[MilCom] RE: 'On Scene" Alternatives for the Hobbyists??!!

Mon Jul 26 11:34:10 EDT 2004

At the risk of interjecting my own views into this discussion, let me 
start by saying I agree with Larry and we should all use our heads 
when it come to on scene monitoring. Here's an excerpt from an early 
Pop Com column I wrote ( that also drew quite a bit of heat from some 
those who felt our rights to monitor were being trampled) that echoes 
some of the things Larry was expanding on.

-Steve Douglass

HOMELAND INSECURITY

>Many monitoring enthusiasts have reported that new U.S. homeland 
>security policies have made "on scene" monitoring (such as near 
>military bases and airports) difficult at best and hazardous at 
>worst. Security concerns since 9/11 are understandable and 
>especially near large airports in light of recent arrests involving 
>terrorists trying to obtain Stinger-type missiles.
>
>In my city there is a special spot at the end of a runway at the 
>local airport where aircraft enthusiasts and monitoring hobbyists 
>gather to watch aircraft come and go. It's a great spot on public 
>land where aircraft on approach and take-offs fly just dozens of 
>feet over an observer's head.  I have taken many, many photographs 
>of every type of military aircraft from B-52s to B-2 bombers there 
>and would like to continue to do so. Plus it's a great place to scan 
>the bands and watch the activity at the same time.
>
>Now called Rick Husband International Airport (formerly Amarillo 
>International) the airport is heavily used by the military for 
>training because of its extra long runways.
>
>Runway Two-Two is over 13,000 feet long and were part of the now 
>closed Amarillo Air Force Base (a former SAC base) formerly home to 
>B-52 and B-47 heavy bombers. When the base closed the runways and 
>facilities were given to the city under the condition that military 
>could continue to use them, and that they still do.
>
>On any given day it is not unlikely to see many F-16s from Cannon, 
>AFB or C-17s from Altus doing practice landings and take-offs, plus 
>with a new Bell Helicopter Textron plant on the south side of the 
>airport building MV-22s, occasionally one can catch the Ospreys on 
>test flights.
>
>However, in the light of a new era in terrorism, security at the 
>local airport has been more than beefed up.  Security patrols on the 
>perimeter are constant and the days of sitting in a vehicle watching 
>the aircraft unnoticed are long gone.

