Security gone crazy at Mildura

[Old Akro]

I've always enjoyed stopping at Mildura. Its got a nice swipe card fuel bowser, used to have airside toilets if you it was a long flight getting there and had quite a nice coffee shop that on occasions had the best carrot cake I've ever had.

The toilet block went with the ridiculous new fencing, but at least there was still coffee.

Until the new $6m terminal upgrade. No one I have talked with in Mildura seems to know why its happened, or why it was needed. The old one was not bad for a country airport. Last time I was there the coffee shop was relocated, but just as it always was. Today, I discover that the coffee shop is now in the gate lounge inside the new security stuff. So, I arrive looking for coffee in jeans and a shirt wearing the now required ASIC and had to do the full metal scan (empty pockets, belt off shoes off), then the explosive trace wipe thing. Seriously, there were as many security people in he terminal as everyone else combined.

So, now there is a landing fee (presumably to pay for the terminal no-one wants), but no toilet block and now no coffee shop I'm going to bother getting strip searched to go to.

How far off the track have we wandered?

[KRUSTY 34]

Have you stopped at Dubbo lately! :*

[PLovett]

Same ridiculous situation at Devonport. When last there the coffee shop was openly available and you used to go through security to board the aircraft. Now you have to go through security to get to the coffee shop. Bleedin' stupid. :mad:

[YPJT]

How far off the track have we wandered?
Sadly well and truly past the PNR.

I guess if it came down to a single coffee shop the decision to have it in the sterile area means a. People not having the hassle of getting their hot drinks through screening and b. Departures not being delayed by pax hanging around the coffee shop and then trying to get through security at the last minute.

I know it doesn't help your situation though but itinerant GA is the last thing on the mind of a regional airport operator with grand ideas.

[RatsoreA]

For shame!!! How many times have you been murdered since all these totally required and not at all stupid security measures have been introduced!

Sarcasm over, you're spot on, it's complete blulsiht. Common sense has been completely absent for many a year.

Miles and miles of fencing went up everywhere. Fantastic. Nobody will be able to get through that, unless they have a pair of $2 wire cutters.

I also like the way we are made to feel like dangerous criminals when requesting airside access at some of the larger airports.

I accept that a reasonable amount of security is required, as pilots are the first to complain when the local louts steal the avgas out of our planes for racing fuels, but the arrangements we have now aren't protecting anyone from anything, are doing nothing but driving costs up and wasting everyone's time.

My friend was at xxxx airfield a little while back, after a long absence, and it's gone the same way as Mildura, apparently. He went out the GA gate to get a snack, it's inside the 'secure' area. Can't go through without the standard colonoscopy. ASIC or no, legal airside access or no, just want a coke or no, nothing. To prove a point, he went back through the gate, walked past his plane, around into the terminal, bought his coke and walked back past them on the way out, drinking his refreshing beverage with a satisfied aaahhhhh!

*Some details have been de-identified to protect the guilty.

[43Inches]

Maybe the Dandenong council should instigate the same security on the trains to Melbourne as Mildura does aircraft. Seeing as there are 100 times more people getting on the train there they must surely all be checked before boarding the mass transit. I think one carriage during peak probably carries the same passengers as one or two days total passengers from Mildura.

[rioncentu]

And why shouldn't every person wanting access to a public street require some form of security pass? And every person purchasing a backpack require a background check?

Aviation is an easy target and the public feels safer. hahahaha:ugh:

[LexAir]

What about at Wagga? On QLink you go through security before you get on the plane but if you fly Rex you go through after you get off the plane. Are bad guys not interested in blowing up the smaller 340? Not worth the effort?

[Wally Mk2]

*FEAR*.....................it's running rife in aviation circles.:ugh:

It's now all about mitigating the risk to as little as possible.
Locked gates, security fencing & all the BS that goes with it is only as strong as it's weakest ink.
There's a saying, locks are for the honest thieves!

As we have sadly seen of late terrorism is alive & well despite the over the top security we have to endure the world over.
Many times I have said that the terrorists have done their job well, they need never step aboard a plane again, panic is now firmly part of our way of life.

