GCA’s Plane Spotters’ Competition Soars to New Heights

Gold Coast Airport is giving aviation enthusiasts a once in a lifetime opportunity to win exclusive airside access during the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast and free tickets to the three-day event in this year’s Plane Spotters Photography Competition.

Applications for the competition open today (Friday 14 June) and close on Sunday 30 June 2024. 

The initiative, now in its eighth year, encourages photographers and aviation enthusiasts to submit their best images of aircraft landing or departing from Gold Coast Airport. The competition has expanded in the last two years since the airport’s partnership with Pacific Airshow Gold Coast.

All submissions will be judged by a panel of aviation experts, including the CEO of the Pacific Airshow! The top 10 photographers will be invited airside to photograph a range of aircraft landing and departing from Gold Coast Airport on Friday 19 July. 

The top two photographs taken on the day (one from each age category) will win exclusive airside access during the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast and free tickets to the three-day event. 

Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton said it was exciting that through Gold Coast Airport’s partnership with the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast, we can share the thrill of the event with the airport’s most passionate supporters.

“We saw the excitement the Pacific Airshow generated last year, so we’re thrilled to be able to give two lucky plane spotters the unique chance to get up close to the aircraft and meet some of the pilots,” Ms Charlton said.

“The plane spotting community are often the eyes and ears of our airport, so this is a great chance for us to give back to them,” she said.

“This is an opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to get creative – we’re looking for images that showcase the airfield, aircraft, terminal and the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales regions generally.”

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

Photographs taken on the day will again be submitted for judging by a panel of Gold Coast Airport and Pacific Airshow executives. Photographers with the best images from both the junior (15 years and under) and 16 years+ age categories will be given airside access during the Pacific Airshow on 16 August 2023.

The top 10 winners will be announced 3 July 2023 with the final two winners announced by Friday 2 August.

For details: please visit 2024 Plane Spotting Competition (goldcoastairport.com.au)