Lahore Runway [possible HOP meet]

SaadSaeed · Post by **SaadSaeed** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:56 pm

I have been pondering at this 2 year old photo from google earth for a long time now. If you take Ghazi Road till Bhatta Chowk and follow the markers i have put, is it really possible to get that close to the runway? I see houses there so definitely people should be able to go in and around that area. Has anyone surveyed the place? I'd like to take photos from there of landing aircraft. Technically it is not IN the airport so i should be within the law to spot from there but you never know the ASF grunts might also be camping out there. Also there is a visible patli gali going to OPLA VOR. It would be nice to take that path all the way up to the runway but im not sure if it can be approached. Is there a lahori spotters club or do i need to create one?

Anyone dare to join me for this expedition? Abbas? Moiz? Umair? Anyone? I'll be armed with a Canon350 so if i can get that close, i should be able to observe some birds close enough to catch them on lens. Anyone else living in lahore is welcome to join. We can have a HOP meet there. Another option is to visit planetarium and see the condition of old relics there. I'll be going there anyways to check it out and bring some updated photos from there.

PIA10141 · Post by **PIA10141** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:18 pm

hmmm.... if i was in pakistan, then I would surely come with you and bring a fast gateway car to escape (mitsubishi Lancer)

. Yes, that is a good place to take pics and it would be highly leagal. how about go on one of those roofs and take pics from up there with a beeter view? LOL

I should try that when i come to Pakistan!

AP-BGL · Post by **AP-BGL** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:38 pm

Saadu, Are you in Lahore these days? As I'm not very much familiar with the places in Lahore but still I can guess which place are you talking about. There are so many plane-spotting areas close to the area in discussion, you can have exotic views of planes landing and take-off but you know ASF, they never let you do such activities specially photography and would put you in to answer hundreds of question

I would have met you for sure if I were in Lahore, any plan of coming in to Islamabad? And when would this meeting be? May be I'd drive all the way to lahore just for the curiosity to meet HOP members

mohammed younis · Post by **mohammed younis** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 4:38 pm

I would love to join you, however my trip to Pakistan is in march

would love to whip out my nikon d70, 300 zoom

TAILWIND · Post by **TAILWIND** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 4:57 pm

What is the legal status of plane spotting, taking pics of the civilian aircraft and listening to Airtraffic communication on VHF receivers?????

.......patli gali going to OPLA VOR.......

OPLA is the LAhore airfield, Lahore VOR is only LA and not OPLA

Dont mind but since it a forum of professionals so I thought appropriate to correct
Have Fun

AirBlue · Post by **AirBlue** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:44 pm

i was there once and took pics with Moiz i remember ... i used to go there often so took him with me once ... it sure is a cool place but the people there stare at you as if you are foreigners ....

Moin · Post by **Moin** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:25 pm

You're not allowed to take pics, as is just about the rule everywhere else in this country. You can't do this, you can't do that, this or that is not allowed etc etc. Where living in a 'ban happy' country. They like to project themselves as being sensitive to show the world how vulnerable they are to terrorist activities and how cautious they have to be.

Its all a load of bollocks basically and they just want to show their importance and prove their worth by imposing the most absurd prohibitions ever heard of. What those idiots don't realise is that right above their hollow heads are satellites that are projecting 10 times more than what an average photographer could ever capture and those very pics are available for the whole world to view on the net.

As for metting other HOP members, you might have better luck there in Lhe. I tried to get a few people together here in Khi but it seems they'd rather be faceless names on this site.

raihans · Post by **raihans** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:27 pm

kiya kehnay....Saadu....what were those days...really i missed them alot. Anyhow, my experience was to spot the planes while standing along the landing lights of 36R. Those days the way passed through the landing lights and the visitors were able to spot the planes passing over their heads

and i was one of them to enjoy every flight from otter to 743s But on my last visit to Lahore, the CAA has closed the passing way and covered the whole landing lights system with fence. Further, just take care of ASF guys as they are really some craps in questioning

FMC · Post by **FMC** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:13 am

TAILWIND wrote:What is the legal status of plane spotting, taking pics of the civilian aircraft and listening to Airtraffic communication on VHF receivers?????

Legal status??? JURM-E-KABIRA . Ask LEA wallas.

SaadSaeed · Post by **SaadSaeed** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:10 am

@ Mohsin, Yes it would be nice to be able to take pics from the rooftops. Im moving to PK, you can join us when you come.

@AP-BGL, Im not in Lahore yet but will be coming there at the start of the year. No set time for the meet yet but im planning it for around the last week of January. Plans for Islamabad are a maybe. I'll PM you if i come there.

@younis, Do let us know when you come. We'll have another meet.

@TAILWIND saab you are right, the marker said LA VOR but i wrote down OPLA VOR.

@Saad, when were you there last? Im more interested in knowing if that area is still accessible now.

@Moin i know exactly what you mean. In this day and age when we can zoom in all the way at any corner of the world, these incompetent fools think its possible to restrict information. And what state secrets can someone get by photographing airports? Thousands go through that place daily.
Last year i did a poll here and karachi actually had more votes. I doubt i will be coming to karachi as we dont have any family there to visit or stay with but who knows where fate brings me.

@Raihan, Lagta hai aap ko kaffi experience hai spotting ka. When were you there last? I can imagine them fencing the landing lights werna charsi bulb nikaal kay lay jaein. Also what is the frequency of flights to LHE. Its not AMS or LAX where you are getting a plane every 5 minutes or every 2 minutes. Whats the best time to be there you think? How is the other side of the runway from 18L? On the satellite photo it looks like there is a small curb on the side of the road to park cars.

Also those of you wishing to join us, please PM me your number so i can arrange an agreed upon day and time.

global-pia · Post by **global-pia** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:58 pm

Saadu

I'm coming to Karachi on the last week of January for 2 weeks. This would a great opportunity to come down to LHE for some aviation photography. I'll let you know if anything materialises.

BAZ

Moin · Post by **Moin** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:31 pm

When you're in Khi send me a PM, we can meet up.

VirtualPIA · Post by **VirtualPIA** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:26 pm

Saadu you might want to try the P block of DHA....
take pics from the privacy of your own home, no stares, no ASF.....

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_ ... d=00372664

check out this one:

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_ ... size=large

btw, I dont live there

AirBlue · Post by **AirBlue** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:08 pm

i was there a year and a half ago ... dont know about now ... but at that time it wasnt a problem

Abdullah Saleem · Post by **Abdullah Saleem** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:27 am

are you all talking about this point :

History of PIA - Photo by Arfan Fida