Blackpool Security - Idiot Warning

[Pudnucker]

Team,

Just got back from a wonderful 2 weeks flying in Scotland. Absolutely awesome.... However....

On the way back to the South, decided to pop in and see my sister who lives near blackpool. So, landed there as normal with plane full of camping gear, personal effects etc. Unloaded, walked past the fuel farm, a couple of expensive biz jets etc to the fire station (who control the non-normal pax exit).

Just before going through the final gate, I asked about getting airside again. The reply was through "Central Security" - alarm bells starting ringing, so I asked if we had to be x-rayed like everyone else. The answer to this was Yes. I was also told that the same rules applied to us as it did normal pax. Uh oh...

Had a massive argument with their main security guy in the terminal and made the following points:


My plane, I'm PIC, it's totally my responsibility for safety of the aircraft and pax, not his
That I don't have a hold nor a handling agent so can't "check in" baggage
That I needed to bring some spare oil in for the plane
That the rules do not affect private planes on private flightsThe answers were no, no, no, no and no again with something about 'jobsworth' stuck in the middle. You can imagine I was not at all pleased... I did also make the point that the authorities are all too quick to distinguish between airlines and GA but when it suited them to lump everyone in together again.



So, chaps a warning not to fly to Blackpool if you want to get anything to your plane...... What a bunch of plonkers.:ugh: So much for being a GA freindly airfield....

[wombat13]

Sympathise with you. It certainly has changed with the times since I passed through on my QXC.

You might consider editing your post to remove reference to how you got your gear in..... Don't really see the detail helping anyone.

The Wombat

[London Mil]

Had a similar experience at Exeter. Walked out, found the very helpful chap who took my landing fee and confirmed he had my FPL. I then asked him how I would get back to airside. He gave me a chit to fill in, another laminated card and told me to show my pilot's license (you know, the pooh brown thing that is in my nav bag in the back of the aircraft) to the fascist on the gate.

Long story short, some haggling, a flash of an RAF ID card and a confirmatory discussion with an RAF Typhoon pilot (who just happened to be loitering with intent) and I made it back to my aircraft.

Of course, from now on I will carry my license with me at all times - it is a very difficult document to replicate!!

[S-Works]

I joined AOPA, got a nice plastic Photo ID card that has never failed to get me back to the aircraft!

[dublinpilot]

Pudnecker,

First of all, let me say that I totally sympathise with your situation. I totally agree with you that these rules are stupid.

I too had to go through security at Blackpool with my flight bag. They simply looked inside and decided it looked like normal pilot gear and let me go through. I was of course worried that they might have been more aggressive and decided my fuel strainer (with a screwdriver end) was a lethal weapon etc. Someday someone probably will decide that.

Blackpool insist on these security rules because they have passenger jets passing through. The are presumably scared of someone being allowed airside with something because they are on a private flight, and then passing it to someone boarding a commercial flight. This could be a terrorist, or simply a reporter looking for the latest sensationalist news story.

You will obviously say that of course someone could have landed, handed the banned item to someone boarding the commercial flight, without ever going landside. However Blackpool management would probably say that if the object came in from the air, there was nothing that they could do about it, but if it came through security, then they would be hung out to dry in public.

But your reaction helps no one. You might have felt that you got to vent your anger, but you may have made a bad thing worse.

You could have explained your problem, and asked security how best to handle it, and I'm sure they would have come up with some suggestion. (Always best to ask the person creating the problem for a suggestion in how to solve it....they can't disagree with their own suggestion, and failure to supply a suggestion makes them sound as if they are lacking in intelligence.)

But instead you kicked up a rumpus saying that you're the captain and you're entitled to carry what you deem safe.

Suppose that goes up the line, and management think....I feed up with these guys complaining. I suppose they have some point....they are entitled to decide what they carry, but how can we be sure that we won't get caught out in a security lapse because they hand something to someone boarding a commercial flight? I don't want my ass in the paper over that. How have other airports handled it? I know! Make them use a handling agent who will transfer them by minibus between the terminal and their aircraft. No possibility for them to transfer anything. No cost to us, as the pilots will pay the cost. We even get some rent from the handling agent, and don't have to bother about admin for their landing fees, because the handling agent will look after that. Wow, this is a great idea, I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier!

I'm not saying that's going to happen, but if enough people cause a stink, then it may very well be a possible solution. Maybe next time try to find a better solution? Did you really need to bring stuff landside, only to bring it back airside again?

