Airport Security??????????

[farri]

A few weeks ago, my wife Frances and I flew south, ( No,not in the Drifter! ), for a couple of days of R&R, with our eldest daughter and her family.

 

On checking in at Cairns airport, when we went through security , our daughter and her daughter had to remove their shoes and have them X-Rayed because they set off an alarm,due to the metal buckles!

 

Down south, in the waiting lounge of a majar airport.......where the cafe and book shops are, and no further security checks are made before boarding..... there was a shop with cigarette lighters.... the plastic ones filled with lighter fluid... on display and for sale!

 

It appears that shoes with buckles can be a security threat, but cigarette lighters are not!

 

Joke or What?

 

Frank.

 

 

[Jabiru Phil]

Well, you leave from Midura with no x-ray etc, then arrive Melbourne and go through the rigmarole to exit the terminal.

 

Weird!

 

 

[farri]

I love this country!!!!

 

Frank.

 

 

[youngster]

Airport security exists to make us feel safer, not to actually make travel safer. If you look at most airports, it wouldn't take much more than a determined fourteen year old to cause all sorts of problems. There are kilometers of simple chain link fence that are unguarded and flimsy, charter operations where you can just walk straight on to a plane with no security checks, etc etc. As history has shown, every time the authorities crack down on one security issue, some terrorist boof head invents a new way to be a nuisance.

 

It has always perplexed me why we feel apprehensive about safety at the airport, but are quite happy to attend a football game with 80,000 people where anyone of them could have a bomb under their seat, and we are quite comfortable on a train even though one well placed wedge could derail the whole thing at high speed. Us humans can be odd.

 

 

[Powerin]

It's fun trying to pick who will get the random explosives residue test. One guy I often travel with to meetings nearly always gets tested whereas I hardly ever do. We go through security at the same time and both of us are wearing business clothes although he is usually better dressed than me. If you turn up at a quiet time they'll often test everyone coming through....obviously so they can meet their hourly quota

 

 

[winsor68]

At the local airport we have at least 4 RPT (Saab, Dash, 737/Embraer) parked overnight... up until a few months ago we had a security guard sit and watch the 737 all night (he caught a few drunks approaching the aircraft over the years too)... he was replaced with little blue security stickers that the staff place on the doors of the aircraft before they leave.

 

 

[jerrajerra]

Was living in Gladstone for 5 months and every 1st morning outbound flight there'd be no security screening. Usual check-in at the counter then be escorted by Qantas to the waiting aircraft. However, on arrival at destination (in my case Brissy), you'd go through security...inbound! Plenty of opportunity to kabooom a plane wouldnt ya reckon. Bizzare.

 

 

[Ultralights]

I hear rockhamton has good security, just open a gate, peddle across the tamac, axe in hand and go chop up a Millitary chopper! no dramas, tv crew and all. and all he got was a small fine.... where were security?

 

 

[kaz3g]

the "security' is a thinly disguised employment program for the otherwise unemployable....

Quite sadly, CFI, I even wonder about the "employment". There doesn't seem to be much in the way of work being done.

 

Some time back i flew into Wagga Wagga with a friend, parked the Auster and headed out the revolving gate to the lounge.

 

We had lunch and it was time to head off again. How to get back in?

 

Easy! Just phone the number for the security bloke provided on the big sticker, tell him your aircraft rego -- who could forget 'cause it was sitting there just inside the gate -- and he will tell you the security code. Walk right in to an airport shared with the military.

 

Good stuff!

 

kaz

 

 

[Neville75]

I hear rockhamton has good security, just open a gate, peddle across the tamac, axe in hand and go chop up a Millitary chopper! no dramas, tv crew and all. and all he got was a small fine.... where were security?

Why no fine for failing to display a valid ASIC?

 

 

[Scottw]

G'day All

 

I recently learnt in a course that under the air travel rules and regs, did you know that a person can legally take upto 2kgs of Zippo fluid (or the same fluid in cigartette lighters) and matches combined on board an aircraft. Where the rule that you can't take that on board comes under the rules and regs of the owners or operators of the terminal that which the product goes through where the operator can deny the product from coming in or if the Pilot is made aware he has the right to refuse the person access to the aircraft with the product. but under the current air law that person can legally take that on board a flight

 

Go figure!!!

