Not an old wives' tale at all - see CEMA 1979, s33(3):
"(3) The person in control of an aerodrome licensed under any enactment relating to air navigation and, if so required by the Commissioners, the person in control of any other aerodrome shall—
"(a) keep a record in such form and manner as the Commissioners may approve of all aircraft arriving at or departing from the aerodrome;
"(b) keep that record available and produce it on demand to any officer, together with all other documents kept on the aerodrome which relate to the movement of aircraft; and
"(c) permit any officer to make copies of and take extracts from any such record or document."
There's nothing on the Legislation website to suggest it's not still in force and now administered by UKBA.
P