[MilCom] Air Show "On Scene" Reflections

Sat Aug 21 10:32:21 EDT 2004

Ken & Steve.  
I for one wish you would keep your editorials to magazines and not on this list.
Greg (SF Bay Area)

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken <rfinder1 at verizon.net>
Sent: Aug 20, 2004 6:03 PM
To: MILCOM <milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [MilCom] Air Show "On Scene" Reflections  

Well KCEF is back to normal & I've been thinking a bit about my three days
of milcom monitoring & "on scene" activities at the base and some
observations & lessons learned so to speak.

1.  During all three days (special breakfast/ & 2 air show days), the
potential for a terrorist attack, NEVER even came into my mind.  I was
having fun watching & listening to the performing aircraft.  I even locked
out all the security frequencies while in the show area.  Only NFM net
monitored was the special show boss/coordinator net frequency.

2.  Professional Base Security management changes, was IMHO a big factor in
allowing radio scanners & other electronic gear into the show area.  The
past managers' were "VERY conservative (perhaps a bit of parnoia, 'not on my
watch' attitude) " in their show security approach.  What was interesting
also is that some of them were actually scanner users (note I'm not using
the term scanner hobbyists).   BTW even the Base Commander's comments to one
of the security professionals about all those people walking around with
radios & earphones in their ears, still proves it was the right decision to
allow entry because nothing happened that involved anyone with any radio
monitoring or communications equipment !!!!

3.  Bring a portable chair when you go to these events.  Especially if
there's a group & a center point for meeting e.g. "The Wagon Guy's
Communications Setup" (thanks again Brian for being there & really helping
the hobby shine!!!).. It's just difficult to stand all day long or for that
matter sit on the hard and somewhat hot tarmac!!!  Also if you have to do
some radio programming, it can be a challenge to stand & hold everything
while performing this task!!!

4.  Size of carry bag restrictions result in looking for equipment carrying
alternatives.  My spouse lent me her small two compartment pack that goes
around the waist & I was able to fit a small digital camera in one of the
pockets & had my PRO 26 & frequency/show schedule information in the other
pocket.  The radio antenna & part of the unit was sticking out of the
partially zipped pocket (along with the earphone going to my ear).  HOWEVER,
it was difficult at best and at one point while in the base display hangar
the radio fell out of the bag onto the concrete floor with the batteries
flying everywhere.. (Interesting to note the number of non scannerist who
came to my aid, guess they felt sorry for me!!! :)  )..  SO I think some
sort of light vest with many pockets or ability to hang/secure equipment
would be a good purchase for next year's shows.  Also I had a midland (model
G227) frs/gmrs portable radio clipped to my shorts pocket.

5.  One portable scanner isn't enough to adequately monitor/search both the
aero & ground support communications.  What one really needs is two portable
scanners.  I was having problems with the R2 (antenna
connector --intermittent signal loss) so I brought the RS PRO 26 (200
channels) with me (much more bulky) and utilized it for the aero & show boss
NFM net  freqs.  There was just too much chatter for one radio.  In
retrospect I should have brought my old RS Pro 46 100 channel scanner for
the base support NFM type nets BUT again how to carry both of them would be
a challenge.

6.  A frequency counter is a MUST at these events.  Granted if there's more
than one hobbyist that is going to attend than everyone might not have to
bring a frequency counter; however,  it should aided in finding the show
boss frequency quickly.  It's another item to go on my "to buy" list in the
future.

7.  Getting there early to park On scene is still important.  Although at
one of the parking areas, there was some confusion as to how far down (close
to the air show) the vehicles could park -- being able to park relatively
close to the show area (and in my case the Northern Parking area, would have
allowed much of the air show to be watched in the comfort of your vehicle.
Interestingly there were some small RV's that were actually having somewhat
of a tail gate party "grills & all" in the parking lot area while watching
the show.

8.  When at air shows, one has to make a choice as to how much socialization
one wants to do with other hobbyists.  I pretty much took the highly
socialization choice at this show, electing to spend time with other
hobbyists.  Of course the opposite approach is to be the "lone ranger" so to
speak and after checking in with the group taking off to stand in line for
all the static displays (and potential frequency cards) OR for that matter
going back to your vehicle (if in a parking area as described in #7 above)
and search all bands with your mobile setup to find ALL the frequencies
(which wasn't done at this show by anyone, who is talking!!!)..  It's also
possible to be somewhat in between these approaches, and that a choice that
each hobbyists has to make.

9.  Take the time to observe other non-hobbyists (well maybe evening some
hobbyists :) ;)  ) attending air shows as well as ALL the offical support at
the show.  Officially you can get a very good insight into the operations by
not only monitoring the action but also watching & observing the various
support elements/vehicles that are present.  I did see some official
surprises (but will not discuss this).  Another funny incident happen at the
radio wagon rallying point when a woman turned towards us and asked "WHAT
ARE YOU GUYS DOING?".. Well of course I sort of made a joke to her that we
were just a bunch of scanner nerds & pointed to one of the other hobbyists
and said you see that guy he's was former in special ops.. Of course that
hobbyist said to her that he was special but didn't know anything about the
ops prtion .. We were laughing a bit.. HOWEVER, I did explain to her by
pointing to a flying demo aircraft & another guy walking by with a radio,
that basically it was are hobby to find & listen to all the
frequencies/radio comms at the airshow...   I guess she kind of understood
after that!!! :).. Also one of the parking lot monitors was asked by a
woman --How she would be able to find her car "quickly" and he replied that
she didn't have to worry because they intended to move many of the cars
around a bit when everyone was at the show to offer a challenge to folks
returning to their cars..    She did laugh and than he did try to seriously
explain what area she was in and the best way to find the car!!!

10.  Of course, I couldn't end this without mentioning the evaluation of the
Porta Potties -- Well in the parking areas, there were very few available
with some inflight emergencies resulting in emergency clearance (go to the
head of the line) so to speak.  In the show area there were a sufficient
number, but many people who entered the show area lined up to use the porta
potties right inside the entrances (thus some fairly long lines), yet there
at least two groups of potties further into the show that had no or very
little waiting.    The Porta Pottie people tried their best to keep
everything ship shape, but on Sunday I think they gave up ::)))    Also
there was free water stations set up throughout the aircraft display area.

This was a good show to attend & everyone was in a good mood & had fun -- 
The weather wasn't the best on Friday or Sunday.  Many of the Guard &
Reserve members supporting the show had either come back from deployment or
were pending deployment.    Truely this was a "Salute to Our Citizen
Soldiers!!!" event!!!

Ken
Springfield MA Monitoring Area

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