News reports of the shocking incident where a co-pilot stabbed a captain in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft as it was flying 174 people and crew to Israel on Wednesday, raises eyebrows about flight safety. Luckily passengers burst into the cockpit and took down the attacker even as the plane descended and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. With this news, we thought of pulling out a book for aviation enthusiasts.

In a country in which it is difficult for aviation enthusiasts to pursue their hobby, this book ‘Mumbai Airports Through Time’ by two prolific Indian photographersSean D'Silva and Jimmy Wadiagives unprecedented access to the sights and aircraft that have visited Mumbai (formerly Bombay)’s main international airport Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, and the smaller (original) aerodrome (Juhu Aerodrome) at Juhu over many years.

If you’re an aviation enthusiast or photographer, this book is a perfect addition to your collection and a wonderful way to enjoy aviation in Mumbai.

The book is a fantastic photographic journey from the 1970s to around 2012 and captures images of a lot of interesting aircraft from around the world flying in on a daily basis. The airport also sees a range of military, government, corporate and domestic traffic. The Juhu Aerodrome is a base for helicopter and general aviation operators today, but in the past was a busy airport handling the city’s main airline traffic. Some classic shots are in the book.

Spotting in India is not easy, but these two photographers have been documenting movements at the airports for decades and have a vast range of spectacular images to show for it. Reproduced in this book in large, glossy images, it’s a chance for you to also enjoy the off-limits world of Indian aviation.

In an earlier interview with this journalist, D’Silva recounts his entry into plane spotting. “My love for plane spotting began at an early age. My first birthday cake was…an aeroplane. But I really got serious about plane spotting way back in the early 1980s. As far as I can recall, my mom would take me to the airport as a toddler and I would be hypnotized by the runway’s bright lights at night. My uncle used to stay in the flight path of Bombay Airport’s main runway. I would rush to the terrace anticipating a takeoff. My uncle would explain the difference between the various aircraft and airlines. This increased my knowledge of airplanes”.

To those who may not know, plane spotting is the art of observing and noting various aircraft whether at airports or while taking off and landing…jotting down details such as the type of airplane, its make, size, country of origin, registration details which helps discern delivery dates etc.

Plane spotting while still to take off in India, is a widespread and legal hobby overseas. There are associations in the UK such as the LAAS International and YYZ Airport Watch in Canada. These are dedicated volunteer groups of aviation enthusiasts who Observe, Record, and Report any suspicious activity to authorities while plane spotting. Thus plane spotters assist the airport security to a large extent. But the same cannot be said in India. In India, plane spotting far from being known, takes on a wholly different meaning and this is mainly due to the ignorance of the authorities towards this harmless hobby. Serious spotters go plane spotting whenever they get the time and whenever the weather permits. It’s a refreshing recreational activity as well as educative for those that have an eye for detail.

The book has 168 pages, in a 21cm x 21cm in size. It features 175 images of historic airliners, domestic, international, cargo, military, government, and helicopter traffic. It also covers the airport infrastructure at both airports. It’s a fantastic addition to any aviation book collection.

Published by: Destinworld Publishing 

First Edition: 2013

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira