To Commit the Crime of Planespotting!

In the world we live in today, it seems like nearly anything can end you up in jail- even the innocence of planespotting.

This was the case in India where two planespotters from Bristol were detained:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8524432.stm

I would guess that the average joe in the street in Argentina
hardly give the Falklands a passing thought…they I am sure will be more concerned with the safety of their family and friends and a safe and stable country to live in…oh – and earning a crust so they can live.

That is exactly right. Argentina is such a brilliant country- apart from its politics. The people are amoung the funnest and friendliest, and the diversity of the landscape is breath-taking.
Unfortunately, politics has put a downer on the country, advirtising Argentina as a cheat of a country and the President is probably trying to distract the attention of the citizens of Argentina away from the issues of the country, in the form of the Falklands.

I hope this issue is resolved soon without tensions building. It would be devistating if it didn’t.

Let me clear something up- What I mean by ‘it would seem logical that the Falkland Islands could be more Argentinean than British due to their location, is that it seems geographically natural!

Its a statement that wasnt said as a fact or as a defense, but as a natural judgement, why should they belong to the UK? I agree, reading the facts and the history, that Argentina should keep what they have and leave the Falklands to Britain, but of course I can understand their fustrations when Britain comes and takes the Islands.

Its not the same as saying ‘oh Germany or France is more British than Irish as they are close to Britain then they are to Ireland’, and I agree with the British however, one must understand where Argentina’s fustrations are coming from!

This topic is very close to my heart, as I am actually British-Argentinean.

Its hard to look at this in a objective way, without being subjective to one side. I, at the moment, follow the British Governement.

Yes, it is a contriversal subject. I often think; ‘Well, hang-on, the Falkland Islands are 12,000 miles from the UK yet right next to Argentina- its only logical they belong to Argentina’. However, its true that Argentina would not be able to handle the British attack.

Please, dont get the impression that Argentina and the Argentineans are stupid. Yes- the Argentinean government is stupid. The president is walking two steps ahead when she ought to walk back and handle issues affecting the country at the current moment. The issue of the Falklands is just a distraction, the country cannot afford to spend time and money on fighting for the Islands when they have so much they need to sort out in the country itself.

I know much of the people of Argentina do not back the government in their decisions, I just hope it won’t get out of control because I think we all know what the result will be.

I think thats ridiculous, the controllers should take what they are given and keep their mouth shut. €200,000 is more than plenty, and as you said, it is certainly more than controllers here or in the US would recieve, I think.

This is certainly worrying, im a student studying in London but live in Madrid so will be returning home the end of march, returning in april. I hope their disruption doesnt mean me driving home!!

Iberia…sadly, Iberia.

Flew with them often to Argentina and across Europe and on nearly all occasions had the pleasure of dealing with the 60+ year old cabin crew. This wouldn’t be an issue, if it wasnt for their attitude.
Too many years of flying for them perhaps- but they were rude,grumpy and seemed like they didnt want to be there. At one point on the A340 during the safety announcement one of the cabin crew stopped doing the demo half way through…oh well if we crash in the sea, at least we know how to fasten our seat belts!!

Also- delayed and with missing luggage..no apology and imposible to get through to the Iberia customer service centre. They treat their passengers as cargo almost- get them from A to B with no extras. Food was disgraceful, and during the 13 hour flight from MAD to EZE they were missing for around 5 of those hours…TERRIBLE DISGRACE OF AN AIRLINE!!! Its embrassing…

I think it’s ridiculous to assume that the installation of these body scanners will contratict laws about child porn and nudity.

I have passed through San Francisco Airport over the summer as well as Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport where these machines are already in use. Yes- it does delay the passenger considerably compared to the traditional scanner, but I’m sure we’d all agree that a few seconds is worth it if it means further protection against terrorism.

In the case of child porn, I find that the ‘paranoid’ culture we live in today means that every little action an adult makes with a child is watched upon. This technology is very advanced, yes, however training is provided and the images of the ‘naked’ body is not shown in front of the hundreds of passengers, yet is shown in a seperate computer in a seperate room where the employee’s are monitored.

Also, I agree that I dont think that security will often require children to pass through if they are being profiled. I think that people ought to be less paranoid, there are measures being controlled to avoid the use of child porn and if it works in the Netherlands and the US then it most certainly will do here in the UK.

I would recommend using http://www.flightstats.com

Choose the option for ‘By Airport’ and put in PMI and it should show the arriving/departing flights by hour.

Hope its useful 😉