Like I said, I sympathise with your situation, and understand where you are coming from. But there may have been a better way of handling the situation. Something to think about at least.

dp

[BFMD]

I'd like to think that the GA community is full of law abiding citizens who would never consider doing anything to jeopardise others, but with the way the world is these days I guess you've got to expect it. What's to stop Mr Terrorist landing his light aircraft at an airport, then meeting his mate in the car park who gives him a ruck sack which he then takes airside? I've been to a few regional airports where you have to walk some distance from the GA park to the terminal, passing several passenger carrying aircraft on the way.

[S205-18F]

I got caught at Blackpool too! Was on a X country with a female colleague. We landed at Blackpool walked through the gate out to the terminal had a cup of tea then paid the landing fee (what a rip off) then got directed to the departure gate to get back airside! Oh Oh! alarm bells wrang I had my usual pocket full of spare odds and sods including my small Swiss army knife, which I purchased in the duty free at Geneva airport, when I saw the metal detector and Xray machine my heart sank. Sure enough a jobsworth tried to confiscate it and when I started to argue he was about to call security, fearing an arrest and all the ensuing hassle I gave in and reasoned with him which resulted in a lecture and being told to leave it in the aircraft. Story over! Wrong! We then flew to Teeside went through the gate guess what! repeat the last part of the story! Oh I do hate Jobsworths!!!

[foxmoth]

Probably time they put a fence between public transport and GA, bit of a shame but that seems to be the way of the world these days.:mad:

[Flyin'Dutch']

This is nothing new and has been an 'issue' for since Sept 2001.

So not quite sure who the 'idiot' is here.

If I had a family to feed from money earned in a job where there were some very clear rules that I had to abide by, I am not sure if I was willing to 'risk' that for the convenience of a 'hurrah henry'

Take it you have done something constructive about this saga by complaining about the rules at Blackpool to the people that made them?

[englishal]

Can we not opt to get security vetted and get some sort of ID card (hey, maybe this is Tony's plan, sneak in ID cards by the back door;) ). I occasionally fly with a BA captain who just flashes his LHR card around and it seems to prevent most problems.....

[maggioneato]

I had similar problems with Blackpool, but I didn't have anything with me that I shouldn't have had. They even x rayed my sticks of rock. They also tried to charge me handling charges for my passengers on top of the landing fee. Strangly enough I could have planted anything I might have had on board from the walk in from the Fylde aircraft park to the fire station. As I had no ID in the form they wanted, (I don't carry my licence on a domestic flight) we were escorted back to the Fylde Park, where the jobsworth took some details from my driving licence which was in the aircraft. We must have looked dodgy characters, 2 women and a 12 year old. I solved the problem by never going back. :*

[Say again s l o w l y]

The issue here is not the security guard being an idiot, but the fact most GA pilots think the rules don't apply to them.

If you are going airside, then you aren't allowed to carry anything. That doesn't change whether you are airline pax or GA pilot.

You could easily carry something naughty airside and leave it for someone else, or plant a device etc.etc.etc.

Is it daft? Yes, but it isn't the guards fault. They aren't allowed to bend the rules. Whilst it has casued me no end of problems in the past, it's no good being a belligerent a*se about it since they have no power to do anything else.

The system has holes in it the size of the Mont Blanc tunnel, but it's no good getting all stressed with the guards. They neither understand or care about GA.

[Pudnucker]

Interesting replies.... so all those who think I was being belligerent, I did make representations to the Chief Security Officer and Airport Management. Brick Wall.

I say again, the authorities are all too willing to distinguish between GA and airlines but when it suits them lump us all back in as one. Funny that it doesn't work the other way round. Hey, why not impose these security systems at ALL airfields and really screw up the entire GA industry. This is simply a case of a kneejerk reaction and people who don't understand the whole flying thing trying to justify their jobs. I do agree that COMMERCIAL flying needs proper security but GA - come on!

Interesting that at Bournemouth, you don't have to go through central security...

[dublinpilot]

Had a massive argument with their main security guy in the terminal

I did make representations to the Chief Security Officer and Airport Management. Brick Wall.

There is a link between those two statements. Massive arguments tend to reinforce brick walls rather than destroy them.

I do agree that COMMERCIAL flying needs proper security but GA - come on!

Lets take that one for a second. I actually totally agree with you on that point, and I'm sure if you had a reasonable conversation with Chief of Security & Management at the airport that they would also agree.

