Photographing military installations

[bilwor]

There has been a lot of discussion about photographing at airports/mitary air fields. I have been told, I cannot photograph the miltary installation (without proper approval), but can photograph aircraft arriving and departing. The question I have is what are the rules/regulations/laws (if any) of photographing the installation from the air, ie private or commercial aircraft? For instance flying t over Luke AFB.

bill word

[wingsnstuff]

Unless you are violating their restricted airspace while photographing the facility, there probably isn't any prohibitions.  Common sense should be the rule here.  If there's something sensitive about the facility or if there's something of a sensitive nature being conducted at that facility, one might reconsider photographing said facility.  I've take several photos of Luke from departing Southwest aircraft.  I call them my 10,000 foot views.  I've done the same flying over Yuma and El Centro.  Probably the best advice is to ask the PAO at the base and see what they say.

[Tower Guy]

Gentlemen, my experience at Air Force bases has been that every base sets its own basic dos and don't.  There is general DOD guidence but the mission and equipment on that base have a lot to do with their tolerance of photography of ramp and aircraft.  Luke AFB is an Air Education & Training Command base with only a training mission, their tolerance is pretty good if you know who to ask.  The national climate has an influence also, right after 9/11, I would not even ask about picture taking for obvious reasons.  I have groomed a pretty good rapor with the MOC and they know where I work and they are the central point to request a photo pass for different areas on base.  They take my basic info and pass it on to the security police, normally within 10 minutes all coordination is complete and I'm good to go. I fully expect than when the F35 arrives this could very well dry up.  I will be left with shooting from my "back porch" and maybe not putting many photos of the F35 online. We'll see.

As for taking photos of a base from civilian aircraft, I've never heard of any problems with this at all.  If a military base has something that they don't want seen they keep it out of sight and restrict over flight of that area.  Area 51 comes to mind.  As for asking the base PAO, trust me that they know very little about this subject.  We have quite a few tours that are escorted by the PAOs and they usually have as many questions about operations on the base as the visitors.  They are good at putting out "fires" for the wing commander, they handle a lot of aircraft noise complaints and escort VIPs.  This may be quite different for the Navy, I know that the PAO at El Centro when I had gone out with the group seemed very knowledgeable about the bases air operations. So, that's my two cents worth, maybe it helps.

[wingsnstuff]

Good gouge Harvey.  Thanks for the amplification. .

[bilwor]

Thanks Harvey and Vance for the replies. I have several aerial shots around southern Arizona and wondered about posting them.
bill word

[Tower Guy]

Bill & Vance, your welcome, glad I could help and looking forward to your photos Bill.

[DPAOchief]

I know that the PAO at El Centro when I had gone out with the group seemed very knowledgeable about the bases air operations. So, that's my two cents worth, maybe it helps.

Thanks! We try to make sure we can answer all of your questions!

[phantomphan1974]

If anyone is in the Orange County area, MCAS El Toro (aka OC Great Park) is accessible or at least it was for me on a bike.  Great for urban exploration if you like that stuff.


MCAS El Toro (aka Orange County Great Park) by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr