Connecticut Plane
Spotters
June 24, 2014
Dennis Michaud
John Jauchler
Who are we? Why are we here today?
 Informal group of aviation enthusiasts and photographers –
approximately 200 members
 We’ve been photographing at Bradley for years
 Many teens in our group, some of them aspiring air traffic
controllers and pilots – we should encourage their interests
 We continue to see security notched up, to our detriment:
•
•
•
•
Route 20 / Runway 6 lot closed by owner
Perimeter Road now off-limits
CSP tells us photography inside the terminal is not permitted
Bradley has made it clear that we’re not welcome
Why we’re important
 We’re capturing history
 Security – when we’re out, the airport has another set
of eyes and ears
 Good publicity! Literally millions of views of our
Bradley photographs on sites like Airliners.net and
Jetphotos.net from people around the world
Phil Orlandella, former Director of Communications, Logan
Airport:
“We ask them to assist us and even if they catch one
sometimes, it’s a plus and it’s worth having them up there,”
Orlandella said.
Orlandella is referring to his recent decision to allow a group
of area plane spotters to photograph from the upper levels of
the central garage, with the runways in plain view.
“It’s my opinion that if the so-called bad guy wanted to take
different pictures at the airport then they wouldn’t be so
obvious,” Orlandella said.
Matt Brelis continues this relationship
What other airports are doing
 Miami – “The Holes” – lens holes in fence installed by airport authority in an otherwise
unimproved area of airport property
 Barnes Airport – Viewing deck, even with military Aerospace Control Alert mission there
 Grand Rapids – fine airport-sponsored spotting park adjacent to runway
 Atlanta – photography from airport property allowed, including parking garages
 Charlotte – same
 Las Vegas – same
 Portland – spotters welcome to use parking deck
 Phoenix – same
 Memphis - same
 Fort Lauderdale – same
 BWI – spotter’s park on airport perimeter road & viewing deck inside airport
 MSP – viewing deck inside airport
 Manchester – viewing deck inside airport
And many others…
Miami International KMIA “The Holes”
Charlotte KCLT “Airport Overlook”
Fort Lauderdale KFLL
Grand Rapids KGRR
Baltimore/Washington KBWI
“Observation Gallery”
Las Vegas KLAS
Europe – Spotter’s Paradise!
Amsterdam Schipol
So, why is the Runway 24 /
Perimeter Road angle
important to us?
A Little Context… Runway 6
…And the “Runway 24 Difference”
Perimeter Road Issue
 It’s been explained to us by CSP that the main issue is parking on the roadway
• Lieutenant William R. Baldwin, CSP: “The issue is parking alongside the public
roadway or on the grassy areas of the perimeter of the airport.”
 Fine, no problem – it’s OK with us to park offsite and walk in, we need the exercise!
 But the issue continues to evolve:
• First, it was 9/11 security concerns
• We seemingly got past that; parking along the road became the next issue
• We have a good solution for that, now “liability” is the reason we can’t be there
 With no proper outlet for people to view BDL activity, there actually is a safety problem
out on the Perimeter Road – people stop their cars in the middle of the road to watch
the planes
• The general public thinks aviation is as cool as we do!
So, where exactly do we stand at
Bradley?
 Why the sudden issue with liability?
• Has something happened out there to raise concerns?
• Overall chances of getting injured while taking photos along the
Perimeter Road can’t be any higher than dog walking, jogging, biking,
etc. – all seemingly permitted activities in that area
 If we stay on the Perimeter Road shoulder vs. on the grassy areas, can we
be out there?
 What areas on BDL property are OK? Mr. Waldron proposed the cell phone
lot, which unfortunately is a poor spot for photography.
• Parking garage?
• Sheraton corridor inside the airport?
• Elsewhere within the public areas in the terminal?
Conclusion:
 Other larger airports have no problem with our activities,
why is this such an issue at Bradley?
 We’re capturing history – and if we have a good relationship
with the airport, we’re happy to share our work
 Next steps
Above all, thank you for your
time and willingness to meet
with us.
Dennis Michaud
michadm@hotmail.com
860 989 7344
John Jauchler
jauchler@hotmail.com
203 623 1281