7 posted on 07/11/2004 4:35:08 AM PDT by Aeronaut (Edwards is simply not qualified to be one heartbeat from the presidency.)
Posted on 08/13/2004 6:09:26 AM PDT by Egon
AIRPORT WATCH CONCEPT HELPS NAB 'BAD GUYS'
Here's proof that GA airports really are small communities and that the "residents" know when something is amiss. On Wednesday, this led to the nabbing of some suspicious characters at St. Louis Downtown Airport.
It all started when a man telephoned an FBO not far from the Gateway Arch and asked about chartering a helicopter. About an hour later, two men walked into the FBO, pulled out cash to pay for the flight, and presented driver's licenses from two different states as ID. Office staff noticed their car was registered in a third state and called the FBI and local police. FBO workers stalled the two suspects until the authorities arrived.
After a little time behind bars, the two "terrorists" confessed that they were NBC employees from New York. Their assignment: A story on how "easy" it is to get information and directions to a helicopter and then hijack it. St. Louis was their first attempt; the network reportedly planned similar tries to penetrate security at airports around the country.
"This incident demonstrates the validity of the Airport Watch concept," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Vigilant pilots and airport workers make the best security force because they know who does and doesn't belong at the airport. They can easily spot the things that just don't seem right."
(Excerpt) Read more at aopa.org ...
It really is easy to spot odd things at your local airport, even if you are not part of the tight knit community of pilots, passengers and mechanics that "live" there. About 20 years ago a DC6 flew into our local airport and folks just knew something wasn't right. I mean, aside from the fact that there weren't many DC6's around even back then, compared to the Cessnas and Pipers folks usually saw, the thing made a god awful racket at 6 in the morning. The pilots actually were able to start unloading all that dope before the cops arrived.
Given the 4200 ft runway, and summertime density altitudes, the FAA said getting the airplane back out the same day would have been very dicey, even for a high time in type pilot. The FAA did in fact find someone to fly it out later that fall. Nobody should wonder why the call it "dope".
No doubt! Especially around our local airport, you get to where you can almost recognize the local planes by their engine noise. You can see all the people coming out of their houses, when the occasional vintage plane comes over.
How do we get this on the Aviation "Ping" list?
You got me. I'm not even sure how to create a ping list-- other than by hand.
I've only posted a handful of articles. I guess I'll start one, in the event I find any future related articles, though-- and you have the honor of being the first name on it!
Egon, There already is one, I am on it, I am just suprised with all the Freeper Flyers no one has picked up on thi story.
Maybe the NBC crew can continue their story on how you can make it from st. louis to Gitmo free of charge.
I guess just ping Freeper Flyers until the one who owns the list discovers it.
I haven't been paying careful enough attention, I guess, to know who else is on the list. When you find out, please have them add my name to the ping list.
Thanks!
NBC Employees Test Helicopter Security (and get arrested) <-- Link
NBC News Stages Aircraft Hijacking! <-- Link
Heh. At least it sounds like NBC publicly acknowledged their attempt and failure.
I don't think it has made any of the broadcast media yet. It will.
"Kudos to the folks in St. Louis for using the Airport Watch concept to thwart this 'terrorist' attempt," said Boyer. "Praise, too, to the local police for responding quickly and appropriately.
"And to NBC: We appreciate that you accurately reported these misguided escapades on tonight's network news. And we hope this gives you — and the other media who make a living by generating unnecessary fear — ample reason to stop making GA a security scapegoat."
Looks like it at least made the local news.
I love it, they nailed the NBC bogus terrorists!
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