CAT III SPOTTING GROUP, RULES & GUIDELINES
By joining the CAT III SPOTTING GROUP, you automatically accept these rules.
OVERVIEW
CAT III SPOTTING GROUP, RULES & GUIDELINES
SAFETY AND WELL-BEING IN CAT III SPOTTING
ADMINISTRATORS AND CONTACT PARTNERS
SAFETY AND WELL-BEING IN CAT III SPOTTING
As administrators of the CAT III SPOTTING GROUP, we bear responsibility—not only functionally but also in challenging situations that affect members. This includes all incidents and situations within the group that involve forms of violence, insults, or bullying.
We understand the importance of creating and maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all members. Therefore, we are committed to the following principles:
We condemn any form of violence, insult, or bullying within the group and actively work towards their prevention and combating.
We act decisively in difficult situations and are available to members as points of contact to respond quickly and appropriately.
We support those affected by listening to them, taking their concerns seriously, and standing by their side.
We promote a culture of respect, openness, and togetherness and are committed to fostering a positive, inclusive group climate.
When necessary, we officially distance ourselves from members whose behavior violates our values to ensure the well-being of the group.
We inform all affected members about the consequences after we, as administrators, have decided on appropriate measures.
We treat all parties involved in conflicts fairly and impartially. Personal relationships with the parties involved do not influence our decisions.
These principles are not just words but a promise to all members of the CAT III SPOTTING GROUP. We are firmly committed to protecting and promoting the integrity and well-being of our community.
MEMBERSHIP REGULATIONS
MEMBERSHIP REGULATIONS
§1 INSTAGRAM BIOGRAPHY
Every member of CAT III SPOTTING is required to reference the group in their Instagram biography.
Exceptions may be requested on a case-by-case basis from the respective administrator.
Unless an exception is granted, the username @cat3spotting must be tagged or mentioned in the biography.
§2 COLLAB POSTS
Every member of CAT III SPOTTING is obligated to publish at least two collaborative posts per year on Instagram during their membership.
Exceptions may be requested from the respective administrator as needed.
If no approval is granted, a minimum of two collaborative posts per year is still required.
Note: Collaborative posts are only attributed to the person posting them. For posts with multiple members, the post only counts for the person who originally published it
§3 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership ends due to:
a) failure to comply with the obligations outlined in these membership regulations
b) voluntary resignation, which must be declared in writing to the administrators
c) joining a competing regional spotting group
d) exclusion due to a violation of rules
e) the death of the member
§4 COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES
Every member of CAT III SPOTTING is required to adhere to the rules established in these membership regulations and the rulebook.
Violations of the rules may lead to warnings, sanctions, or exclusion from the group, depending on the severity.
RULES
Paragraph 1: Respectful Behavior
1.1 All members of the group are required to behave respectfully and politely at all times.
1.2 Insulting or derogatory comments towards other members are prohibited.
Paragraph 2: Prohibition of Racism
2.1 Every group member has the duty to treat all members with respect and politeness.
2.2 Racist remarks or any form of discrimination are strictly prohibited.
Paragraph 3: Privacy
3.1 Personal information or photos of other members or third parties may not be shared without their explicit permission.
Paragraph 4: Conflict Resolution
4.1 In the event of disagreements or conflicts, it is the duty to seek respectful and constructive solutions.
Paragraph 5: Content
5.1 Sharing pornographic content, sexually explicit images or videos, and other inappropriate, offensive, or objectionable content is strictly prohibited. This also includes messages or posts with obscene, vulgar, racist, discriminatory, or demeaning language. Any form of harassment, incitement, or the spread of hate messages is also forbidden.
Paragraph 6: Chain Letters and Spam
6.1 Forwarding chain letters, spam messages, or misleading information is prohibited.
Paragraph 7: Political and Religious Discussions
7.1 Political or religious discussions that could lead to controversies within the group should be avoided.
Paragraph 8: Confidentiality
8.1 All information shared in the group is confidential and may not be disclosed without the consent of the parties involved.
Paragraph 9: Advertising and Self-Promotion
9.1 Unsolicited advertising or self-promotion for products, services, or other groups is generally not permitted. Exceptions are special "self-promotion groups," where self-promotion for Instagram posts by members is allowed (more information in the "Advertising and Links" category).