But try to step back a little and look at it from their point of view. They only want the security for CAT. By letting you walk through with something that you could pass to, or leave at a prearranged place, for someone on a CAT they leave a hole in their security. I am sure that they would look on your example of Bournemouth as being a gaping hole in Bournemouths security. If you can solve that security problem for the management/security in such a way that will not affect you, and will not involve extra costs on the airport, and can present it in a friendly fashion, they you may achieve something.

Massive arguments rarely achieve anything other than division.

dp

[ormus55]

last time i was at westair blackpool, my family came along to watch me fly. they were left alone many times during the hour, at the hanger doors. and the hanger was empty of personnel most of the time.

as you say, the whole security system is just full of massive holes.

[wombat13]

Interesting replies.... so all those who think I was being belligerent, I did make representations to the Chief Security Officer and Airport Management. Brick Wall.

I say again, the authorities are all too willing to distinguish between GA and airlines but when it suits them lump us all back in as one. Funny that it doesn't work the other way round. Hey, why not impose these security systems at ALL airfields and really screw up the entire GA industry. This is simply a case of a kneejerk reaction and people who don't understand the whole flying thing trying to justify their jobs. I do agree that COMMERCIAL flying needs proper security but GA - come on!

Interesting that at Bournemouth, you don't have to go through central security...

Maybe you should refrain from using said field and spend more time around the all together more inviting field of Bournemouth.

Finally, I am reading a flow of reports at the moment from both pilots (commercial) and air side staff who are severly restricted on what they can now take through.

It aint just GA.

[Hampshire Hog]

Interesting point - can't check baggage into the hold. What if you go to one of these airports for an overnight stay. How do you get your night bag back through security - or are we all now restricted to the ridiculously small hand luggage allowance?

HH

[dublinpilot]

Hand luggage allowance would be a matter for each additional airline, not security. Security will not refuse to let you through because you have 15kg of luggage instead of 10kg, nor because it's in two bags not one.

They may refuse to let you through with your knife that you used to catch dinner, the same as they'd refuse to let anyone else through with it.

If you want to go down the route of a handling agent, I'm sure Blackpool would not have a problem with it. Your fellow pilots might not be very happy with you though.

[tonyhalsall]

Personally I think that the whole security issue has taken on the same completely OTT and lacking in common sense route as the H&SE.
There are gaping holes in security everywhere but as long as the public face of security is strong armed well then, on the face of it, everything must be ok.
Access on to the apron from the pumps at Blackpool is easy - access to a light aircraft via a flying school at Blackpool is easy but the completely unbalanced security issues raised by the thread originator are simply illogical and no more than a joke even if viewed with token logic.
The problem is of, course, who in public life will stand up and condemn security measures? Just like who will stand up and condemn hi vis vests? OK radically different situations but both involve the peceived safety of human life and it is very difficult to argue against the system which exists to preserve and protect human life.

Aircraft can be taken out with SAM's and individual aircraft can be identified with simple Air band receivers. Very soon all commercial air traffic will be able to be seen and identified on a home PC via the Kinetic SBS receiver. You plug the aerial into your PC or lap top and hey presto Blair Force 1, purple traffic, and all manner of aircraft accurately identified in a real time radar presentation on your own PC c/o Mode S. Of course the general public don't know about these risks and therefore don't worry about them.

[DFC]

Had a massive argument with their main security guy in the terminal

What was it exactly that you tried to bring airside and onto an aircraft which caused the security personnel to object?

----------

which resulted in a lecture and being told to leave it in the aircraft. Story over! Wrong! We then flew to Teeside went through the gate guess what! repeat the last part of the story! Oh I do hate Jobsworths!!!

How is it the fault of security at Teeside that you were not able to learn a lesson and follow the advice of the security personnel at Blackpool. i.e. leave it on the aircraft.

Regards,

DFC

[helicopter-redeye]

When in the terminal, ask to be directed to the crew channel at the info desk. Show your (AOPA or other) card. Be polite but firm. Unsually Bingo!

If you can engineer to have black trews (hide oilstains) and a white shirt on, or a flight suit then doubleplusgood. Must admit I've never had a problem at any of the bigger GA airports with this approach.

h-r;)

[gcolyer]

Pudnecker, I know! Make them use a handling agent who will transfer them by minibus between the terminal and their aircraft. No possibility for them to transfer anything. No cost to us, as the pilots will pay the cost. We even get some rent from the handling agent, and don't have to bother about admin for their landing fees, because the handling agent will look after that. dp

This sounds rather like a decent FBO in the states.

