Olympic restrictions 2012
daydream
For the next Olympics...
Before a sortie that is planned to be within x miles or x flight minutes of London, police or private security (god forbid) based at every airfield inspect and give each aircraft a code.
The code is generated using a device similar to the $5 code generators that Barclays gives to its online customers. The code would be generated by inputting aircraft registration the days date and time of day.
The code is checked before startup with the tower who has a "reader" who ensures it matches the aircraft taking off.
When airborn, the code is transmitted by radio to ATC on request, who would enter the 4 digit code into their "reader", which would confirm if the aircraft has been security screened to be airborn at the particular time of day.
Helicopters conducting frequent media or ferry sorties who land at secure sites need not be physically inspected for each flight but still given a code that is valid for the next four hours.
It is established technology that works, and needs sod all training to implement and no hardware required by aircrew.
Other advantages;
The presence of police at every airfield within a tank of gas range of London is a deterrent.
Since every crook knows about squawking 7500, the code could also be used as a basis to communicate hijack or duress.
After the Olympics it could also be used to allow easy entry into exclusion zones by authorised aircraft
Mickjoebill. daydreaming again!
Before a sortie that is planned to be within x miles or x flight minutes of London, police or private security (god forbid) based at every airfield inspect and give each aircraft a code.
The code is generated using a device similar to the $5 code generators that Barclays gives to its online customers. The code would be generated by inputting aircraft registration the days date and time of day.
The code is checked before startup with the tower who has a "reader" who ensures it matches the aircraft taking off.
When airborn, the code is transmitted by radio to ATC on request, who would enter the 4 digit code into their "reader", which would confirm if the aircraft has been security screened to be airborn at the particular time of day.
Helicopters conducting frequent media or ferry sorties who land at secure sites need not be physically inspected for each flight but still given a code that is valid for the next four hours.
It is established technology that works, and needs sod all training to implement and no hardware required by aircrew.
Other advantages;
The presence of police at every airfield within a tank of gas range of London is a deterrent.
Since every crook knows about squawking 7500, the code could also be used as a basis to communicate hijack or duress.
After the Olympics it could also be used to allow easy entry into exclusion zones by authorised aircraft
Mickjoebill. daydreaming again!
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mickjoebill:
Excellent and well thought out. That would be ALL airfields, private strips etc in the UK - including Ireland [North and South - never mind the continent or Channel Islands] all of which is a tank of gas away from London - for certain types of aircraft albeit fixed wing, say P68. The 'reader' plan sounds reasonable at first glance but given the fact that most pilots cannot use a damn wiz wheel adequately I feel it may not work. As for police at each airfield? 
Just what colour is the sky where you are??
Best Wishes
Keep on dreaming buddy, better to do that than accept reality.
The presence of police at every airfield within a tank of gas range of London is a deterrent.
Excellent and well thought out. That would be ALL airfields, private strips etc in the UK - including Ireland [North and South - never mind the continent or Channel Islands] all of which is a tank of gas away from London - for certain types of aircraft albeit fixed wing, say P68. The 'reader' plan sounds reasonable at first glance but given the fact that most pilots cannot use a damn wiz wheel adequately I feel it may not work. As for police at each airfield? Just what colour is the sky where you are??Best Wishes
Keep on dreaming buddy, better to do that than accept reality.
Just what colour is the sky where you are??
Ok use of the word "every" was OTT.
Principle remains. Flights originating from small fields and abroad would have to stay x flight minutes from London if they did not have a code.
To get a code they would have to land and be checked out.
iven the fact that most pilots cannot use a damn wiz wheel adequately I feel it may not work
The idea is to establish security before take off so some threats can be identified in good time for those flying without a code.
Aircraft checks could include the use of the latest form of explosives detection, where a wipe or spray is used which changes colour if it comes into contact with a target substance.
Would cost around £1.50p for each check.NanoTechCafe
This kind of technology is a game changer that does not require a +£20k in capital costs (like an electronic sniffer) and training is straightforward.
I'm not saying the combination of airport checks and the code is going to stop a determined terrorist, but it ticks the boxes in a practical and meaningful way, for a low outlay. It could be used in the future too.
