Townsville Airport is encouraging local aviation enthusiasts to get snapping for the airport’s first ever Plane Spotters Photography Competition.

The event, launched today, invites local photographers and plane enthusiasts to submit their bestimages of aircraft taken in and around Townsville Airport.

The top 10 entrants, as selected by our panel of aviation experts, will be taken airside to photograph arange of aircraft landing and departing at Townsville Airport on Thursday 7 September.

The top two photographs taken on the day (one from each age category) will win a $1,000 Camera House voucher.

Townsville Airport General Manager Brendan Cook said this competition was a great way to give back tothe airport’s avid aviation enthusiasts.

“This is the first time we’ve ever held this competition, and we’d love to see as many competitors as possible get involved,” Mr Cook said.

“Townsville Airport is a really great place for plane spotting – we have a busy airfield with more than 100 aircraft movements a day and a range of planes from light aircraft to large jets,” he said.

“We know there’s an enthusiastic community of plane spotters in North Queensland, and this is a really great opportunity for them to get creative with their images – we’d really love to see photos that not only showcase the aircraft but also our airport and the surrounding Townsville region,” he said.

Spotters will need to submit up to five photos, which meet the eligibility criteria via the Townsville website. Up to 10 of the best entrants will then be selected to attend a special morning airside dedicated to photographing aircraft up close and personal.

Photographs taken on the day (7 September) will again be submitted for judging by a panel of Townsville Airport aviation experts. Photographers with the best images from both the junior (15 years and under)and 16 years+ age categories will win a $1,000 Camera House voucher each.

Plane spotters aged 10-13 years will need to be accompanied by an adult guardian, and all applicants will be subject to police and security checks to be allowed airside.

Entries close on 21 August 2023. With winners announced on Monday 28 August 2023.