I love them, they signal you to your parking bay, chock you up, fuel you up if you want it. Take you to the coffe facility or landside in their golf buggies, give you free coffee and nibbles, have nice pilot lounges with leather sofas and huge TV's, have excellent FPL facilites. Some even give you a car to use if you want to go in to the town.

And the best part is they never charge you! well actualy one of the FBO's at Daytona once charged me $8 because i would not uplift any fuel...but woopdey do. It's not like i had to pay £50 + to land at an international airport.

Mmmm i wonder why some of us prefer flying in the U.S.

[Skypartners]

If you enter the RZ of a passenger airport you are subject to the same level of security as a departing passenger, whatever your reason for being there. So when the entry conditions are tightened you will be similarly restricted. The solution for GA is not to go through the RZ and at some airports that is still an option but that must change as the present level of threat is analysed further. The fact that you can wander next to the apron or runway at any passenger airport is appalling - enjoy the ones where you can because that will end - it must. As to the people trying to man central search - well, frankly, with security requirements from the DfT changing hourly, as they did during the critical period of the alert - the only approach staff can take is to unilaterally enforce the rules they are asked to - there isn't the time to stand and argue with private pilots about what they can and can't do because the rules for what you may take into the RZ do not get changed if you shout louder. My advice? If you don't want to be hassled by security rules do not fly into PAX airports where GA is managed through the PAX terminal. If you do you will be treated like everyone else going into the RZ - be you a pilot, a passenger or a cleaner it's the DfT that says what you can and can't do and airport security who have to listen to you protest about it. Happy landings.

[Skypartners]

I got caught at Blackpool too! Was on a X country with a female colleague. We landed at Blackpool walked through the gate out to the terminal had a cup of tea then paid the landing fee (what a rip off) then got directed to the departure gate to get back airside! Oh Oh! alarm bells wrang I had my usual pocket full of spare odds and sods including my small Swiss army knife, which I purchased in the duty free at Geneva airport, when I saw the metal detector and Xray machine my heart sank. Sure enough a jobsworth tried to confiscate it and when I started to argue he was about to call security, fearing an arrest and all the ensuing hassle I gave in and reasoned with him which resulted in a lecture and being told to leave it in the aircraft. Story over! Wrong! We then flew to Teeside went through the gate guess what! repeat the last part of the story! Oh I do hate Jobsworths!!!

You think it odd that you were stopped from taking a knife into an airport restricted zone? Thank God for a 'Jobsworth' like that 'cos if a passenger took one in and slaughtered a few people - or even you waiting to get back to your aircraft - well I imagine the tone of this post would be rather different. Am I the only one who thinks that indignance is misplaced given the dangerous times we live in?

[Skypartners]

Can we not opt to get security vetted and get some sort of ID card (hey, maybe this is Tony's plan, sneak in ID cards by the back door;) ). I occasionally fly with a BA captain who just flashes his LHR card around and it seems to prevent most problems.....

Some airport passes are universally accepted if an endorsement agreement is in place between the airports but there is also, sometimes, a requirement to have sight of an up to date Criminal Record Check. Maybe if AOPA started a scheme where you could submit an application for an RZ pass for all participating UK pax airports, and handled the processing of these applications to include all the background checks - CRC, 5 years employment history or character referencing - then maybe something could work. At the end of the day owning a permanent pass into an airport RZ requires you to be sponsored by someone, such as an employer, to validate your reasons for being there and to underwrite the pass in the event that you do not behave when you are using it. It is hard to apply such control if you are not employed in the industry, merely passing through.

[soay]

If you enter the RZ of a passenger airport you are subject to the same level of security as a departing passenger, whatever your reason for being there. So when the entry conditions are tightened you will be similarly restricted. The solution for GA is not to go through the RZ and at some airports that is still an option but that must change as the present level of threat is analysed further. The fact that you can wander next to the apron or runway at any passenger airport is appalling - enjoy the ones where you can because that will end - it must. As to the people trying to man central search - well, frankly, with security requirements from the DfT changing hourly, as they did during the critical period of the alert - the only approach staff can take is to unilaterally enforce the rules they are asked to - there isn't the time to stand and argue with private pilots about what they can and can't do because the rules for what you may take into the RZ do not get changed if you shout louder. My advice? If you don't want to be hassled by security rules do not fly into PAX airports where GA is managed through the PAX terminal. If you do you will be treated like everyone else going into the RZ - be you a pilot, a passenger or a cleaner it's the DfT that says what you can and can't do and airport security who have to listen to you protest about it. Happy landings.
It seems crazy that if you flew yourself into Blackpool on business, which required to to take your toolkit with you, you could pass unhindered from airside, but not return to your aeroplane with it. If you travelled by passenger jet (excluding Ryanair, of course), your toolkit could go in the hold, but I can't see how that would work with a C172! The logical conclusion to the current state of siege is that "international" airports should not allow GA aircraft to land, unless they departed from a similarly controlled airport, or there's compulsory handling. Either option will hit GA hard at those airfields.

