane Spotting

Plane Spotting

Plane spotting can be a fascinating and challenging hobby. Whether it's helicopters, military aircraft, or civil aviation, as a plane spotter you're on the lookout for special aircraft, capturing them on camera or simply logging your sightings for yourself.

In short, plane spotting is the hobby of observing and/or recording flying objects.

The best spotting locations

Naturally, airports are the obvious choice as the best places to spot planes. Let's take Schiphol as an example. Schiphol is a massive airport where more than 450,000 flights a year take off, operated by 110 airlines. This means there's always something happening for a plane spotter.

Schiphol has created two special spotting locations that offer a fantastic view of the runway and the aircraft. On the dedicated page of Schiphol's website, you can find exactly where these spotting spots are located. You can also find out which runways are in use and which aren't. This is valuable information to have before you head out.

These days there are also quite a few apps for both Android and iOS that make plane spotting even easier. These apps tell you which aircraft are in the sky and what an airport's schedule looks like — and (just as importantly) weather apps are essential for a successful day of plane spotting.

Tips for plane spotting

Whether you want to capture the planes on camera or simply want to watch and relax, there are a few rules you should keep in mind.

• Keep the airport's rules in mind and be respectful. Not every airport is fond of plane spotters. You can find the policy of the airport in question online.
• Bring your ID with you, in case security or the police ask for it.
• Stay alert and report any suspicious activity to security or the local police.
• Patience is important when plane spotting. Besides the necessary preparation, you'll gradually discover when the busier times are at the airport in question.
• Don't use flash, and be careful with laser pointers. This can interfere with flight traffic (think of reflective objects in the cockpit).
• Don't forget the right gear. Of course your equipment such as your camera, a good pair of binoculars, and your notebook, but also sunscreen or, alternatively, rain gear. Good preparation makes spotting a lot more enjoyable.

The best binoculars for plane spotting

To determine which binoculars are best for you, it's good to first consider your personal preference. Binoculars generally bring a subject closer, but there are differences here too. Binoculars with a high magnification (12x or higher) will bring the plane in nice and close. The downside of high magnification is that the plane is a bit harder to track. Steady hands are also required to prevent shake in the image. Binoculars with 8x or 10x magnification have the advantage that you have to turn your head less. The image also provides a wider field of view. Below we give a few examples per magnification.

Medium magnification (8x - 10x)

High magnification (12x and up)

Plane spotting abroad

Although plane spotting isn't a problem in the Netherlands, this can be different abroad. Be sure to research this thoroughly before you start. There are already plenty of stories of enthusiastic plane spotters who ran into trouble over this in their holiday destination. Or choose to pursue your hobby mainly in the Netherlands — after all, there's still plenty to spot here.