The stake of fear is now heavily embedded in the hearts of decent law abiding citizens!
Common sense is simply not in the law makers rule books.

Wmk2

[Sunfish]

The last time in Mildura my girlfriend and I were busting ,so we had to climb the fence and pee in the bushes. I much prefer stopping at Swan Hill for a defuel, refuel and a friendly clubhouse for a cup of Tea while we eat our sandwiches.

Pity about Mildura, I wouldn't mind staying overnight and going to DiStasios if the airport wasn't such an uninviting hole.

Here's an idea; what would the degree of difficulty in building club owned airfields, suitably sited, on private industrial or rural zoned land after which Local, State and Federal Governments can be told to go **** themselves?

For example, its only a matter of time before a gutless Government sells YPCK for housing and they won't let GA aircraft in anyway. However go about Five miles North and there is plenty of industrial land, rapidly being covered by giant Warehouses. How hard would it be to get hold of some of that and build something?

[bentleg]

its only a matter of time before a gutless Government sells YPCK

Where is YPCK? Can't find it in NAIPs.

Think I have worked it out. Probably YMPC - Point Cook


How hard would it be to get hold of some of that and build something?


Very hard.

In theory that sounds OK. Finding someone to come up with the money, for a questionable return on a substantial investment, and getting the approvals, will be prohibitive.

[Old Akro]

Sunfish.

Ronnie DiStasio's restaurant is in Fitzroy St, StKilda. Stefano De Pieri's restaurant is at the Mildura Grand.

You need to book ahead for Stefano's. Its a great restaurant, but I normally don't plan that far ahead, so I usually eat at the Spanish bar & grill in the Mildura Grand which is also excellent. A summer night sitting outside with a steak and a bottle of "The Guilty" from the local Shinas winery is a wonderful thing.

I frequently meet interesting people at Mildura who are also passing through, getting fuel. A lot of people from stations seem to stop there. But with a $35 landing fee and needing to crawl over cut glass to get a coffee from the shop, you can see the passing traffic stopping. Which could lead to Mobil dropping the bowser, then it all becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

The aero club has toilets that are always open and clean and nice and there is a small lounge as well that is always unlocked. But the aero club itself is not often open mid week.

But for me the gloss has gone off it. I used to go out of my way to stop there for fuel. You could do a practice instrument approach, pull up at the bowser, a few steps to the toilet, back to fuel then into the terminal for cappuccino and homemade cake. As far as I can see that is all gone. I hope they are making plenty of money from airline fees.

[outnabout]

I recommend Hobart.

Tower gave step by step instructions on arrival (I'd never been there before), security guys marshalled our itinerant aircraft, gave me, the Mrs & the kids a hand with our luggage and a lift to the gate that passed for the GA terminal.

Did the ASIC check without the required colonoscopy, and were delightfully friendly and unfailingly polite throughout.

Was the icing on the cake for a fabulous visit to Hobart.

:D

The following week, visited The Rock. A greater contrast could not be found.

[mcgrath50]

The following week, visited The Rock. A greater contrast could not be found.

I had the opposite experience, we only stopped in for fuel on our way further north, landing fee was waived and the ARO who helped us out was excellent.

[DH164]

Can confirm one of the best carrot cakes I've eaten.

[Andy_RR]

So, after derailing the entire world-wide aviation industry, the terrorists have turned to the much harder task of derailing the Toronto Express. :ugh:

[VH-XXX]

That's the terrorists motto, kill one, scare a million, including the Mildura Council.

[CharlieCharlie78]

Old Akro,

I was recently in Mildura and the terminal looked like it was still being built.There is a nice clean Toilet in the Aeroclub building. Be a good chance to chat to people at the Aeroclub too!

[Old Akro]

Charlie, As I noted there is hardly anyone at the aeroclub mid week. I also noted that the toilets were clean. About 8 / 10 times I go there I get a park outside the club rooms since the aircraft parking adjacent to the fuel bowser was removed.

The terminal is not being built, they are spending $6.2m to upgrade the existing one - which as far as I can tell is basically a new fascia. Its been in progress for about a year I think.