Mickjoebill
Last edited by mickjoebill; 2nd Oct 2011 at 23:47.
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I attended a meeting recently at Oxford where the mantra was "business as usual." After a frankly nauseating video of Olympic construction, a cringe making speach from one of the officials and various people telling us how proud they were we got down to the nitty gritty.
It seems business as usual doesn't include AOC or private helicopter operations, when I commented that with the restricrtions it wouldn't be business as usual for me, in fact it could be commercial curtains I was frankly told that was the way it was going to be.
I don't expect help from the CAA, but I believe that the BHA should have come out fighting from the start, instead I've been told "the subtle approach is more effective" by one council member.
Frankly F*** them and their F***ing Olympics. I'm more worried about surviving the recession with business intact, the Olympics is just one more huge hurdle in the way of that.
The BHA have gladly taken the membership fees for years, now they should really go into battle for the industry, lets face it, if the industry shrinks due to problems caused by this event then it may struggle to justify the salaries at Fairoaks, and the council will have been shown to be gutless.
It seems business as usual doesn't include AOC or private helicopter operations, when I commented that with the restricrtions it wouldn't be business as usual for me, in fact it could be commercial curtains I was frankly told that was the way it was going to be.
I don't expect help from the CAA, but I believe that the BHA should have come out fighting from the start, instead I've been told "the subtle approach is more effective" by one council member.
Frankly F*** them and their F***ing Olympics. I'm more worried about surviving the recession with business intact, the Olympics is just one more huge hurdle in the way of that.
The BHA have gladly taken the membership fees for years, now they should really go into battle for the industry, lets face it, if the industry shrinks due to problems caused by this event then it may struggle to justify the salaries at Fairoaks, and the council will have been shown to be gutless.
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You would think London having the Olympics would be a boost to helicopters companies, sightseeing flights, more tourists in London, VIP/olympic officials need flying etc, (roads gridlocked).
Every other business in London is going to benefit from the Olympics (airlines, hotels, restaurants, taxis, car hire, shops, etc)
For GA and helicopters operators it appears...alas not.
I sense the blame lies at the CAA and BHAB's feet. Imagine the government imposing nonsense restrictions on Easyjet, Ryanair, Truck companies etc - it wouldn't happen.
Every other business in London is going to benefit from the Olympics (airlines, hotels, restaurants, taxis, car hire, shops, etc)
For GA and helicopters operators it appears...alas not.
I sense the blame lies at the CAA and BHAB's feet. Imagine the government imposing nonsense restrictions on Easyjet, Ryanair, Truck companies etc - it wouldn't happen.
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London Olympics
It looks as if we will be in the UK for the Olympic Games with two N registered helicopters. The owner wants to fly throughout the Games. Understand that there is Prohibited and Restricted Airspace around London. Does anyone have the inside scoop as to what will be allowed and what government sources are there to refer to and get the defivitive answer.
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Whilst wandering round the fields with my pooch earlier, I actually noticed that there was none of the usual GA going on above me...the skies were empty barring 'proper' airliners....needless to say I'm under the restricted zone, so I guess no GAers could be arsed with the necessary flight planning just to go for a Sunday bimble...
Am I being blonde here...why has the restriction started 2 weeks before the Olympics...would a baddy with bad ideas carry out his attack on the Olympic Park before the event even started ??
Am I being blonde here...why has the restriction started 2 weeks before the Olympics...would a baddy with bad ideas carry out his attack on the Olympic Park before the event even started ??
Last edited by parasite drag; 16th Jul 2012 at 19:00.
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Am I being blonde here...why has the restriction started 2 weeks before the Olympics...would a baddy with bad ideas carry out his attack on the Olympic Park before the event even started ??
1) Three weeks would not be long enough to ensure that many GA companies were going to go bust, slightly longer would be needed.
2) A four to five week period would be better so that the property speculators that own many airfields could prove aviation was in decline and businesses were going under. Planning applications for business parks and new houses could then be fast tracked.
3) Having the zone run till the end of the Paralympics would probably mean that most of the property speculators would also have gone bust and that would not be good news for the pin stripes in the City.
