Changi Airport’s Sky Watchers, a vibrant community event for aviation enthusiasts and photographers, recently hosted its inaugural airside photography event. This exclusive gathering provided participants with an unparalleled opportunity to witness and document the intricate operations on the airside, capturing the essence of aviation from a unique perspective. The event marks a significant milestone for the Sky Watchers group, reflecting its commitment to deepening the connection between its members and the world of aviation.
What is Sky Watchers?
Changi Airport Group (CAG) has recently introduced Sky Watchers, a distinguished plane-spotting community tailored for aviation photography enthusiasts. This initiative reflects CAG’s commitment to engage with its most passionate supporters by offering them exclusive opportunities to photograph aircraft from carefully selected vantage points within the airport, all in accordance with approved safety regulations.
Sky Watchers was established following an open call on 6 July 2024, through Changi Airport’s social media channels. The response was extraordinary, leading to the closure of the submission platform within just a few days due to overwhelming interest. Through Sky Watchers, CAG aims to strengthen its connection with aviation enthusiasts, granting them privileged access to the airport’s operations and special events such as inaugural flights.
The creation of Sky Watchers underscores CAG’s dedication to nurturing the aviation photography community, providing its members with unique opportunities to capture the dynamic world of aviation from perspectives that were previously inaccessible to the public.
First Airside Photography Event by Sky Watchers
The long-awaited airside photography event at Changi Airport drew significant excitement and attention from aviation enthusiasts. Participants from various backgrounds, including both commercial and military aviation photographers, converged to indulge their shared passion for aviation photography. Given the strict regulations on plane-spotting in Singapore – where photographing aircraft on the runway or through the airport fence is prohibited – the chance to explore restricted areas within the airport’s perimeters added to the event’s allure.
The day commenced with a briefing on Changi Airport’s operations and the event itinerary in a small briefing room near Terminal 2’s viewing mall. Participants were provided with safety vests and airport passes before proceeding through security to our first vantage point.
At Gate F51, we were fortunate to photograph Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, adorned with the Star Alliance livery, preparing for its departure to Penang. The excitement peaked when the flight’s captain opened the cockpit window to wave, providing a unique photo opportunity.
The group then moved to Stand 205, where we captured stunning departures from Runway 20C. Unlike typical spotting experiences, which often involved photographing aircraft at higher altitudes, this vantage points offered close-up views of aircraft as they rotated and climbed. A notable highlight was the Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 pushing back from a nearby stand.
The next stop was the renowned South Cross taxiway, which has previously been restricted for photography. Although the traffic was light, the opportunity to legally revisit South Cross underscored the value of respecting aviation photography regulations and the privilege of accessing such locations.
The final vantage point was Changi West Emergency Station, located on elevated terrain with a prime view of Runway 20R, used primarily for arrivals. This location provided unobstructed views of landing aircraft, allowing enthusiasts to capture dynamic shots of aircraft touching down. The group spent approximately an hour and a half here before returning to Terminal 2 for debrief.
While the $70 fee for the event was relatively high, it was considered worthwhile, given the extensive planning, airside shuttle arrangements, and security measures. This inclusion of light refreshments added to the overall experience after a long and shag day of spotting. The program is highly recommended to anyone interested in airside photography, and will extend beyond airplane photography to include other aspects of airport operations. Yesterday's inaugural run would hopefully be the first of many to come, and Changi Airport Group is looking into including airport tours, airline inaugural events and more in the future through Sky Watchers.
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