Never been before

[Lrusso]

Hello Spotters,

I have never been spotting before and my girlfriend and I are thinking about going sometime this summer. I live in Nassau so both LGA and JFK are very accessible. My only concern is interaction with law enforcement which I see is a major topic on this forum. I don't really intend to take professional photos (my girlfriend might bring a point and shoot but nothing SLR-like or anything we just want to watch.

Does that make our chances of encountering law enforcement more likely or less likely? Are the encounters typically just a matter of being asked to leave?

[Matt Molnar]

Welcome aboard!

Smaller cameras do tend to attract less attention, but don't let the potential for encounters with law enforcement discourage you too much. If you're on public property or a well known spotting location, at worst they'll ask you for your ID. If you're on some random private property or airport property, you might get asked to move it along.

Remember, watching and photographing planes is legal, but I understand some people just don't want to be bothered with the hassle, which is perfectly understandable.

If you want to play it absolutely safe, the most planespotter-friendly location in the area is Planeview Park at LGA. Very rarely hear about any harassment there.

Good luck and let us know if you have any more questions!

[Lrusso]

Thanks, I think will brave it!

How often is LGA configured for arrivals on 4?

I noticed that LGA does not have a phone number for their ATIS like Kennedy does how do you check the configuration without a scanner?

[moose135]

LGA ATIS is 718-478-6118

[Delta777LR]

I can mention for JFK that the best location for planespotting right now too is the mounds, which it is a public area since its in a public soccer field, there you can see the runway 22L/R landings...Law enforcement is rarely a problem there but always carry ID.. If you r taking pictures, the best be is to get there after 1pm for good light.. Check with JFK ATIS as well at 1-718-995-8188

[Lrusso]

I can mention for JFK that the best location for planespotting right now too is the mounds, which it is a public area since its in a public soccer field, there you can see the runway 22L/R landings...Law enforcement is rarely a problem there but always carry ID.. If you r taking pictures, the best be is to get there after 1pm for good light.. Check with JFK ATIS as well at 1-718-995-8188

Thanks for the info! how bad are the ticks?

[Delta777LR]

when its pretty humid enough they could be alot of ticks, best advice, bring bug spray... it helps...

[lijk604]

when its pretty humid enough they could be alot of ticks, best advice, bring bug spray... it helps...

Or just shoot from the soccer field. You'd be surprised how good the angels are from there.

[threeholerglory]

Delta777LR wrote:
when its pretty humid enough they could be alot of ticks, best advice, bring bug spray... it helps...


Or just shoot from the soccer field. You'd be surprised how good the angels are from there.

yeah...thanks to John and Chris for this one, you can have a first-hand look at shooting from the soccer field. 200mm is more than enough there. And yes, we did remove the rear bench from my buddy's van to sit in the middle of the field.

[upsmd11f]

I was there on may 9th and unfortunately the approach was for 31R so couldnt get a view from the field/mounds. I walked along Brookville Avenue to try to find a better view, while i was walking down there some passer-by saw me with a camera and reported me to Police,they checked my passport and then told me I wasnt to take anymore photos (on a good note he got his car stuck :D ). I didnt know the JFK ATIS number so was unable to plan in advance to go to the location for 31R.It was a wasted day and i planned this trip to NY in october to go spotting and came away with 2 usable pictures. Had a good time in NYC but as for spotting it was a complete washout.

[NLovis]

Delta777LR wrote:
when its pretty humid enough they could be alot of ticks, best advice, bring bug spray... it helps...


Or just shoot from the soccer field. You'd be surprised how good the angels are from there.

yeah...thanks to John and Chris for this one, you can have a first-hand look at shooting from the soccer field. 200mm is more than enough there. And yes, we did remove the rear bench from my buddy's van to sit in the middle of the field.

200mm more then enough eh? works for me :borat: Though thats for later since MUST BE AT FRG TOMORROW MORNING!

[Lrusso]

We finally went today It was hot but fun!

Had really great time at the The Mounds - Not sure how the pictures came out we it was just a point and shoot but we forgot the battery so it became a 10 dollar disposable! We didn't really go to take pictures anyway though! Saw some cool ones that I wasn't particular looking out for!

Highlights: the BA A318 from London City, a Royal Air Maro 767F.

Interesting the BA A318 came in directly after a BA747 is this by design? (besides the many european arrivals come in at the same times?)

Other interesting ones: A Pinnacle CRJ-200 for Delta Connection but it was still in Northwest Airlink colors, Air France 777-300ER about 4 hours late (Air France Flight 6 is a 777 for the next 3 days any idea if this is a maintenance issue or just something that they normally do?

The Mounds was a really great spot the planes are much closer then I expected but I think the best view of the day was a Lufthansa 747 that we saw will driving on Rockaway Blvd.

Using the VOR DME 22L and VOR 13R approach all day long so we hoped over to North Woodmere park just to check it out but that just didn't compare to the mounds.

I'll post my crappy disposable pictures here tomorrow (If any of them even come out)!

Only bad moment of the day is that my girlfriend considers the A320 to be a large plane in the small group rather then a small plane in the large group! This is my main flight simulator plane so my ego is slightly bruised! :shock:

[PhilDernerJr]

Glad you had a good time! Very lucky that you could get your girlfriend to come join you as well. Eager to see the photos!

[Iberia A340-600]

Other interesting ones: A Pinnacle CRJ-200 for Delta Connection but it was still in Northwest Airlink colors, Air France 777-300ER about 4 hours late (Air France Flight 6 is a 777 for the next 3 days any idea if this is a maintenance issue or just something that they normally do?

I noticed a few Northwest Airlink CRJ's operating for Delta Connection the other day, must have been two or three. I imagine AF6/7 has been downgraded to the A380 because of the extra capacity Air France has added to the CDG-JNB route to bring fans home from the World Cup.

[Lrusso]

Hello Everyone! Sorry I never posted the disposable camera pictures but the planes were like dots in the center of the photo very small but it was a very fun first experience!

My Girlfriend and I went back today with my fathers camera, a Canon Powershot S5 IS.
I must give compliments to all of you because I find it extremely difficult to get a nice centered shot of a plane traveling at anywhere from 140-170 MPH! Regardless, it was a very enjoyable (BUT HOT) experience today at Kennedy and I think we got some decent shots! All from the mounds!

Delta Boeing 767-400ER


Alitalia Boeing 767-300ER


KLM Boeing 777-200ER


Etihad Airways Airbus A340-500


Air Berlin Airbus A330-200


Royal Jordanian Airbus A340-200


Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 (had trees in the way in this pic but my girlfriend did a quick edit)