Event took place during the sunrise hours on 22nd of October. 15 spotters and aviation bloggers participated in filming of airplanes and helicopters.
Idea of holding the spotting-tour was born after publication of an article about aviation geeks in Gazeta.uz
. I could watch airplanes take off forever
, said press secretary of Uzbekistan Airports Evgenia Grande. Characters of that material were waiting for many years to have this opportunity.
Expand
Event turned out to be so important for spotters, that a few days before the most famous photographer and planespotting star Sardor Durumov (Telegram-канал UzbekSpotter) arrived from Saint Petersburg.
Sardor Durumov.
Participants began meeting at 5 in the morning. All spotters received one-time passes to the airport territory. Alas, due to lack of coordination between airport services and departments responsible for security of the restricted area spotters had to spend more time on security checks and miss a few flights.
«Bureaucracy for such events should be overcome, thou considering that this is the first spotting-tour there's hope for improvement», — remarked spotter Eldar Hayrulov.
Nonetheless, as spotters said bureaucracy was the only problem they encountered. Despite the fact that most of participants, with exception of Sardor Durumov who is used to cold Saint Petersburg winds, cold weather and wind at the airport didn't spoil the impressions of participants
Photo: Sardor Durumov.
Spotters were able to take photos of terminals, departures and landings of various airliners, apron, ground equipment, baggage handling system. Furthermore, guests got to look around the new departures terminal, which should be opened to public soon reported Uzbekistan Airports' press-service.
For movement around the territory of the airport administration provided spotters with a separate bus. After finishing taking photos at each location were getting on the bus with enigmatic smiles on their faces as if their biggest wish came true.
Impressions are delightful!
— rejoiced Askar Turanazarov.As one of the aviation lovers who have this passion from the early childhood and still looking up when I see an airplane or a helicopter I can say that today's event was amazing. Going to the airport, watching how aircrafts take off and land while standing on the apron is a cool experience. The best thing is that Evgenia (press secretary at Uzbekistan Airports) from the very begging was organizing the event considering opinions of the spotters and tried to make sure that locations were chosen by us. And she did it perfectly».
Фото: Askar Turanazarov, author of Telegram channel Aerospace Lad.
Participants also noticed that they got lucky with light conditions. Clouds from Thursday's rain cleared in the morning. The sun was breaking through the clouds, illuminating snowy mountain peaks with golden light. Airplanes were taking off into the sky and landing on the runway with dawn sky on the background.
Фото: Roman Valiev.
Spotter Sarvar Haydarov noted that event was an important step for both airport and planespotters. This hobby is becoming more and more popular in the world, including CIS countries. He added that spotters massively contribute to recognition of cities and countries where such events are regularly held and they support growth of our tourism.
Our honorable President repeatedly emphasized the importance of tourism in our country. Many known foreign spotters want to visit Uzbekistan and take part in such events. Now, as legalization of planespotting has begun many of them will be able to visit our country Sarvar Haydarov said.
Photo: in4avia Telegram channel.
Importance of this event is hard to overestimate as it was the first experience of it's kind in our country! Previously we — local spotters and aviation enthusiasts had to photograph and admire aircrafts quietly behind airport's fence. Either because of exaggerated safety measurer due to dislike of people with cameras from our fellow citizens we couldn't openly appear with cameras along the perimeter of the airport. And today we saw a unprecedented example for our country when attention wasn't just paid to planespotter but they were invited to the territory and allowed almost on the edge of the runway!
We didn't even dream about this before noted Iskanar Sharafov.
Photo: Iskandar Sharafov.
For me this event is important mainly because extremely conservative and closed from public organizations realized that being open and friendly is more
convenient and profitable nowadays than being closed off from everyone. Secondly, it is important that I was able to participate in an event that I previously could only read about from colleagues from other countries - said Anton Yakunin.
Photo: Anton Yakunin.
Press secretary of Uzbekistan Airports Evgenia Grande reported that such events are planned to be held regularly. For this reason past spotting tour is named as the Autumn one. Administration of the airport also hopes to replenish their gallery as it is the standard practice of mutual benefit in planespotting. Airlines and airport get good-looking photos and spotters do what the love.
Foreign airports offer specialized spotting decks with open view of the airfield, press tours and open days. In return airports get advertising and high-quality photos. We also really want our airports to have similar viewing decks built with consideration of spotters' needs and safety measures
, remarked Iskandar Sharafov.
Photo: Muhitdin Ishanhodjaev.
Press secretary of the company believes that resulting images can be displayed inside the airport as a temporary exhibition. This way will be able to demonstrate it's openness.
Organizers tried to do their best for what we really thank them. Certainly there's al lot more work to do but i'm sureу that will be able to popularize this movement. If we work together we will be able to reach huge success and contribute to development of country's aviation industry
said Sarvar Haydarov.
![The very first official spotting tour at Tashkent International Airport]()
Photo: Ravshan Hamidov / AviaAlertsUZ.
Aviation enthusiasts are hopeful that spotting tours will be held in other airports across the country with simplified safety control procedures to enter the airport's territory. According to their words in many countries this procedures are carried out faster. In case when simplifying those procedures is not possible conditions for planespotting are created in publicly accessible areas.
At the level of airport security and law enforcement [photography near airport's fence] is still not welcomed. Apart from that it would be amazing to organize one or two spotting locations inside the airport. Inside the terminal
said Askar Turanazarov as an example.
Photo: Askar Turanazarov, author of Telegram channelAerospace Lad.
It is possible to simply procedures but that's airport's internal decision. It is possible to provide abilities for planespotting outside the territory of the airport by just creating spotting decks as it's done in leading airports of the world. You can come up with many ideas. Important part is to have ability and desire to prove it to the administration
added Eldar Hayrulov.
Photo: Muhitdin Ishanhodjaev.
We believe and hope that in future with increased in number of people who are interested in planespotting society and airport's administration will understand that it's a harmless activity
emphasized planespotter Iskandar Sharafov.
This material was prepared by our friends and colleagues from Gazeta.uz
