[BARC-List] more paranoia

[Dan Malloy]

Yes, things that used to be routine are now criminal.  I found this piece in a British numbers organisation's newsletter, and many of us like planes so I thought I'd foorward this only.  Also, I've heard cameras near the Port of Boston arouse suspicions of police here, and we take libetries with HTs, and GPSs- seen as spy gear in many countries today.
DE Dan, KA1RDZ


Plane spotter? 

 

One cannot forget the 2002 national faux pas of the Hellenic Government of Greece when 12 British and 2 Dutch plane spotters were arrested on spying charges when discovered outside a Greek military airfield photographing the antiquities inside. [Marconi 1 - you take care with that R1155] and problems of international proportion existed. Well it's happening here now, except the area of interest is civil airports. 

LHR, Heathrow, has always had many plane spotters on the observation roof. Bristling with the antennae of the radios used to listen to incoming aircraft various spotters also sport decent binoculars. The same scenario exists at LGW, Gatwick as well as Stanstead STN. 

At LGW and STN security guards have been instructed by BAA to question anyone carrying a camera [actually it takes pictures - thank you sir, I'll be on my way then] the spotters at LHR are condemned to spotting from the Airport roads and are regularly moved on by the police. .LHR closed its viewing gallery thanks to advice from the transport department. The biggest enthusiasts' society, Air Britain, has 4500 members; moreover the aviation publisher, LAAS, has come up with membership cards for those who properly apply. 

The Chairman of LAAS recognises that there are probably more enthusiasts at an airport than police. Whilst there appears to be some 'friction' due to the closure of the viewing areas the police hope to use the eyes and ears of spotters to identify unusual activities near and around airports. 

Spotters claim that several of their number saw IRA terrorists setting up a mortar attack from the Heathrow perimeter road in 1994 and say they could have helped police foil the plot. There may well be more than 20000 spotters in the UK; whilst the interest was only just tolerated previously, 9/11 is seen as a reason to drive them away.