9.2 In these groups, only posts with brief descriptions may be shared. The use of hashtags is not allowed. Permitted platforms are Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, X/Twitter, Threads, Bluesky, Jetphotos, CAT III PHOTOS and Planespotters.net. Links to Discord servers that do not lead to the CAT III SPOTTING Discord server, as well as advertising for WhatsApp channels or groups and other spotting groups, are prohibited.
9.3 The use of the name CAT III in promotions outside the group is strictly prohibited. Unsolicited advertising to members is also forbidden.
Paragraph 10: Timeliness of Content
10.1 Group members are encouraged to ensure that the information and messages are current and relevant.
Paragraph 11: Polite Communication
11.1 Impolite or disrespectful communication, including excessive use of capital letters and emojis, should be avoided to ensure appropriate communication.
Paragraph 12: Contextual Posts
12.1 Posts should be shared in the appropriate context and in the designated groups or channels to avoid confusion or disorder.
Paragraph 13: Compliance with Laws
13.1 All members are obligated to comply with applicable laws and regulations and may not promote or share illegal activities or content in the group. This expressly includes compliance with German law.
Paragraph 14: Group Leadership and Moderation
14.1 The group leadership and moderators have the right to take action to ensure compliance with these rules. Their instructions must be followed.
Paragraph 15: Reporting Violations
15.1 Members are encouraged to report violations of these rules to the group leadership so that appropriate measures can be taken.
Paragraph 16: Stickers
16.1 Sending stickers or images depicting third parties is prohibited.
16.2 The use of stickers depicting the "Educational Ranking of the Federal States" is also prohibited.
16.3 Stickers with images not authorized by the affected persons are forbidden. Violations may lead to disciplinary measures.
Paragraph 17: Dialects
17.1 Writing posts in dialects such as "Swiss German" or "Bavarian" should be avoided to prevent confusion.
17.2 The administrators reserve the right to delete such messages if deemed inappropriate.
Paragraph 18: Prohibition of the Use of the MetaAI Feature
18.1 The use of the "MetaAI" feature in the group is strictly prohibited. Any use of this function, regardless of purpose or content, is forbidden.
COLLAB UPLOAD GUIDELINES
Paragraph 1: Image Cropping
1.1. In many cases, cropping certain parts of the aircraft can enhance the photo.
1.2. A collaboration request will be rejected if parts of an image are cropped without a recognizable subject.
1.3. In general, essential parts of the main subject should not be cropped out of the image.
Paragraph 2: Distance to the Subject
2.1. A photo is considered unacceptable if the subject is too far away and there is too much empty space in the image.
Paragraph 3: Image Quality
3.1. Photos of inferior quality will lead to the rejection of the collaboration request.
Paragraph 4: Sharpness
4.1. Blurriness in images is not acceptable.
Paragraph 5: Heat Distortion
5.1. Photos showing visible distortion of the subject due to heat effects will be rejected.
Paragraph 6: Backlighting
6.1. Photos taken against the light will lead to the rejection of the collaboration request.
6.2. An exception exists if the photographer has created a silhouette shot at sunset or sunrise.
Paragraph 7: Color Quality
7.1. Poor color quality, including over- or undersaturation as well as hue problems, will lead to the rejection of the collaboration request.
7.2. Special attention should be given to images taken behind glass in airport terminals, as tinted glass can cause color distortions.
Paragraph 8: Image Noise
8.1. Photos with excessive noise or graininess will lead to the rejection of the collaboration request.
Each administrator has the right to override certain rules for your request if necessary; however, this is rare.
ADMINISTRATORS AND CONTACT PARTNERS
Email contacts for the CAT III SPOTTING GROUP:
General contact address:
contact@cat3spotting.com
Membership & Administration (e.g., unban requests):
membership.humanresources@cat3spotting.com
Human Resources:
humanresources@cat3spotting.com
Marketing & Design:
marketing@cat3spotting.com
Moderation:
moderation@cat3spotting.com
CAT III SPOTTING+:
plus@cat3spotting.com
Social Media Team:
socialmedia@cat3spotting.com
The administrative team consists of:
Jan Julius Schmelzkopf
Felix Wilhelm Knapp
Jan Laurynas Heyer
Noah Liam Seewald
Alexander Charles Reil
Nevio Kawasaki
Pascal Stoffels
Oliwier Łobaza
Maks Murawski
THANK YOU FOR BEING A MEMBER WITH US. HAPPY SPOTTING!