 

 

[winsor68]

Scott... the reason for being allowed to carry a disposable lighter onboard is that if the lighter inadvertently has a meltdown you will know about it when your pants get hot and put it out... thus not considered a risk.... not sure about the 2kgs of lighter fluid- not going to say it isn't so but it wouldn't be allowed through security, onboard or as baggage and only as freight with the correct precautions according to the IATA Dangerous Good Manual unless I am missing something... (the bible is a comic compared to this manual)

 

 

[Scottw]

G'day windsor68

 

You are correct that if someone for what ever reason wanted to carry 2ltrs of Lighter fluid it would have to travel under freight with the appropriate procedures. In the recent Airport Security course (QLD)I went through this was one of the things that was highlighted by the instructor. And what we could not work out, is how the Federal government authorities (DOIT) were cracking down on items going onto a Passenger aircraft yet said it was Ok for a passenger under the current law was even allowed to take that on board the aircraft. And as you stated correctly no they would not be allowed to take it through security, I would think bells would ring with the security officer and seccondly the rules and regulations set down by the Terminal owners or those acting on behalf of the owner would state that items like that definitely would not be alowed on the aircraft even though the law states otherwise purely for the safety of the passengers. And I can assure you if I was the security officer in charge and found that on someone it would be impounded straight up or given the opportunity to get it to the destination via another means. But then there is the issue of Regional Airports who do not have airport screening. If the aircraft that provides the RPT service is under the 20ton weight limit, those passengers boarding that aircraft are not screened, Say passengers going on a Dah-8 100 or even 300. Then it becomes an issue for the airlines Agent who takes care of the baggage tagging and aircraft loading and unloading, big responsibility for those guys.

 

Cheers

 

 

[bilby54]

Not so long ago a freind of mine at Brisbane got pinged for his belt buckle setting off all the pretty lights while his hand luggage was ok.

 

At Alice Springs, he was pulled up for some other random act of violence to the offence detector but not his belt buckle and his hand luggage was also cleared.

 

When he got home he found a number of shotgun shells left over from the weekend shoot!!

 

On the other hand, me being a ten year "gold" frequent flyer had to surrender my two inch shifting spanner because I could undo parts of the aircraft while in flight! ..... and we are supposed to treat this crap seriously! Yeah right.

 

 

[poteroo]

A drive around the perimeter of most 'full security' airports often reveals that the full height terrorist proof fencing close to the terminal soon degenerates into good old ringlock fence which might just keep a tired old Merino ram out! In any case,everyone knows that gate codes have been the same since ever.

 

It's all just one huge charade - but it keeps the bureaucrats in Canberra in jobs, and Joe Public warm and cosy inside the great protective security blanket. It will also create lots of good local jobs for those inclined to wear a uniform.

 

But, by 30/6/2012, full security will be in place for all RPT aircraft > 20,000 kg. So, all F50's, DHC-8-400, and ATR-72 aircraft will need full security screening. But, if I roll up with a DHC-8-300 series weighing in at 19,500 kgs, with 48 seats capacity - no full security is necessary! What sheer stupidity! As we all know - these rules are dreamed up in Canberra - that lovely city isolated from the realities of earning a real living!

 

happy days,

 

 

[Guest davidh10]

On one occasion, quite a few years back, before all the 911 stuff, my brief case was stopped and reversed back into the xray machine several times. I waited patiently and after what seemed a long period of the operator and now his supervisor peering at the screen, the case was ejected and grabbed by the person behind the belt. He walked cautiously over to me and said "what would you have in this case that looks like a clip of ammunition." Somewhat taken aback, I stroked my chin and thought hard, but couldn't think of anything. We both opened the case. By this time I've got three security folks standing around me.

