A coffee with planespotter Florian from Kortenberg

With his camera in hand and a big smile on his face, Florian (20) from Kortenberg can be found on the Brussels Airport spotting platform almost every spare moment he has. What started as a hobby during the pandemic has grown into a true passion and a close circle of friends.

‘I've been really passionate about aviation for five years now,’ says Florian. ‘During the pandemic, we couldn't do much, so I started coming to the spotting platform more often. It was a real outlet for me, and I soon started sharing my photos on social media. That's how I got to know other spotters and grew my network.’

Florian works at DHL, where he mainly works night shifts. This means he has time during the day to pursue his favourite hobby: "I live close to the airport, so I just hop on my bike to go spotting. It's fun to meet friends here and share our passion together. I've also been to London, Amsterdam, France and Germany to capture special aircraft. "

A unique airport

According to Florian, Brussels Airport has something that many other airports lack:‘The spotting platforms make this airport truly unique. There’s a huge variety of aircraft here, especially during European summits when presidential planes land. Those are the moments we spotters really look forward to.’

Although he occasionally travels to other airports to see larger aircraft types such as the A380, his heart lies with Brussels Airport. The love of aviation clearly runs in the family: "My grandfather used to work for Sabena, and my godfather worked in catering at the airport for many years. At home, we often talk about planes. During family gatherings, we stand on the terrace and identify the types of aircraft flying overhead. I think that's great."

Florian remembers the moment when passion ignited. ‘When the spotting platforms opened in 2018, I asked my parents if I could go and have a look. From that moment on, I was hooked. Since then, I recognise almost every plane that takes off or lands.’

The airport as a place of learning

His job at DHL fits in perfectly with his passion. ‘My knowledge of airport codes allows me to do my job much more efficiently. BRU is Brussels, FRA is Frankfurt, AMS is Amsterdam... it all makes perfect sense to me. As a student, I also worked for the Airport Operations Centre (APOC), where I learned a lot about how the airport works. It was a great experience.’

His big dream? He would like to work as a cabin crew member for Brussels Airlines in the future. Working with passengers and helping them sounds like music to his ears.

One big community

For Florian, spotting is about more than photographing aircraft.

‘Spotting is really for young and old. We're actually just one big community. It's not about age. I don't often go spotting alone. We meet up with friends, chat and enjoy every plane that passes by. We all just share a passion for aviation. And that's the most important thing, I think.’

Future plans

Florian is happy with the new plans for the airport.

‘The renovated departure and arrival halls will be more spacious and lighter, which is something to look forward to. And who knows, maybe one day a double-deck plane, an A380, will land here. I'll be ready with my camera!’