Last edited by firebird_uk; 15th Jul 2012 at 22:30. Reason: Corrections
I have decided to fly on a companies registered "flightplan " . Presumably i can just tell a white lie as to where i am coming from ...ie instead of filing a route all the wayfrom the north , during which they have no reason to need information , i can just dip down over Halton say and then rear up again and thats where my flight plan originates from ? I cant see how they can tell whether i dipped down to 50ft or actually touched the ground to then start my planned flight into the zone !!
( I havent bothered register and have been told it will take 3 weeks to get registered ...... also how are they going to know who actually IS flying ? )
This effects the grey area boys as well you know ...not just you AOC holders
( I havent bothered register and have been told it will take 3 weeks to get registered ...... also how are they going to know who actually IS flying ? )
This effects the grey area boys as well you know ...not just you AOC holders
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"I think it might be to do with the fact that officials and Olympians start arriving at the site from today..."
Indeed, but surely Mr Al Q would want his spectacular to have maximum effect so would plan it for 'during'....
...that's a no brainer
Indeed, but surely Mr Al Q would want his spectacular to have maximum effect so would plan it for 'during'....
...that's a no brainer
No brainer? If everyone is starting to arrive from today then the site needs to be protected from today. Simples. Some Israeli team members flew in to Heathrow today for the Olympic village - do you think it would be acceptable to have athletes unprotected for up to 2 weeks before Games?
Furthermore - putting the airspace restrictions in place also helps iron out problems such as identifying pilots who haven't bothered reading all the literature and perhaps sorting out the fact that Atlas Control seem to only have one phone number (they we're engaged for most of today!)
And Mr Al Q isn't the only threat. These groups know that the games are a hot topic and security will be tight. Disrupting the games before they actually begin might also be seen as a 'prize' so lets not make it too easy for them eh?
Furthermore - putting the airspace restrictions in place also helps iron out problems such as identifying pilots who haven't bothered reading all the literature and perhaps sorting out the fact that Atlas Control seem to only have one phone number (they we're engaged for most of today!)
And Mr Al Q isn't the only threat. These groups know that the games are a hot topic and security will be tight. Disrupting the games before they actually begin might also be seen as a 'prize' so lets not make it too easy for them eh?
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ATLAS so far so good
Just wanted to get a feel for what people think ?? I have done about half a dozen flights in the restricted area so far and found atlas have been great! I have used both AFPEX and skydemon light to file plans and normally get a text within half an hour to confirm
what does everyone else think ?
what does everyone else think ?
I think theyre spot on. Made a few flights into the prohibited zone earlier in the week and no problems - although they only asked me for my permission number AFTER I'd been hovering about the Olympic site - doah!
The only bad comment I can make is that there seems to be a lot of different frequencies - I've had 10 so far. It's a bit like frequency bingo!
The only bad comment I can make is that there seems to be a lot of different frequencies - I've had 10 so far. It's a bit like frequency bingo!
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Three flight in R112 today. Filed 3 plans via AFPEx, 2 were accepted but the other was neither accepted or rejected (I have a feeling it was because it was ZZZZ to ZZZZ within R112).
A phone call solved the problem.
One site was within the Gatwick CTR and this seemed to put a high workload on Gatwick Director when I wanted to lift as they had to liase with ATLAS whilst herding EasyJet pilots into an orderly queue.
I still don't agree that "we" any safer from an airbourne terrorist threat, but the imposed system does seem to be working.
A phone call solved the problem.
One site was within the Gatwick CTR and this seemed to put a high workload on Gatwick Director when I wanted to lift as they had to liase with ATLAS whilst herding EasyJet pilots into an orderly queue.
I still don't agree that "we" any safer from an airbourne terrorist threat, but the imposed system does seem to be working.
nigelh: if you do as you suggest ie 'dip down over Halton' to about 50 ft, you will infringe the Halton atz, which is part inside R112 anyway.
You will also need to have filed a flight plan at least 2 hours in advance of your flight AND received an approval number, so what you're suggesting wouldn't work anyway.
You will also need to have filed a flight plan at least 2 hours in advance of your flight AND received an approval number, so what you're suggesting wouldn't work anyway.