Steve Jobs Gulfstream Photo Challenge: Reward Offered

[Matt Molnar]

Rumor has it that Steve Jobs will be in NYC on Tuesday for an event in which it is expected Verizon will announce they will begin selling iPhones.

Steve flies a Gulfstream V, registration N2N. It's blocked from public trackers. Chances are he'll fly into TEB, LGA or HPN, but who knows?

We are offering a reward for first photo of the plane landing at or parked at an airport in or near NYC, shot today or tomorrow morning.

Photo must be submitted before 11AM Tuesday. Email photo(s) to [email protected].

Anonymity can be guaranteed if you request. We just want the photo, we don't care how you get it, as long as you don't do anything illegal. We don't want you to get fired, either.

The Reward: a $50 iTunes Gift Card, 1 billion Planespotter Street-Cred Points, and maybe attention from some big tech blogs.

If you happen to know when/where the plane is coming in, either post it here, or if you'd prefer to remain anonymous, email tips to [email protected].

Good luck!

This is the objective of your mission, if you choose to accept it...seen here at LAX shot by our friend Justin Cederholm:


Fine print: As you probably realize, despite the iTunes card prize, by no means is this contest endorsed or sanctioned by Steve Jobs or Apple or anybody else.
By submitting a photo, you maintain ownership of said photo, but you grant NYCAviation permission to use it for any purpose. You will always receive photo credit whenever the photo is used.
Planespotter Street Cred points are not redeemable for anything other than the respect and admiration of your fellow planespotters

[NIKV69]

This is laughable on so many levels. Guys he has his aircraft blocked from the trackers for a reason. Keep the info via email and PMs and use some common sense, please.

[NYCA News]

NYCAviation:

Steve Jobs Gulfstream Photo Challenge: Reward Offered

We are offering a reward for first photo of Steve Jobs landing at or parked at an airport in or near NYC, shot today or tomorrow morning.
[Click to Read Full Article]

[T-Bird76]

Is the prize a free Verizon iPhone? LOLOLOL

[Matt Molnar]

The Reward: a $50 iTunes Gift Card, 1 billion Planespotter Street-Cred Points, and maybe attention from some big tech blogs.

(Then again, who knows, maybe he flew commercial.)

[njgtr82]

This is laughable on so many levels. Guys he has his aircraft blocked from the trackers for a reason. Keep the info via email and PMs and use some common sense, please.

These aircraft should not be allowed to be blocked. They are using a publicly funded system and airports so this information should be publicly available.

[NIKV69]

They are using a publicly funded system and airports so this information should be publicly available

So is our president should we be able to track Af1 wherever he goes? Some of these CEOs need a certain level of security. They also pay landing fees and patronize FBOs. They don't owe the public anything.

[gonzalu]

Well if I see his plane, or the president's, I am sure to shoot (lots of pictures of) them

[gonzalu]

If Jobs is smart, he should come in to HPN where NO ONE will notice him LOL

[Matt Molnar]

So is our president should we be able to track Af1 wherever he goes? Some of these CEOs need a certain level of security. They also pay landing fees and patronize FBOs. They don't owe the public anything.

The reason the FAA allows blocking is more likely due to business concerns than security. For example, tracking Warren Buffett's plane one could make some educated guesses on what he was investing in based on his destination, which would affect stock prices. At the end of the day, I doubt the FAA cares very much about individual privacy or security. Whatever their reasoning, I don't really have a big problem with that.

That said, if someone sees a private plane with their own eyes, there should be no hesitation to share that information. I would go as far as to say if someone had inside knowledge of a private plane's whereabouts, it might be unethical to share that info from a professional point of view, but not necessarily wrong in a public interest point of view.

[Flying Tigers]

I don't know where this plane is, but I can tell you it's NOT at TEB. At least not yet.

[NIKV69]

he reason the FAA allows blocking is more likely due to business concerns than security

The FAA doesn't make the decision the owner does. I know someone who blocks all his aircraft from trackers and trust me it isn't because of business concerns. It's personal safety. In today's climate you can never be too sure and most like to err on the side of caution. Also some of these people aren't the only ones traveling on their aircraft and some of guests are from the middle east. It should be respected and not questioned.

[hiss srq]

Honestly, it's owner right... In this business climate it's probably safer to function that way... One of the big things going on as well in this business climate is that companies and wealthy individuals are spinning their planes off and putting them on 135 certs instead of operating them as part 91... You would be amazed at who actually uses some of the airplanes at FRG for example and who owns them in part at least.

[PhilDernerJr]

I know someone who blocks all his aircraft from trackers and trust me it isn't because of business concerns. It's personal safety. In today's climate you can never be too sure and most like to err on the side of caution. Also some of these people aren't the only ones traveling on their aircraft and some of guests are from the middle east. It should be respected and not questioned.

No one said that FAA makes the decision, but they are the ones that allows others to make the decision. If the FAA wanted to make all planes public, they could. I wouldn't advise that, though, I have no problem with peope blocking it. But there's nothign wrong with us looking to get or take photos of it. the news media does this all the time, every day, everywhere. People in politics, however, have a different set of circumstances. Security and safety is top priority.

As for what we are doing, we go out for VIPs and unique aircraft all the time. We even do it during UN week with aircraft that are protecting by heavily armed guards and escorted convoys. But what we do is legal an we know how to do it without overstepping boundaries. This is just another VIP that we'd like to get and we are offering our chance to give something back to enthusiasts who do what they love, that's all.

Happy spotting!

[NIKV69]

No one said that FAA makes the decision, but they are the ones that allows others to make the decision. If the FAA wanted to make all planes public, they could. I wouldn't advise that, though, I have no problem with peope blocking it. But there's nothign wrong with us looking to get or take photos of it. the news media does this all the time, every day, everywhere. People in politics, however, have a different set of circumstances. Security and safety is top priority.

As for what we are doing, we go out for VIPs and unique aircraft all the time. We even do it during UN week with aircraft that are protecting by heavily armed guards and escorted convoys. But what we do is legal an we know how to do it without overstepping boundaries. This is just another VIP that we'd like to get and we are offering our chance to give something back to enthusiasts who do what they love, that's all.

All of this is a given Phil, certain aircraft movements should not be in a public forum and should be restricted to PMs and emails. Nobody here ever said you can't spot VIPS just some use some common sense.