When I am asked what are my hobbies (aside from being in front of a computer most of the time), I normally have two answers: (1) playing/making music and (2) planespotting. For most, they are intrigued by my second answer. Planespotting (or in some countries, it is referred to as aircraft spotting) is a hobby that takes photos of planes and catalogues them. It is something comparable to photography itself (I mentioned that in this Spot.ph article to give you an idea).
For years now, I have co-administer the Philippine PlaneSpotters Group (PPSG) online community where members from all around the globe share photos, exchange views and opinions, and discuss everything AvGeek. We used to have semi-regular planespotting sessions around the vicinity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA/MNL), especially when rare and special planes visit the country’s main gateway (like the USAF Air Force One), but issues with the airport authority (particularly aviation law enforcement agencies) and the COVID-19 pandemic halted most of our planespotting activities (I was planespotting from home since the ECQ, trying to take photos of aircraft passing our place at more than 30,000 feet at times).
Not until last 20 March 2023 when I received an invitation from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to plane spot with some of our members right inside the Aircraft Movement Areas (AMA) of the NAIA as we witness the arrival of Philippine Airlines (PAL) inaugural flight from Perth, Australia (PER) on 27 March 2023. Who am I to turn down such an invitation?
One of my fellow PPSG Co-Administrators happens to be working for the flag carrier and was coordinating with the MIAA for activities related to these inaugural flights (MNL-PER and PER-MNL) when one of the airport authority’s bosses raised the idea of having an activity for local planespotters — and PPSG was mentioned (he was at the right place, and the right time).
With this MIAA-initiated activity set for the inaugural PAL PER flight arrival in MNL, we asked PPSG members who wish to join the planespotting session — first ten (10) to say YES will get an invite. As the invitation letters were sent by the MIAA via email, all participants were asked to sign the MIAA Plane Spotter’s Undertaking as part of the accreditation process.
Planespotting Day: 27 March 2023
One of the requirements set by the MIAA to the planespotting activity participants is the use of high-visibility safety vests (hi-vis vests or some call them reflectorized vests) with the “PLANESPOTTER” markings at the back. We were under the impression that we have to individually provide it, and we arrived at the MIAA Media Affairs Office at the NAIA Terminal 1 prepared.
Each PPSG member was issued with an MIAA Special Event Pass (stick on), and to our surprise, the MIAA was kind enough to give every participant his own hi-vis vest to use at the event (and also to bring home as a souvenir).
From the Media Affairs Office, we were brought to the NAIA Terminal 2 ramp area onboard an MIAA bus.
En route to the planespotting area, a safety briefing was conducted by a representative of the MIAA Airport Ground Operations and Safety Division (AGOSD). Once we entered the ramp area, the planespotting activities commenced.
PR224 (PER-MNL) utilizing RP-C 9936 (Airbus A321-271N) touched down at 1545H and was welcomed with a water cannon salute. We were given ample time to take photos of the PAL aircraft from PER (as well as other planes as they land and take off while waiting for the PAL bird to arrive).
I’m so happy to be back in my former playground — the MNL airport ramp area. Thank you to MIAA for reaching out to planespotters and we do hope that this is the start of a fruitful collaboration between the PPSG and the airport authorities at MNL.
