Spotting is Back in Session

Photo: Air France 695 lines up for takeoff at Runway 8R during the Sunday, Nov. 17 session of planespotting.

Winter time at MIA is one of the best, and most bonafide times of the year to spot planes. While admittedly, the days are shorter, the difference in the diurnal cycle between summer and winter is insignificant compared to many other parts of the world due to the low latitude here in South Florida (truly a three hour difference), and the lighting is much better. Also, the weather is drier offering days of better sunlight.

I started the "Spotting Sunday" tradition with famed "Miami Spotter" Carlos L. in the Winter 2011 aviation season (October 2011-March 2012). It was a fun season with lots of great spotting days, favorable (and unfavorable weather) and the development of both our video and photo skills.

Summer was a hiatus in 2012, but I still sneaked out (Very Few) times. I picked up the spotting slate again in September with Carlos at the Holes, my first time there, and gradually picked up the game as the W12 season set in, now with my Rebel. I haven't gone out as much as I thought I would but still would spot in November, January (Saw Aaron without knowing it), and Super Bowl Sunday. This spotting hobby started to show its unique flair in that you meet just about anyone. While I already knew Aaron since he works for Amtrak, I caught up with him in March 2013, I met Cesar over a train catch in February 2013, and continued to sparingly hang out with Carlos and Anthony Reyes. I participated in my first Ramp Tour by luck with a last minute arrangement; as bleak as it was, it was still pretty cool to go to and I'll make up for the muggy weather next year with a firm seat. March 2013 was also a great time to spot anyhow, and I was out there frequently, but the photo angles started to rot out in favor of the harsher summer light.

While I originally was apt to stop spotting in March-April 2013, I continued to peek out there a few times, with several unremarkable outings. One remarkable outing in August saw me with Cesar and two friends he made, one from KFLL, the other from KATL, and another from around the area, also whereas I got to start meeting the veteran spotters.

I caught up with Carlos around September, which was when we spotted KFLL, my first time up there for aviation purposes. I still have a video to make of that adventure, and that was when I finally began to see the sun start to track south, a sign that this joyous season was coming. October had two golden days. The 18th was good since it was great weather and both Cesar and Aaron showed, and it was the official return of the Winter Light to MIA. October 27th was the best spotting day to date if you asked me; not only was it the set in of the W13 season, but it was also the day where I was enjoying the company of everyone else; that day the crowd was enormous, and I met a lot of other veteran spotters. And Sunday Nov. 17 I spent a couple hours with Carlos and hung around with the whole gang, meeting Jonathan as well.

 It is safe to say that over the years of spotting, be it Sunday or any day, I will finally be back at it and spotting for a great balance of the season at MIA since for me it is truly a fresh start. This should be a fairly exciting season, for SFL in general, and will lead up to more treats in the summer of next year, as I mentioned in my blog post about the additions to both MIA and FLL. It is amazing to remark the amount of people I have met just by spotting, not necessarily the train buffs but everyone else, and how I am part of a now larger hobbyist community, and that is partly why I see it as a fresh start; the camaraderie is getting better. What's more intriguing is seeing the visitors; On Oct. 26 (last 748) I met two from Germany and UK, and Nov. 17 I met a father-son from Portugal.

And in other news, United landed the first unofficial 787-8 into Miami last Friday.

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