My issue is that despite there being no RPT flights anywhere near the time I was there and wearing an ASIC and carrying nothing, I got a more pedantic screening that any other Australian or International airport that I've been to in the last 3 years - all so I can buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

[ramble on]

FFS - are you guys winding me up!!??

Just a few years ago, just 5 miles north of Point Cook there used to be a great airport - it was called Laverton.

The world is just full of gutless dolts that wont say no or stand up to this bs.

[YPJT]

My issue is that despite there being no RPT flights anywhere near the time I was there and wearing an ASIC and carrying nothing, I got a more pedantic screening that any other Australian or International airport that I've been to in the last 3 years - all so I can buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee.
Mildura don't write the regs, they just have to follow em. An operational period for screening is in force from 30 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of a prescribed service until 30 minutes after its departure.
As for wearing your ASIC, for the purpose of entering the sterile area, it means jack. Did it get you a discount for your coffee and sandwich though? :E

[RatsoreA]

As for wearing your ASIC, for the purpose of entering the sterile area, it means jack. Did it get you a discount for your coffee and sandwich though?

That does seem to be the only thing an ASIC is good for? Seriously, why are we being made to pay for these bits of plastic, if they don't in anyway aid us to go about our airside duties with ease? They don't give us any 'right' to access airside, from my experience! At a large city airport I was told by an staff member of one of the businesses there that they were not allowed to let ANYONE airside, whether they had an ASIC or not, or if they had a right to or not (I was guilty of the offence 'conspiracy to commit aviation' by wanting to access my airplane parked 20 feet away from me), and that I should contact the AD operator, who will check me out, and escort me to my plane, and they would be down in an HOUR or so.

And as long as I'm on a rant, why are pilots getting screened? We already have access to the cockpit?! Why would I need to use a leatherman multi tool to take over the plane!

RIP common sense and logical reasoning. I miss you guys.

[Horatio Leafblower]

RatsoreA,

Next time you get your nail scissors confiscated at security, do not fear.

Simply catch a friendly Aeropelican J32 which has a crash axe placed within convnient reach, and in full unobstructed view, of the passenger cabin. :ugh:

Handle's even pointed towards you for a quick and easy grip :rolleyes:

[CharlieCharlie78]

ASICs are also good for discounts on Food at Tullamarine!!! Get your moneys worth!

[YPJT]

RatsoreA, all an ASIC does is provide proof that the holder has undergone a background check and may be permitted unescorted access to secure areas of the airport for which he or she has an operational need to be in. Airport operators still have the final say.

I've experienced the same frustration at Perth trying to get to my aircraft that was parked up on the GA parking. It's a PITA if you have to wait for the airport staff to let you in.

A mate not so long ago applied to Darwin Airport for airside access as he was flying in and out of there quite a bit. The forms they wanted him to fill out required information that had no bearing whatsoever on the security requirements. :mad:

[thorn bird]

Why would the nutters bother trying to get through airport "security"
Go to Ksa any morning around 7am. 3 to 4 hundred people all gathered in a nice compact group crammed into the cattle pens in front of the xray machines, a perfect target for your friendly neighbourhood terrorist and a multitude of ways to wipe out a few wide bodies worth of punters. the whole security industry is about one thing only "MONEY"
Dont know about the other secondaries but at BK, most of the hangers with airside access are populated by non aviation businesses, no ASIC required, hell they even let them drive their trucks airside, dont know how many aircraft capable of holding a few thousand litres of Jet A are parked on the airport. Who needs a 767, Sydney CBT is 4 minutes flying time away, no need for "securiy" at BK not enough punters, not enough MONEY
There are so many holes in so called "security" in Australia the nutters could drive through them with a so called bondi tram.

[Plow King]

Want to know how good the CEO of Mildura Airport Corporation is - just ask him:

Sunraysia Daily (http://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/story/1433901/highflyer-on-a-mission-from-back-o-bourke-to-mildura-airport-bill-is-well-grounded/)

I particularly liked this quote:

......I started to learn to fly, I fairly quickly mastered the art, got my pilot’s licence, looked at the commercial opportunities at that time and continued on with my chosen career in heavy construction.