 

Then in amongst the coils of wire, wire strippers, side cutters, soldering iron, multimeter etc, there it was.... A plastic strip with about 8 screwdriver bits in it!

 

Another time I was stopped with my SCUBA regulator in my case (carried on to avoid damage to the depth gauge due to lack of pressurisation in the hold). No amount of explaining seemed to pacify the person behind the belt until his supervisor came over to see what the commotion was all about. The supervisor took one look and waved me through.

 

 

[turboplanner]

You realise by publicising this, corrective action should be taken, and you may have all made it much more complicated for yourselves at the airports mentioned?

 

 

[youngster]

It could be worse, you could be living in the US, where a set of nail clippers is considered a threat to national security!

 

 

[Scottw]

I work at an airfield that has RPT and we don't and will not be implementing screening because the aircraft is under the 20Ton limit and the fact of the matter is our airport will never suport an RPT aircraft larger that a DASH-8 300 aircraft anyhow due to RWY lenght and PCN (Pavement Concesion Number). I agree with Poteroo all RPT flights, coming from regional airports into a major centre like Sydney Brisbane Perth and Melbourne should be screened. And there are many in the Industry who I have talked to agree that DOIT (formerly DOTaRS) and OTS should review this a little closer. Yes it is going to be expensive especially for the smaller airports who may only have 2 or 3 RPT flights a week to implement this, and that is where Federal subsidies for the outer regional airports comes in and I believe and made aware there is a subsidy program in place to help regional airports to impliment their security screening equipment who are being serviced by Q400 and similar weight aircraft over the 20ton limit, before the June 2012 regulation comes into force. And the passengers, I know, will have a bit to say about it too. They'll kick up a bit of a stink and comment along the lines of "Why are you doing all this out here whos going to do anything out here anyway". Might be a fair comment but it certainly contributes to the safety of those passengers getting on board the aircraft.

 

Oh and by the way if your into knitting your in luck as they just changed the rules on knitting needles. You can takle those on board a flight now and knit during the flight

 

 

[farri]

On the other hand, me being a ten year "gold" frequent flyer had to surrender my two inch shifting spanner because I could undo parts of the aircraft while in flight! ..... and we are supposed to treat this crap seriously! Yeah right.

...............!!!

 

Frank.

 

 

[jerrajerra]

Well we can blame John Anderson for all this ASIC, MSIC, cyclone fencing crap. Sure, the terrorists kicked it off but the government will never give back to us what they took away from us.....except the knitting needles. I wonder if they've decided whether an iPad is a laptop or not yet. That probably doesn't matter these days anyway. It'll be the carbon tax that'll kill us.

 

 

[kaz3g]

Scottw said: ... they just changed the rules on knitting needles. You can takle those on board a flight now and knit during the flight

 

Back in my distant past I worked for an English Pharmaceutical company. The MD was a former colonel in the mob known as the "cockleshell heroes".

 

I remember him telling me one day that he used to use a steel knitting needle to despatch enemy sentries silently by inserting the sharp end down an ear hole with some degree of force.

 

Dangerous things, knitting needles. Should be banned.

 

kaz

 

.

 

 

[Scottw]

Kaz - I remember him telling me one day that he used to use a steel knitting needle to despatch enemy sentries silently by inserting the sharp end down an ear hole with some degree of force.

:thumb_up:

 

 

[Bryon]

Dangerous things, knitting needles. Should be banned.

kaz

 

.

Totally agree, I dont let my wife use any implement that may cause me harm.............

 

 

[winsor68]

Dangerous things, knitting needles. Should be banned.

I don't see too many Ninja's flying these days. I reckon things are not as bad as it all seems for passenger security as long as the rest of the system is doing its job... The biggest threat to Australian Aviation RPT and the general public is Undeclared Dangerous Goods...

 

I will say... and I may have said this before... Tonight I found toe nails on the carpet of an Ejet... don't worry I had a vacuum cleaner!!! It is a regular phenomenon and one that was even more common when nail clippers were totally banned... People regularly groom their toenails when flying RPT...go figure? lol... I have some theories on why.