Spotting Guide : What info do you want ?

[AC.be]

Hi all,

I need help from fellow spotters. I want to know what information you want in a good spotting guide. What should I still add ?

I am currently reworking my London Heathrow Spotting guide. It already has lots of information and when I finish this module, the guide for each different location will show :
- General information,
- A small gallery with sample images,
- Light conditions (including charts of the solar stance),
- Satellite navigation coordinates to the location and to where to park your car,
- Information on what zoom you need.

So, what information would you like to see added to this list ?

Best regards,

AC.be

[sn26567]

I would think at possible obstacles, like a fence (height?), and the need for a ladder. But I am not a spotter...

[AC.be]

Possible obstacles and the possible need of a ladder are included in the general information of that location

[KriVa]

Are radio scanners legal in the UK? If so, useful frequencies might be handy as well.

[AC.be]

My original post wasn't clear enough, so I'll clarify

The guide consists of 1 page with gereneral information and 10 pages with information of an equal amount of locations at which you can take pictures of the aircraft.

The General information page contains :
- Info about airport numbers (number of passengers, number of flights, ...)
- Info about the home carriers (fleet consistency, fleet size, ...)
- Runway operations
- ATS Communications (Frequencies)

Each of the pages of a specific location then also contains :
- General information about that location (so obstacles, need of ladder, ...),
- A small gallery with sample images taken from that location,
- Light conditions at that location (including charts of the solar stance),
- Satellite navigation coordinates to the location and to where to park your car,
- Information on what zoom you need for the common aircraft types.

So what do you want me to add ?

[quixoticguide]

How to get on the spotting places with the public transport.
e.g. for the spot Esso Petrol Station (your spot 10) take bus 203 from Hatton Cross Station ...

[hvs89]

You can add a spotting location on the top of Terminal 5, a good place for both 27R and 27L.

Departures 27R: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hvs89/7525 ... /lightbox/

Departures 27L: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hvs89/7525 ... /lightbox/

Arrivals 09L : http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2057/img3075x.jpg

Coordinates are 51.473201,-0.489983 and 51.470063,-0.489966

[SpottairBRU]

- A small gallery with sample images taken from that location,

What I would find useful is also a sample image of the location itself, to be sure I'm on the right place

I would also mention a warning if some of the places need special attention (eg: close to a restricted area, or comment on leaving a door/fence unobstructed for emergency access, etc).

Great job by the way

[AC.be]

You can add a spotting location on the top of Terminal 5, a good place for both 27R and 27L.

Thanks for the info. I don't post new locations unless I've checked them out myself, but I'll be sure to check it out on my next trip to Heathrow !

What I would find useful is also a sample image of the location itself, to be sure I'm on the right place

That's indeed something that can be very useful. I'll try to take some shots of these locations during my next visits.

Thank you all for your input !

AC.be

[jan_olieslagers]

Are radio scanners legal in the UK? If so, useful frequencies might be handy as well.

AFAIK: same situation as in Belgium ; i.e. not legal, forbidden strictu sensu. But not a problem if you can keep up good manners and good sense. IOW don't force them to notice...