Aircraft spotting can be fun both "on scene" (where permissible by airport security) with binoculars & cameras as well as electronically with a radio scanner or other equipment that can access the internet.
Information on the hobby can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_spotting
Radar box information:
http://radarspotters.eu/guides/radarspottingguide.pdf>
Listening to Air Traffic Communications without a radio scanner/monitor:
http://www.liveatc.net/
ACARS digital transmissions:
http://www.acarsd.org/
Also Passur systems has some online data information:
http://www4.passur.com/bos.html
I find it's difficult most of the time to ID civilian aircraft so getting a tail # via radio or picture and looking up the tail # will also give you a lot of information:
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/
www.flightaware.com
You might be able to use some of this for an aerospace education class with your cadets & senior members.
RM
Neat information, thank you.
Im letting the FBI know what your doing and giving your picture to every TSA employee I meet. >:D
Thanks for posting the sites I use to do this type stuff up in CANADA.