Spotting in Thailand

[james143611]

Hello,

Is it still possible to spot and take phots at any Thai airport?

Looking at going towards the end of the year but I keep seeing reports of police turfing spotters away from all locations (one apparently getting beaten up by an officer not sure if thats true) and at the BKK viewing decks you aren't allowed to take pictures?

Thought of doing the beach at Phuket but apparently (again apparently) they are kicking off all the photters from there too.

I mean if it really has turned anti plane spotting then I may have to think of somewhere else to go.


Any help appreciated though!

James

[Le Addeur noir]

Hello,

Is it still possible to spot and take phots at any Thai airport?

Looking at going towards the end of the year but I keep seeing reports of police turfing spotters away from all locations (one apparently getting beaten up by an officer not sure if thats true) and at the BKK viewing decks you aren't allowed to take pictures?

Thought of doing the beach at Phuket but apparently (again apparently) they are kicking off all the photters from there too.

I mean if it really has turned anti plane spotting then I may have to think of somewhere else to go.


Any help appreciated though!

James

Phuket is indeed becoming less spotter friendly. Tourists/photographers are being stopped from entering the area around the runway 09 threshold. This was in the Thai press recently.

Photography from the viewing ares at Dn Muang is taking a risk, the same applies to taking photos at Suvarnabhumi.

Another place where spotting is risky is in the approach at both ends of Khorat RTAFB.

Everywhere else should be no problem. It would be a good idea to be discreet, though at all fields visited.

[james143611]

Thank you very much for the help, that's a shame

Though in regards to the beach at Phuket, if they are stopping people at the 09 threshold, can you still go further down the beach and get side on shots or do they prefer that you are so far down that you cannot see them at all?

I did see a video at Suvarnabhumi taken from the Baan Klang Nam 3 restaurant, shows people having a drink outside and snapping arrivals, might give it a go, otherwise might look at one of the hotels around the airport with a roof deck, which there seems to be a couple.


Thanks for the help, and out of interest what are the neighboring country's like such as Laos or Cambodia?

[Le Addeur noir]

Thank you very much for the help, that's a shame

Though in regards to the beach at Phuket, if they are stopping people at the 09 threshold, can you still go further down the beach and get side on shots or do they prefer that you are so far down that you cannot see them at all?

I did see a video at Suvarnabhumi taken from the Baan Klang Nam 3 restaurant, shows people having a drink outside and snapping arrivals, might give it a go, otherwise might look at one of the hotels around the airport with a roof deck, which there seems to be a couple.


Thanks for the help, and out of interest what are the neighboring country's like such as Laos or Cambodia?

There are a number of hotels around Suvarmabhumi where spotting is possible from their roof gardens. I'm not sure of any specific hotel names, but I'm sure others can help with those details.

[Bennie]

Hello,

Is it still possible to spot and take phots at any Thai airport?

Looking at going towards the end of the year but I keep seeing reports of police turfing spotters away from all locations (one apparently getting beaten up by an officer not sure if thats true) and at the BKK viewing decks you aren't allowed to take pictures?

Thought of doing the beach at Phuket but apparently (again apparently) they are kicking off all the photters from there too.

I mean if it really has turned anti plane spotting then I may have to think of somewhere else to go.


Any help appreciated though!

James

Phuket is indeed becoming less spotter friendly. Tourists/photographers are being stopped from entering the area around the runway 09 threshold. This was in the Thai press recently.

Photpgraphy from the viewing ares at Dn Muang is taking a risk, the same applies to taking photos at Suvarnabhumi.

Another place where spotting is risky is in the approach at both ends of Khorat RTAFB.

Everywhere else should be no problem. It would be a good idea to be discrete though at all fields visited.

Authorities at Surat Thani didn't seem very fond of people with an extraordinary aircraft interest in the past....

[giant]

I never went to Phuket, I do only mil.
Go to thailand few times every year.
Never had a problem at the pedestrian bridge at don muang..
Korat all so no problem as long as you don't stand allong the wall at the prison.
U-tapao no problem in landing away from the base.
Ton

[Le Addeur noir]

I never went to Phuket, I do only mil.
Go to thailand few times every year.
Never had a problem at the pedestrian bridge at don muang..
Korat all so no problem as long as you don't stand allong the wall at the prison.
U-tapao no problem in landing away from the base.
Ton

I was at Khorat a few weeks ago with another spotter on the runway 24 approach and someone in civilian clothes, but of military appearence intimated we should not be there and photographed the car with his smartphone.

A Bangkok based friend was told to leave the area by the Air Force on the runway 06 approach in 2017.

So, be careful here.

[Le Addeur noir]

Thinking of spotting at Phuket airport?.

You have been warned,

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeas ... -being-put