There must be a solution to this that satisfies both sides. My suggestion is to restrict passenger flights to BAA owned airports, but I am prepared to compromise. ;)

[Skypartners]

It seems crazy that if you flew yourself into Blackpool on business, which required to to take your toolkit with you, you could pass unhindered from airside, but not return to your aeroplane with it. If you travelled by passenger jet (excluding Ryanair, of course), your toolkit could go in the hold, but I can't see how that would work with a C172! The logical conclusion to the current state of siege is that "international" airports should not allow GA aircraft to land, unless they departed from a similarly controlled airport, or there's compulsory handling. Either option will hit GA hard at those airfields.

There must be a solution to this that satisfies both sides. My suggestion is to restrict passenger flights to BAA owned airports, but I am prepared to compromise. ;)

Sad truth is they probably don't mind losing the GA at most PAX airports. The solution to your 'tools on a C172' problem is to contact the airfield ahead of time and ask for the items to be scanned through the 'out of guage' x-ray and escorted to the aircraft. Places like Blackpool would oblige.

Of course some of the points I was making were aimed at the 'tools' who stand at central search giving grief to the security staff before heading out to their 172!

[skydriller]

Hand luggage allowance would be a matter for each additional airline, not security. Security will not refuse to let you through because you have 15kg of luggage instead of 10kg, nor because it's in two bags not one.


DP, Where have you been for the last month? There are currently Hand Baggage restrictions in the UK that are ONLY due to imposed security restrictions and NOTHING to do with the airlines......ONE item only at reduced measurements, see below:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=238932
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=239945

Why cant it be like a recent flight I made through Renne? Separate entry/exit for all pilots/aircrew, I showed my licence, photo ID, the nice lady still X-rayed/searched my bags, but was quite happy that I was indeed a pilot and had a leatherman and drinks for the flight. However, waiting for the fuel truck was a different issue.....

:ooh: :ooh: :ooh: I hear some of you say, I had liquids....and even a knife!!:ooh: :ooh: :ooh:

This goes to show that the airport/government security show/farce/brainwash is really working if supposedly inteligent pilots can fall for the fact that the OBJECT is the danger and not the INTENT of the person.

Think about it.

Regards, SD.

[swervin'mervin]

I think the issue here is that you are entering a RESTRICTED zone (forget landside/airside for a bit). Now these things have been around for donkeys years, and no matter who you are you CANNOT take certain articles in to this zone. No matter if you are a GA pilot or a B747 crew member or security guards themselves there are no exceptions. Also at many fields you will have a CONTROLLED zone where if you have an airport pass, or Pilots license and aircraft on the ramp you will be allowed access WITHOUT the security search issues. Both these zones are 'airside' but it depends on which area you are entering as to the security requirements. Shouting the odds certainly wont help and just makes you look like a tw*t.

[Fujiflyer]

When I went through the "new" security arrangements at Blackpool fairly recently I asked what would happen if I needed to take tools etc through - they said there would be no problem, I would be escorted to my aircraft. Seems reasonable.

[soay]

When I went through the "new" security arrangements at Blackpool fairly recently I asked what would happen if I needed to take tools etc through - they said there would be no problem, I would be escorted to my aircraft. Seems reasonable.
But if you had arrived at Blackpool from a grass strip, replete with tools, cans of oil and bottles of water, I bet you wouldn't have been escorted from your aircraft. Anyway, who needs such weapons if you have an aircraft you can launch at a passenger jet on its takeoff run? Seems unreasonable.

[Skypartners]

But if you had arrived at Blackpool from a grass strip, replete with tools, cans of oil and bottles of water, I bet you wouldn't have been escorted from your aircraft. Anyway, who needs such weapons if you have an aircraft you can launch at a passenger jet on its takeoff run? Seems unreasonable.

During the 'critical' alert stage arriving GA did have to clear special branch at BLK. They were held at the fire station control point until SB had vetted them and their load. Even BLK RZ passholders (like me) had to be met on arriving when flying from another UK airport where GA does not operate from the RZ or CZ.