>Sit at "the spot" for longer than five minutes and the airport 
>police are bound to notice you.  Sometimes the local police are 
>dispatched to find out who you are and to discourage you from 
>parking anywhere near the airport.
>
>I'm not alone in reporting this. Many monitors across the world have 
>reported or complained about being run-off by security police at 
>airports or near military bases. Some have even been detained and 
>questioned.  For some reason a car bristling with antennas and 
>occupied by guys watching the aircraft is considered suspicious. Go 
>figure!
>
>In light of this, I have two equal and opposite reactions. First of 
>all, as a member of the flying public I feel more secure knowing 
>that the security police are doing their best to keep the airport 
>secure. On the other hand, In reality I know that if a terrorist was 
>to pick a spot near an airport  from where to fire a hand-held 
>missile from, chances are no one would ever see them because of  the 
>vast acres of real estate under the flight path of an airliner. It's 
>doubtful they would pick a spot anywhere near where an airport 
>security patrol could spot them.
>
>Since airport and military security patrols don't normally t leave 
>the immediate vicinity of the airport in search of possible threats, 
>they do what they can and unfortunately that means anyone who parks 
>within or near their security zone become a subject of close 
>scrutiny.
>
>Because of this it has become very hard for those of us who enjoy 
>aircraft, military and utility monitoring to do any on-scene 
>monitoring without being the subject of intense scrutiny or even 
>sometimes becoming the subject on an  FBI investigation.
>
>However, there is a workable solution to this problem and it is in 
>monitoring enthusiast's own hands. It is only human nature to be 
>fearful of those we know nothing about, so what we need to do is 
>make ourselves known.
>
>On one of my visits to the spot, I decided that when I was 
>approached by airport security, I wouldn't leave (like other 
>radio-monitors did when they heard the patrol cars being dispatched 
>to the spot by dispatchers on their scanners) but instead I would 
>cautiously approach them and make myself known.
>
>After parking at the spot for ten minutes, I soon monitored 
>two-units being sent out to find out who I was. I'm sure when they 
>pulled up they were surprised to find me standing at the perimeter 
>fence, smiling and signaling them to come over.
>
>Usually they sit and watch any suspect vehicle and then call local 
>police to investigate. But I guess that because I was out of my 
>vehicle, smiling and not carrying anything they decided it was safe 
>enough to come over to see what I wanted. They approached cautiously 
>with their hands on their gun-holsters but not in an overly 
>threatening manner.
>
>When they got to fence I put out my hand to offer a friendly 
>handshake and said, "Hello, my name is Steve Douglass. I'm an 
>aircraft enthusiast and radio hobbyist who just loves to photograph 
>military aircraft. Is it all right if I stay at this spot for and 
>watch the aircraft come and go?"
>
>Instantly they relaxed.  "Would you like to see some 
>identification?" I offered. They answered "Yes."  I could tell from 
>the instant change in their demeanor they were pleased to see such 
>openness. My guess was that they were used to people being evasive. 
>I gave them my license.  One of them went back to his car to radio 
>the local police for any information on me in their database.
>
>I chatted with the other officer for five minutes while we waited 
>for the result of their inquiry. I tried to assure him that I was 
>just interested in watching the planes and was not a threat.  I also 
>said I would like to visit the spot often and I hoped they would 
>allow me to do so. I also said, I understood the difficult position 
>they were in and appreciated what they were doing. As it turns out 
>he was an aviation buff too and he talked about all the cool 
>military planes he had seen at the airport, including some F-117s 
>that came and went in the middle of the night.
>
>My record came back clean and they seemed satisfied to find out I 
>wasn't a nut or a terrorist. We chatted for about ten more minutes 
>about military aircraft, radios and the like. Soon it was clear to 
>them I was just an aircraft buff. 
>
>Since then I have visited the spot many times and have not raised 
>the eyebrows of security. Sometimes they stop to chat about recent 
>events at the airport and I have begun to know them as just normal 
>work-a-day Joes doing a difficult job.  I went as so far as to tell 
>them that if I ever saw anything suspicious I would be sure to call 
>them. That they appreciated very much.
>
>As a gesture of my appreciation I printed some of my favorite photos 
>and sent them to the security office with a card of thanks. Now 
>whenever they stop and talk they show me their photos!
>
>As a result I've reclaimed my spot and can again come and go as I 
>please without fear of being harassed by the airport or local 
>police.  I suggest to anyone in my position when approached by any 
>of these hard-working officers to do the same as I did.
>
>Here are ten simple guidelines to follow:
>
>1.When approached, make yourself known and don't run off.
>2. Don't ever trespass on government or airport property. 
>3.Never carry a weapon on yourself or in your vehicle. 
>4.Be sure to show you are unarmed and not make any sudden or overt 
>moves towards the officers.
>5. Be friendly but not overly so.  Be calm and do everything in slow motion.
>6. Ask them for a phone number where you can call them to let them 
>know in advance that you'll be in the area or so you can report 
>suspicious behavior.
>7. Take time to learn their names. Only strangers are suspect.
>8. Don't complain or gripe about "your right to be there."
>9. Obey all warning signs and in particular, NO TRESPASSING and NO 
>PHOTOGRAPHY signs. Always ask permission to photograph.
>10. Agree to any background check or personal search. If you have a 
>criminal record I wouldn't hang around the airport. If you feel that 
>is a violation of your rights, then don't be in their area of 
>security!
>
>Now keep in mind these guidelines only work around 
>civilian-controlled airports. Military bases are a different animal 
>altogether. Since military security officers are not bound by the 
>same rules as civilian agencies you must approach them (if at all) 
>with extreme caution. I suggest if you want to monitor or photograph 
>near the perimeter of a military base you first make contact by 
>telephone or letter to the base commander, informing him of your 
>intentions and be willing to meet with them about any security 
>concerns.  Those warning signs that read "Use Of Deadly Force 
>Authorized" mean exactly what they say.  So if you get shot while 
>trying to take covert photos of nuclear submarines while trespassing 
>on Navy property, it's your own fault!
>
>
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-- 
"I have spent the majority of my life listening to shortwave radios 
and scanners, but the rest of it I've wasted."