Qantas Pine Gap

[penash]

Qantas thinks it's paying for Pine Gap

Qantas has raised concerns that it could be paying more for security because of a military spy base in central Australia.

The airline raised the issue in a submission to a federal parliamentary inquiry which will begin hearing evidence into aviation security.


Qantas claims it has recently had to pay for 24-hour Australian Protective Service (APS) guards at the two commercial airports closest to Pine Gap - Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock).

The government denied the APS airport presence in central Australia was protecting Pine Gap or that Qantas was paying for it.

Qantas complained the government had failed to explain how paying for the added APS presence would reduce the terrorist threat to aviation.

"It is assumed that the actual purpose of these officers was protection of a facility of political and strategic sensitivity in the vicinity," Qantas said in its submission.

The inquiry, by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, will examine issues including the regulation of aviation security by the commonwealth, airports' compliance with commonwealth security requirements and the cost imposts of security upgrades.

:uhoh:

[pullock]

Surely people must be starting to see through the retoric that is proliferated by the government and enjoyed by the security industry?

ITS GONE TOO FAR.

[Capt Hollywood]

There are no APS guards at the Ayers Rock Airport. There are normal tarmac safety officers during the day, but no dedicated tarmac security officers. After hours, the Resort supplies one member of it's security section to monitor the airfield, I'm not sure if anyone actually pays for them as the Resort owns and operates the airport anyway. Their so called 'monitoring' often involves a 'guard' sitting inside the terminal watching TV and the room they sit in has no windows facing airside!

I feel so much safer now! :hmm:

Hollywood :cool:

[Kaptin M]

Hmmm, let's hope that YOU really are THE Capt Hollywood - ex-AN, ex-MAS, and most recently of SQ.

There is only ONE man who can lay claim to that handle - assigned by his peers, adopted by foreigners when he departed Australia's fair shores...Hi Bob!!

As to the Pine Gap question? I think MOST Aussies have always been aware that it is an American satellite spy base that has ALWAYS been taboo for us (Aussies).

Why the sudden concern? Pine Gap is NOT now- nor to my memory - ever been a part of the ASP airspace. It has ALWAYS been a RED "no go", clearly defined, area.
We'll sell ANYTHING for a price!

[Capt Hollywood]

It would appear that there are two men laying claim to the handle Capt Hollywood.

Can't say that I'm ex-AN or ex-MAS but the handle was assigned by my peers after being involved with a variety of TV/Movie productions requiring aerial filming.

I grew up in Alice and can't say that the JDSRFPG (Joint Defence Space Research Facility Pine Gap) ever bothered me. I know the local businesses wouldn't be too happy to see it go!

I know a pilot that flew straight over Pine Gap a few years ago. :ooh: They were still receiving calls from CASA and the DOD two years later! Oops!

Cheers,

Hollywood :cool:

[snarek]

The security industry is laughing all the way to the bank. This is the best con-job since the Y2k bug. Mega-con jobs seem to be getting popular.

I even heard the GM of bankstown at it the other day "unlocked lighties are a terrorist threat"

yeah right, like if a terrorist knew how to fly and wanted an aeroplane a little perspex is going to stop him.

I don't know who the biggest idiots are, those pupetrating this rubbish or the pollies who are falling for it.

But I supposed if we are all kept scared enough they can take away more freedom and we won't even notice :yuk:

AK