Answers to the most common questions from Plane Spotters about SpottingLog, the Plane Spotting Database and how the online log book works.
Plane Spotting is the hobby of observing, identifying and recording aircraft. Plane Spotters note details such as the registration, airline, aircraft type and MSN of every aircraft they see — sometimes including the specific history of the airframe. It's a fantastic way to learn about aviation and connect with a global community.
SpottingLog gives Plane Spotters a digital log book and Plane Spotting Database to organise everything they spot.
Plane Spotters are aviation enthusiasts who identify and record details of aircraft, often at airports or known viewing positions. The hobby spans casual fans through to detailed researchers, and SpottingLog is used by Plane Spotters of every skill level — from beginners to enthusiasts with 40+ years of spotting behind them.
Not necessarily. While many Plane Spotters use binoculars, cameras with telephoto lenses and even radio scanners, you can begin with just your eyes and a keen interest. Our website provides resources and tips to help you get started, regardless of your equipment.
Plane Spotting is legal in most countries when carried out from public spaces — but laws vary by region, especially around airport perimeters. Always research local regulations before spotting in a new country, and never trespass on airport property.
The SpottingLog Plane Spotting Database is a verified reference of over 600,000 aircraft records, kept up to date by our team and contributing Plane Spotters. When you enter a registration in your Plane Spotters log book, SpottingLog auto-populates the airline, aircraft type, MSN and status, saving you time and keeping data accurate.
It's an invaluable tool for Plane Spotters. You can look up aircraft by registration, type, airline and more. You can cross-reference your sightings, research specific aircraft and even track historical information, enhancing your Plane Spotting experience significantly.
Yes — the Plane Spotting Database is meticulously maintained and updated regularly to ensure accuracy and provide the most current information available to Plane Spotters. We add new registrations, changes in ownership, withdrawn aircraft and other relevant data as part of an ongoing process.
Absolutely. If you find that an aircraft is missing from the database, you can submit a new aircraft request directly from the app. Our editor team reviews and approves the addition. We're also always working on new ways for Plane Spotters to share photos and experiences with the community.
Yes. SpottingLog is fully responsive and works in any modern browser. You can also install it as a Progressive Web App (PWA) on iPhone, iPad and Android — giving you an icon on your home screen with no app store install required.
Yes. SpottingLog includes a standard CSV importer (registration, airline, type, MSN, notes) and a more advanced importer that auto-detects columns, parses dates and groups sightings into trips by airport and date. Decades of paper or spreadsheet logs can be migrated in minutes.
Yes. Every paginated list inside SpottingLog includes Print and CSV download from the Settings drawer. Trip reports, sightings lists, fleet checklists and member reports can be exported and printed for offline storage.
Start with a free 7-day trial. After that, subscriptions are offered in 6 or 12 month terms (GBP, EUR and USD at checkout) — see our pricing page for the latest amounts.
Yes. You can cancel your subscription from your account at any time. You'll keep subscriber access until the end of your billing period.
Yes. SpottingLog uses HTTPS site-wide, hashes your password, requires email verification on signup and rate-limits login attempts. You can export or delete your entire account at any time. We never sell your data.
You can request account deletion from Account → Delete my account inside the app. We'll permanently remove your data including all sightings and photos. The action requires two confirmations to prevent accidental deletion.
Visit the forgot password page, enter your email and follow the link in the reset email. Reset links expire after one hour for security.