Here i want to share tips & tricks collected over the past years, which may be quite helpful at times. With the following websites and applications, you can check wind direction, sun position, incoming traffic, and much more — making your spotting trips smoother and more successful, all infomation is from spotterguide.net.
We recommend reading trip reports for the airport or country you plan to visit, available on aviation forums. They provide practical insights for your preparation.
Our last tip is to check our website for spotting guides for your chosen airport. If we don’t have one, we’d appreciate your feedback so we can add it after your visit.
General Rules
- Always carry an ID or passport, especially in high-risk countries. This prevents issues with local authorities.
- If asked to leave by police or airport security, do so politely. Avoid arguments — many officers are unfamiliar with spotting.
- Avoid traveling in groups to high-risk areas unless accompanied by locals to reduce attention.
- Carry an aviation magazine or book to explain your hobby if questioned.
- Never damage airport property or cut fences; this affects local spotters.
- Keep your environment clean and respect nature.
- Airband scanners are illegal in many countries. If you use one, accept the risk of fines or confiscation. Alternatively, use LiveATC.net to stream live ATC communications.
Data Roaming & WiFi
One of the most challenging costs for spotting trips abroad is mobile data usage. Flight tracking apps use a lot of data. To reduce costs, we recommend:
- Use an eSIM app like Airalo for affordable data packages and easy installation.
- Get a local SIM card from a provider upon arrival.
- Rent a car with a portable WiFi device (available from most rental companies like Avis, Europcar, Sixt) for unlimited data at a fixed price.
Flight Tracking Tools
- Flightradar24: Best coverage and mobile app. Limited visibility for military/government/biz jets.
- PlaneFinder and ADSBExchange: Useful for tracking registrations that FR24 can’t show.
Use the FR24 history feature to track past and future flights, including route, altitude, speed, times, and more. Playback helps identify runway usage for airports with multiple runways.
Always check NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) for runway closures or maintenance before visiting an airport.
Flight Schedules
- FlightStats: View arrivals and departures for almost any airport (requires subscription).
- Flightmapper: Check schedules during summer/winter plan transitions.
- Flightaware: Excellent coverage for U.S. regional and municipal airports, including props, biz jets, and freighters.
Weather Tools
Sun position is critical for photography. Keep the sun behind you. Use:
- SunCalc.net: Simple sun position tool.
- Sunearthtools: Advanced sun position, angle, and elevation.
- Windfinder: Check wind direction and speed for preferred runway usage.
Photo Websites and Databases
- Airliners.net: Large community, screened high-quality photos.
- Jetphotos.com: #1 aviation photo database, owned by Flightradar24.
- Planespotters.net: Production lists and growing photo database.
- Planepictures.net: ~1.4M pictures, screened for quality.
- Airplane-pictures.net: Creative and unusual angles.
- Netairspace.cc: Immediate display after upload, flagged if eligible for homepage.
Social media platforms like Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram have growing aviation communities. Planespotting.be is more beginner-friendly with a less strict screening process.
Beginners Guide
If you’re just starting with planespotting, watch this helpful video by Juan Artigas. It answers many common questions for new spotters.