UK Live ATC Feed?

[BOH]

Hey,
I was wondering if anyone knew of a website to get a live feed from UK ATC. I already know of LiveATC.net and JFKTower.com, but I was particularly looking for a UK airport, one of the big ones would be good, LHR, LGW, MAN, BHX! Any help is great,

Cheers

BOH

[5milesbaby]

None are broadcast for listening from what I know. Something to do with it being illegal in the UK to do such a thing!! I'm sure someone else will give you a better more informed answer but thats what I'm sure they will say.

[Lon More]

I believe it still falls under the Official Secrets Act.

[MonarchA330]

Quite sadly, I just read said Act (Uni exam revision...mmmm) and couldn't seem to find anything that may relate to the broadcasting of ATC on the internet. (Maybe as it was passed in 1989) The Official Secrets Act (http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/Ukpga_19890006_en_2.htm#mdiv1) can be found here. Please say if I'm wrong!

Seems odd that the US, possibly the most security concious country in the world allows such extensive broadcasting, but we don't.

M330

[Gary Lager]

Might not be under the OSA directly, but on security grounds certainly not a good idea to have live ATC on the net.

BALPA agree with this position.

There are losers out there who have thought it a giggle to talk to aircraft with their own transceivers; imagine if they could do it sitting in front of a PC with a live ATC feed.

And that's just considering mentally disturbed people, not someone, or some group, with malicious intent.

<<Shiver>>

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

It's nothing to do with the Official Secrets Act, but the Wireless Telegraphy Act. It is illegal in the UK to monitor any transmission for which you do not have authority. Aviation communications come within that category. It is only permissable to use the communications in the course of duty. Ie. Pilots and controllers are normally authorised to listen to aviation communications when they are not actually engaged in their duty.

Now, of course, everyone is going to talk about scanners, blah, blah, blah!

[Lon More]

It was so long ago!! Back in the 60's I remember signing the OSA so often. I seem to remember doing it when I got my R/T Licence.
I'm not sure about being allowed to listen when off-duty as an ex-colleague, now at Manch, spent several months in a Belgian jail on suspicion of espionage back in the 1970s. He possessed a radio - a scanner, which according to the prosecution could have been converted to send information. He knew secret information - the runway headings, and had copied the details of landing and departing aircraft. In reality he was a spotter outside the base, but had invited the Military Police to, in Biblical terms, "Know themselves."

A few years ago we were plagued by someone asking a/c on one of our freqs for their details. It became exceedingly annoying at busy times, but he once asked if he could be seen orbiting above a certain city. One pilot asked him for the reg. of the aircraft he was flying and got it. A warm welcome awaited, in the shape of the Luchtvaartpolitie, when the :mad: landed

[MonarchA330]

Sorry Heathrow Director,

but why are scanners so freely available if listening in is illegal?!

Just a keenbean 'wannabe' soon to be a 'be', wanting to know! (medical on 2nd june!)

M330

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Monarch A330... because a) there is no effective policing of such things in the UK and b) the dealers know there is money to be made in selling them!

[RomeoTangoFoxtrotMike]

Also, there are some airband frequencies that are arguably "publicly available" (e.g. volmet)

[Sector Who]

Unfortunately the law in this area is very grey and almost universally ignored. Otherwise the police/ radiocommunications agency would be rounding up spotters and confiscating their equipment in the same manner as CB fans who had illegal AM sets were prosecuted in the early 80's. Even now it's best not to draw too much attention to yourself if you want to listen in (especially when abroad!) despite being a relatively harmless hobby. In fact many pilots/ATCOs have been introduced to the industry via the monitoring of the airband frequencies.

[MikeGranby]

> Unfortunately the law in this area is
> very grey and almost universally ignored

It may be ignored, but it is not grey. Listening to aircraft or ATC transmissions via a scanner is illegal. Scanners can be sold openly because selling or possessing one is not illegal; the law merely applies to the use of the device. The WTA is a wonderful exchange of a laws that make everthing illegal by default and then makes you beg the government for permission......