| Spotters are a separate breed. Many people would | | | | pictures of the same plane in the colours of various |
| indeed wonder what makes it so attractive to write | | | | companies, with or without the same registration. |
| down airplane registrations. Well, it's a hobby. Nothing | | | | Another nice aspect is when an airline changes the |
| more and nothing less. Or is it? | | | | livery, or the company colours, and you have pictures |
| The term 'spotter' applies not only to planespotters. | | | | of the same airplane in two or more different colour |
| There are also spotters who take pictures and write | | | | schemes of the same airline. Some airlines paint their |
| down numbers of trains, buses and ships, for example. | | | | aircraft in special colours, to commemorate the |
| Die-hard spotters will go a long way for their hobby, | | | | company's anniversary for example. Logojets are |
| sometimes literally. They could easily travel a great | | | | airplanes that are either painted in another company's |
| distance just to 'log' a particular aircraft. A rare aircraft | | | | colours, such as a car rental company's, and also |
| mostly, of which there are only a couple in the whole | | | | planes painted in a special scheme of the airline alliance |
| world (such as the Antonov An-225) or a plane from | | | | the company belongs to. Airlines that belong to the |
| an exotic airline operating on the other side of the | | | | Star Alliance for example have one or more aircraft in |
| world that is on a delivery flight. | | | | their fleet flying around in special colours, which consist |
| Pure spotters 'log' registrations. They have complete | | | | of a dark blue tail with the star logo, 'Star Alliance' |
| logbooks with airline fleets, in which they mark off a | | | | written in large letters over the fuselage and the |
| plane when they see it for the first time. They might | | | | airline's name in smaller letters in the front of the |
| take photographs as well, but seeing the actual aircraft | | | | fuselage. Another trend is painting the aircraft in retro |
| and writing down its number is their main goal. | | | | schemes, which means that the planes are painted in a |
| I have always been interested in aviation, and I started | | | | previous livery of the airline. This makes for an |
| to photograph airplanes when I was about ten years | | | | interesting combination of a modern plane bearing old |
| old. In my case, I go more for a nice picture than for | | | | colours. |
| the registration. However, I do take a note of the | | | | I think spotting is a great hobby and as an aviation |
| registration whenever I can read it on the picture. It is | | | | enthusiast love to visit airports to take pictures. It is also |
| quite interesting to do, as you end up 'collecting' various | | | | a hobby that brings many people together. Spotters |
| aircraft of an airline this way and might end up having | | | | organise meetings to visit spotting locations together |
| photographs of all the planes in the fleet. And once | | | | and share valuable information. |
| that is achieved, you will want to catch any new plane | | | | Via the website mentioned below you can download |
| that joins the fleet as well. Often airplanes change | | | | the FREE 'Spotter's Guide to the World's Top Ten |
| owners during their operational lives and you might get | | | | Airports'. |