Gotta say I was horrified at AN Other airport to see friends of a GA pilot standing about 200 yards from an active runway taking pictures of him with no-one escorting them.

[tonyhalsall]

I am losing the will to live

[soay]

During the 'critical' alert stage arriving GA did have to clear special branch at BLK. They were held at the fire station control point until SB had vetted them and their load.
So, it's OK to fly your weapons in now! That's the fatal flaw with the governments approach to the "war" on terrorism. The draconian security measures required to stop terrorists blowing up an aeroplane take all the pleasure out of that mode of transport, and the same would apply to rail transport - except that they know that similar measures would be totally impractical in that context. Good job terrorists are only interested in blowing up aeroplanes.

The solution to this problem is political, but it will worsen as long as the government continues to treat it as a "war". We should either mind our own business, like they do in Scandinavian countries, or actively help to set up a Palestinian state, and get out of Iraq - in direct opposition to US policy. That would make it much harder for Islamic extremists to recruit new martyrs to their cause, and more likely that moderates would help to oppose them. Much too simple minded an approach for Bush and Blair.

[Mike Cross]

Good job terrorists are only interested in blowing up aeroplanes.
Glad to see someone has a sensible grasp of the situation.
The bombings of trains in Bombay, Madrid and London were clearly all in the mind then?:ugh:

[gcolyer]

In this instance was it really necessary to unload all you kit of the plane to take to your sisters for a quick visit??

All you really needed was photo ID and you license. The rest could have stayed in the plane.

[A and C]

This security thing has nothing to do with stoping terrorists, its about protecting the goverment ministers from Fleet street!

Just take a look at the utter stupidity that guys at the front of an airliner have to put up with and you will see that a bunch of very astute businessmen are making a fortune by employing half-witts to enforce rules written in such a way as to protect the civil servants.

I suppose that the only up side is that we are keeping these numptys off the streets and away from petty crime but it seems a very bizarre and expensive way to run a social program.

[scooter boy]

I regularly fly in and out of my local city airport and regional airports and nowadays I expect to get security checked. In fact I was asked to show ID on the apron today and gladly presented it. Yes it is a pain queueing with people getting onto a commercial flight to go through the metal detector but we should take it in our stride and as private pilots we should not object to this as our welfare and the security of our aircraft and our privilege to be able to use these airports in the future is being protected. Having access to secure areas is a privilege and just because we have been lucky enough to arrive by our own means does not give us the right to avoid security.
Like it or not these checks are here to stay and sounding off to some poor security guard who is being paid peanuts to do a very boring job just makes us seem self important, petulant and immature. Carry ID, Hi Vis and treat security politely and more often than not they will be courteous and get you through quickly.
Stop getting stressed out about something you can't change and give your coronary arteries a rest,
SB

PS I am not a security guard!

[maggioneato]

I will have more respect for security when they get their facts right. Like insisting it is a legal requirement for me to carry my licence. It's not a legal requirement on a domestic flight. I now carry a copy of my licence, but the original stays at home. Far too much trouble if that goes missing.
It's after landing that there is no control on the walk to the terminal building that makes the departure a bit of a farce. No doubt in time they will realise that, provide a mini bus, and charge us mega dosh to be driven to the terminal building from our aircraft.

[skydriller]

as private pilots we should not object to this as our welfare and the security of our aircraft and our privilege to be able to use these airports in the future is being protected.

:ugh: :D :ugh::D :ugh: :D

See my comments and those of A & C above.......

Regards, SD..

[wombat13]

An alternative experience at Blackpool airport.

http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=25724

The Wombat

[IO540]

I haven't read the whole thread but this is a problem in various airports in Europe too.

I had my (large) backpack taken apart in Albania the other day; they were very interested in various small and sharp tools. But, the man said, as it's your plane it's meaningless for us to stop you carrying this stuff.

In these big airports you usually pay for "handling" and for that you get a bus which takes you all the way to the plane. That way they make sure you don't pass items to other people on the air side.

It's going to be a real problem, because one could pass items to others and - short of re-organising the airport access - a bus is the only way to stop that happening. Which in turn is going to be used to impose hefty "handling" costs.

One solution might be a separate "aeroclub" building with its own access, which is well distant from the areas frequented by both passengers and other airport workers. Remember that airport workers are often "on the inside" when it comes to dodgy stuff going on. Many of them steal everything they can from luggage as it is.