MIAA on Planespotting Outside of the Airport Premises

In our pursuit of understanding the regulations surrounding planespotting activities, we reached out to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) for clarification on whether planespotting is allowed outside the airport premises. On 19 July 2024, we sent an email addressed to the MIAA General Manager Eric Ines seeking detailed information on the current guidelines and any potential restrictions that might impact aviation enthusiasts who enjoy observing and photographing aircraft from locations beyond the airport’s boundaries:

Dear GM Eric Jose Castro Ines,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you as a representative of AvGeek Philippines, a community of aviation enthusiasts and planespotters who are passionate about aircraft and aviation photography.

We have recently encountered some confusion regarding the regulations surrounding planespotting activities at the Manila International Airport. Specifically, we are seeking clarification on whether there are any rules or restrictions that prevent planespotters from taking photos of planes from locations outside the airport complex.

In 2012, the former MIAA General Manager responded to an open letter published by The NAIA Guy, stating:

“There is no existing airport security regulation which prohibits plane spotters from taking pictures of airplanes from outside the NAIA perimeter fence. These plane spotters are not considered threats to airport security for as long as they keep their activities outside the restricted airside area.”

A copy of that response is attached to this email message.

Understanding the current guidelines will help ensure that our community members comply with all airport policies and respect any security measures in place. We are committed to fostering a positive relationship with the Manila International Airport Authority and to promoting safe and respectful planespotting practices.

Could you please provide us with detailed information on the following points:
1. Are there any explicit rules that prohibit the photographing of aircraft from outside the airport premises?
2. If such restrictions exist, could you explain the rationale behind them?
3. Are there designated areas or guidelines that planespotters should follow to avoid any potential issues?

Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated, as it will help us educate the general public, particularly our community members and prevent any misunderstandings or inadvertent breaches of airport regulations.

Thank you very much for your time and attention to this request. We look forward to your response and to continuing our support for Manila International Airport through our shared passion for aviation.

This afternoon, we received a response from Major General Manuel V. Sequitin (Ret), MIAA Assistant General Manager for Security & Emergency Services (AGM-SES):

Gen. Sequitin confirmed that, according to current regulations and the MIAA Airport Security Program (ASP), there are no specific rules prohibiting individuals from photographing airplanes from outside the perimeter fence. Such activities are not considered a threat to airport security as long as they occur outside the Security Restricted Areas (SRA), specifically beyond the airport’s perimeter fence. However, the use of drones or similar technology near the airport complex to capture videos of aircraft during takeoff or landing is prohibited under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) Part 11.

We hope that with this clarification, incidents of planespotters being shooed away outside the perimeter fence of NAIA will become a thing of the past. By understanding and respecting the outlined regulations, enthusiasts can continue their activities without unnecessary interference, fostering a positive relationship between the airport authorities and the aviation community.

Happy planespotting mga ka-AvGeekPH!