On 18 August, the UK Home Office released a circular to clarify counter-terrorism legislation in relation to photography in a public place. This was a result of sections of the Counter Terrorism Act being used to stop innocent photographers taking photos and pursuing their hobby in public places.

Whilst this covers the whole spectrum of photography, no matter what your subject is, it is naturally of importance and relevance to aircraft enthusiasts who take photographs near airports as part of their hobby.

The circular can be read at this link. It is advisable to familiarise yourself with the rules and laws contained within, and even keep a copy handy in your camera bag. For a brief summary, here are some important points:

• Section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 a police officer may stop and search a person they reasonably suspect to be a terrorist, to discover whether that person has in their possession anything which may constitute evidence that they are a terrorist. This power can be exercised at any time and in any location.
• Digital images can be viewed as part of a search under section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to discover whether the person has in their possession anything which may constitute evidence that they are a terrorist.
• When conducting a search under section 43, cameras, film and memory cards can be seized if the officer reasonably suspects that these may constitute evidence that the person is a terrorist.
• Officers do not have the power to delete images or destroy film.
• Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 enable uniformed police officers to stop and search anyone within an authorised area for the purposes of searching for articles of a kind which could be used in connection with terrorism.
• Section 44 does not prohibit the taking of photographs, film or digital images in an authorised area and members of the public and the press should not be prevented from doing so.

The full article: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/publications/home-office-circulars/circulars-2009/012-2009/

Airbus have just announced that company Airbus A380 F-WWOW will be making an “approach and go around flythrough” at Birmingham Airport on Saturday 5 September 2009 as part of a UK tour on that day.

The Birmingham flypast is scheduled for 1540. The aircraft will also be visiting Edinburgh, Prestwick, Port Rush for the Northern
Ireland International Air Show, Belfast City and Broughton on that day before returning to Toulouse via Birmingham – times
at - http://bhxflightguide.blogspot.com

This visit is in addition to the planned visit by an Emirates A380 to Birmingham on Wednesday 9 September 2009 – again more information on that visit can be found at the link above.

Travelodge are holding another £9 per night room sale. This is particularly useful if you’re on the road spotting as there are many Travelodge hotels located near airports in the UK.

Some particularly useful ones are at and around London Heathrow airport. The new one at Terminal 5 even has rooms overlooking the action.

The sale starts at 6am on 23 April. Booking period is 27 August to 30 November. Click here for booking.

Following on from my recent post about the BAe ATP aircraft stored at Woodford, near Manchester, I can now sadly report that they have all been scrapped. Even the prototype aircraft has met this fate.

There is still one ATP forward section present, however, and a similar section of a BAe 146 aircraft. The Vulcan is also reportedly still present.