The way forward for spotters?

How are these spotters going to be screened? Someone who applied for a job at LHR (sorry, i forgot who but he is here) had to wait over a month for the check to be finished. You think that they are going to do such a strict check for the enthiousiast? Surely not, so how large a chance will there be of catching that terrorist? It’s not as though they walk around with an Al’Qaida membership card.

Just to me stinks like nothing more than a money grabbing excercise with as bonus a few headlines on how strict BAA is on security.

Who does the money go to, what do they do with it, and what do you get in return?

My sentiments exactly. In the first instance, you have to be a member of LAAS or another society or an employee of the armed/security forces or a recognised professional (which I may be as I’m a member of a professional body, but it isn’t defined so I’m not exactly sure what it means) before they’ll even consider you for membership.

Secondly, you get 3 years’ membership and a card for £15, which can be revoked at any time. I’m sure it doesn’t cost £15 to produce a laminated card and run a couple of security checks.

Thirdly, why should people pay just for the privilege of taking photos of 30m + planes flying overhead or on the ground? Train spotters etc aren’t obliged to get passes to stand on station platforms, yet trains often carry more passengers than planes and must be much softer targets for terrorists given the lack of security personnel (I’ve travelled through London Bridge and Clapham Junction on a daily basis for the past three and a half years, so can vouch for this).

Finally, why not ask spotters just to carry a couple of forms of ID (e.g. a passport and drivers’ licence)? Would be much easier to police and less hassle.

The only time in 25 years of spotting I have been asked for id is at Farnborough, and thats only 3 times in 8 years in daily visits. Visit LHR about twice a week on business and have never been stopped. And unless you are parked in a obviously bad place you will not be bothered.
Having spoken to the police at Farnborough they had not heard of the scheme. Understandable as these are local coppers who also patrol the peremiter. They said they would also need more official id,i.e. driving licence.
So basically I see that you pay £15 for a id card, and most of us all ready have one. No security checks are done on anybody short of verifying who you are. And it does not get you into anywhere you cant all ready get into. So I will currently keep my £15.
Security at LHR has been stepped up. Today I visited a catering company in cargo( who were panicking because Virgin had switched around all the flights/aircraft!) and was througherley searched and had to book in 48hrs in advance. Two years ago I would have just walked in no problems.
I think if we are all sensible there is no need for these id cards

Who does the money go to, what do they do with it, and what do you get in return?

This is that LAAS International membership drive by the back door again, isn’t it?

In my opinion – and it’s only an opinion – they seem to be trying to legitimise themselves as the sole representatives of spotters everywhere.

They don’t represent me, and never have in 30-odd years as an aviation enthusiast, so I’ll be damned if they’re getting £15 of my hard-earned.

It might be worth doing it

Al Qaida ‘Planned Attack on Heathrow’

A senior al Qaida agent planning an attack on Heathrow Airport was reportedly among twelve men arrested in anti-terror raids across England on Tuesday.

The man was detained as a result of intelligence gathered after a recent raid in Pakistan, according to media reports.

The al Qaida figure was said to be in the advanced planning stages for an attack on Heathrow.

Last month’s raid in Pakistan led to the arrest of 25-year-old computer expert Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan and the seizure of his computer files.

The files included what appeared to be plans to attack targets in Britain and the United States.

Pakistani intelligence officials told CNN that Khan revealed to them the existence of a terror network in Britain.

He told them he often relayed messages from Pakistan to the leader of the British cell, who was a top al Qaida agent, who went by the codename Bilal.

Pakistani officials reportedly said the intelligence led to the arrests on Tuesday, and that the alleged senior British al Qaida figure was among those detained.

The same sources told CNN that Khan’s father worked for Pakistan’s state-run airline and had obtained five tickets in his son’s name for travel between Pakistan and London over the past four to five years.

Khan was said to have used some trips abroad to evaluate targets, including some of the most famous buildings in New York and Washington.

Key financial centres in those two cities are currently on high “orange alert” following the discovery of the information on Khan’s computer

Sorry but it just seems more like money making in a time of heightened security to me.

i would deffinatly sign up to that

GLA decided the scheme was inoperable and ditched the idea.

I have signed up for it a while ago and received the card within a few days.

Not sure of the benefits yet as I am not a regular visitor to Heathrow but if it helps police determine that I am not a threat then I am all for it. However there are a couple of points to consider :

a) what level of security check is done ?
b) people will consider it a ‘rip off’ if there is no visible benefit to having one
c) spotters will still congregate in the known areas regardless of the card.

If this scheme means better facilities for Spotters at GLA then i’m definately in but if not then it would be a complete waste of my £15.

But at least it’s a way forward and hopefully it goes off to a good start and gets to every airport in the country if not the world