We found a compromise in our city where plane spotters register with the local police and can be in certain areas outside the airport boundaries.
The program labels itself an "Airport Watch" like a community watch but, really, it's just so everyone is less suspicious of each other. But I suppose if we actually saw something odd we would phone it in between swapping our lenses.
Those sorts of schemes alao exist in the UK even though it's prefectly legal to spot from public land outside an airport.
But there is a disturbing flipside to such groups; I was once 'questioned' by police outside London Gatwick because some members of London Airport Watch had reported me due to my 'Irish' accent. But they gave the impression that such reports were more to harrass and deter non-local enthusiasts. You'd think that airline enthusiasts of all people would be open and inclusive, but sadly not.
I've encountered the same thing. I'm standing on public ground but was continually asked why I didn't join the program. I eventually bought the lanyard so they would leave me alone.
I think it's more about some random outsider going somewhere they shouldn't and wrecking the program for the ones that want it to stay around. It's self-protection.
Ironically it's probably good to have these folks around. If someone breached the perimeter, they might be the ones to raise the alarm - you can't patrol the entire fence.
I knew people who did urban exploration in undergrad, and there were a few times they picked up a payphone to alert about things like water leaks, termites, or when they once ran into someone they suspected was burgling.
Smart institutions know that respecting harmless folks can pay dividends.
The program labels itself an "Airport Watch" like a community watch but, really, it's just so everyone is less suspicious of each other. But I suppose if we actually saw something odd we would phone it in between swapping our lenses.