Old Akro, you should have been here Sunday before last when one of the over-zealous ARO's lambasted the Roulettes for their choice of parking, great piece of PR.

[RatsoreA]

I have to stop reading this thread... It's all true and it angries up the blood.

When the revolution comes (and we're all praying it does), I am gonna apply for the job of supreme ruler, and anyone who makes a law that isn't based on common sense and logic will be publicly flensed and then hung from the harbour bridge by their optic nerves.

Going to have a LLD...

[kabukiman]

all that remains there is the BOM tower. It's unrecogniseable. I am PPL started training in 2010. In that space of time it has gone from an airfield to a construction site. I remember driving past a little before that and it seemed like a fully functioning airfield. Things change fast!

[kabukiman]

I'm fairly certain someone like myself couldn't just walz up to somewhere like YMML and request airside access, with an ASIC around my neck.

Isn't it up to the AD operator to admit me in that case? I'd accept that there. But not regional/country airports. Here in Vic it's pretty good I think. Every AD I have visited has been easy to get in and out of and the people have been friendly. I can accept being turned away from a major international airport where I have no operational need to be airside.

I think Moorabbin has a perfect level of security for a GA airfield. Given that it's one of the busiest around and it gets by without metal detectors and rentacops in every tree and bush I don't see why smaller or less busy places would need it. I hear about the fed police and CASA checking IDs, ASICs and other paperwork but never experienced it myself there. Essendon is pretty relaxed if you've flown in too.

[27/09]

Mildura don't write the regs, they just have to follow em.
Most of the issues occur with how the rules are followed. It would seem some places can follow the rules and not create problems and some places cannot

An operational period for screening is in force from 30 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of a prescribed service until 30 minutes after its departure.

I can understand why the screening might be required 30 minutes prior, BUT 30 minutes after departure? How can anyone cause a problem after departure that would be stopped with screening?

[YPJT]

Most of the issues occur with how the rules are followed. It would seem some places can follow the rules and not create problems and some places cannot
Bit of a sweeping generalisation there. Can you share some specifics?

I can understand why the screening might be required 30 minutes prior, BUT 30 minutes after departure? How can anyone cause a problem after departure that would be stopped with screening? It applies after departure in case an aircraft has to return and offload pax back into the sterile area.

[tecman]

Thorn Bird has hit the nail on the head so far as security at many rural and regional centres is concerned. One can - literally in some cases - drive a truck through the childishly inept attempts and flawed systems. You'd have to be a particularly inept terror operator to be more than a little slowed down. It would all be laughable, were it not for inconvenience to the aviation and general community. Unfortunately the profiteers and jobsworths have probably won the day, as people experience the boiled frog syndrome and tolerate more and more nonsense.

If you can stand the irreverence, I recommend an episode of South Park which I happened to see in Europe last week. It dealt with the security measures flowing from leaving toilet seats up. Despite the..err..toilet..humour, it's wonderful commentary on how we've let this mad situation occur.

Added link: South Park New Episode Takes On TSA, Toilet Seat Gender War [VIDEO] (http://www.ibtimes.com/south-park-new-episode-takes-tsa-toilet-seat-gender-war-video-425858)

[27/09]

Bit of a sweeping generalisation there. Can you share some specifics?

outnabout @ Hobart

I recommend Hobart.

Tower gave step by step instructions on arrival (I'd never been there before), security guys marshalled our itinerant aircraft, gave me, the Mrs & the kids a hand with our luggage and a lift to the gate that passed for the GA terminal.

Did the ASIC check without the required colonoscopy, and were delightfully friendly and unfailingly polite throughout.......




RatsoreA

My friend was at xxxx airfield a little while back, after a long absence, and it's gone the same way as Mildura, apparently. He went out the GA gate to get a snack, it's inside the 'secure' area. Can't go through without the standard colonoscopy. ASIC or no, legal airside access or no, just want a coke or no, nothing.



Are you saying there's no inconsistencies here?

It applies after departure in case an aircraft has to return and offload pax back into the sterile area.

FFS, do you meant to tell me that a terrorist is going to sit around and wait in the hope that the aircraft returns, or are returns common place in OZ.