There have been numerous problems with the ‘heightened security’ in the US. Some unfortunate pilots have found themselves in hot water when a ‘short notice TFR’ (temporary flight restriction) was put in after they were airborne! I believe GA aircraft are still not welcome over Washington. I don’t think a suicide terrorist bomber would call ATC or fly high enough to be seen on radar. Do you?
mmitch.
The whole point of the programme was that the ‘whistle blower’ had expressed his concerns with the airport management and had been fobbed off. So he decided to go to the BBC. The BBC then sent their reporter undercover to confirm what he alleged was true. She obtained evidence that it was.
During her time there it seemed the management were spending more time trying to conceal faults than curing them. The sight of a manager walking to and fro waving a 9″ knife at the scanner and failing to set it off until he actually touched it (while waving passengers through it) summed up for me what was wrong. What I would have expected was the detector be fenced off until a repair was made and passengers diverted through another one. No excuse.
The ramp rules were that unattended aircraft had to be sealed up and/or the stairway pulled back. they were not. If she found them why didn’t the security find them?
mmitch.
As an addon to the the discussion on the Defiant’s turret. DD Video’s catalogue dropped through the door today. Noted amoungst the new titles is a series called RAF at War. They contain documentaries and training films. One of the series contains films on the Frazer Nash turret in the Wellington and the turret fitted to the Defiant!
mmitch.
The bit that amazed me was the lack of proper fencing near the taxiway/runway. The airport operator stated it was up to required standards. 😮 When Manston in Kent was RAF it had a 5 bar fence and low hedge (but also RAF Police dogs!) When it went civilian a 10′ high chain link fence with barbed wire top was erected. This include closing two laybys used for years by the public and this was before 9/11.
mmitch.
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