Corsair FR security breach at BHX 2/6/07

[flygirl-72]

Hi everyone,
I am a reporter for the Birmingham Post and have received a very interestin tip-off about an incident at BHX yesterday, which contradict's the airports claims it has resolved the security issues due to be highlighted in a Tonight with Trevor McDonald documentary tomorrow.
This incident involved a crew arriving airside at 8am to prepare to fly back to Naples (no passengers), but the seals were broken on the main passenger doors. It has been suggested that personal effects were taken and equipment tampered with.
I would really like to speak to anyone (confidentially or on the record) who is aware of this incident, and the implications it may have for security at BHX.
My telephone number is 0121 234 5386.
I shall be in the office until about 7.30pm-8pm, so please give me a call if you can help.
Emma

[arc-en-ciel]

If you expect to be in contact with any Corsair crew, you should better post that into radiocockpit.com the "french pprune". Even in english, some might understand:}

[luoto]

Sorry cannot help, but the story, if true, is interesting.

Did anything more come of it ?

[MSP Aviation]

I too thought that airport security issues were "resolved," in the absolute sense. Shocking to hear that they are not. :ugh:

[flyburg]

Well, I have no knowledge of the incident above , however I would like to share my experience about another incident at BHX.

I fly for a major european carrier. We have had several incidents lately where we have been fined for not exactly following the security rules at BHX. The incidents I'm refering to include the purser signing of the cabin check form, but not handing it off to the cockpit crew, before the cabin crew had reported "cabin security check completed". Okay, technically incorrect, but they just wanted to sign it to be done with it and hand it over once the got the word.

Major security breach....uhuh.

Well, last month we arrived at BHX and specifically briefed the purser not to sign anything until she got the word. So far so good.
Anyways, once you arrive at the A/C you get a form from ground handling that the A/C has been security checked, apperantly this is done the night before by the A/C cleaners. They check the A/C once it arrives in the evening, seal it, and then it should be okay in the morning.
However arriving in the morning, nobody had any record on the seals that were used to seal the A/C. The seals in fact where broken when we arrived at the A/C.

You would not believe the grief given to us when we requested ( with the fines in our head) a complete a/C security check again, as we could not prove that nobody had tampered with the A/C overnight.

Major tauntrum!!

For a personal note: what's up with crews not being allowed to bypass the pax lines at the security check at BHX. Seems to me just a way to hassle the crew. What's the use of the crew standing at the end of the line, while they should be preparing the A/C for departure, so that once tha pax get through the security procedure they can board straight away. BHX, as far as I know, is the only place that does that.

Look, listen, I'm the first to agree with increased security standards, However, at some places, BHX included, it seems that security staff abuse their responsibilty to piss off flight crews for their own personal entertainment

[Fried_Chicken]

The CRL B747 was delayed departing on Saturday whilst the Police were on scene (along with sniffer dogs) to inspect the aircraft after reports of the aircraft being tampered with/seals broken

FC

[World of Tweed]

Not wanting to add fire to flame here but generally speaking I'd get to the aircaft quicker at BHX if I had PAX ticket.

Out station crews - ie. without a BHX ID (in my case I have a MAN ID) must be escorted if you are an individual. But an entire crew for a 757 all from another base can goe through un-escorted because apparently they can vouch for each other?

I had to wait 20 min for an escort to shepherd me through.

Can someone based a BHX Explain why it is the ONLY airport in the UK to exercise such a rule?

[Astrocaryum vulgare]

Just accept UK airport security is ran by degenerates

[AltFlaps]

I'd be the last person to support security at BHX, but I have to say that the reason for the BHX pass only (or escort) at the moment, is because of work to the terminal/departure lounge area.

Before work started (about 8 months ago), there was a 'non-swipe' route out on to the ramp from staff search.
Since work started, the 'diversion route' herds staff through domestic reclaim and some pax arrival corridors, all of which are protected with BHX 'swipe' doors ... hence the reason for the escort ...

[BYMONEK]

You're right. BHX is a complete joke as I found out to my frustration last year. Had arranged with the crew (Emirates) to meet them at the Aircraft as I was staying away from hotel and not using the transport provided. Turned up at security in Full Uniform but alone. Gorilla of a security guy;

" I'm sorry but you can't proceed on your own"

" Why not? "

" Because you havn't got a BHX I.D.and you're a foreign crew"

" Well how can I get to the Aircraft as the crew have already gone through"

" You have to have an escort or be signed in by the Captain "

" Can I sign myself in then please"

" I'VE JUST TOLD YOU. IT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED BY THE CAPTAIN!"

" But I am the Captain!"

Long pause with confused look at four stipes on Jacket and closer look at ID with words Captain on.

" Okay, I suppose you can go through then!" :ugh:

[ground_star]

Who is the security contractor at BHX these days - is it ICTS?

I have a long running battle with them right now - I was travelling as pax back in March through one of their stations, when the GE Explosives machine took exception to my laptop bag. I'm trying to obtain the trace report etc as nobody was willing to tell me what the indication was & they allowed me to continue (go figure!!)

I'm doing so under the Data Protection Act & they had 40 days. This expired AGES ago & I'm still battling the excuses.

Security yes, great - but let's run it correctly eh guys?

I remember a very recent incident in April where I was allowed to roam around the fuel bunkering (landside) at STN for 25 minutes with no pass & unchallenged - Interesting, isn't it?!

I used to work in the media before I got into this wonderful industry & am quite willing to expose the mess that things are in!

[noodnik]

Talking to reporters now are we. If it was a question about cabin crew etc etc I'm sure you would all be climbing over each other to tell flygit where to go.
Groundstar still waiting on an answer to my last post.

[FlyboyUK]

The rumour around BHX yesterday was that someone had allegedly got onto the Corsair 747 and swiped all the contents of the duty free bars. But that's all I heard.

[xyzzy]

I have a long running battle with them right now - I was travelling as pax back in March through one of their stations, when the GE Explosives machine took exception to my laptop bag. I'm trying to obtain the trace report etc as nobody was willing to tell me what the indication was & they allowed me to continue (go figure!!)


A few years ago at SFO my laptop bag got randomly checked. Swab taken, from the handles and openings, and then inserted into what looked like a dumbed-down gas chromatograph. I asked what they were looking and they said `explosives and firearms'. My bag passed clean, and off I went onto the flight.

The hilarity was that I stank of firearms residue. My laptop bag had been sat next to me at a firing range I'd visited, perfectly legally, on the way to the airport, where I had shot 3 boxes of 9x19 and 3 boxes of .38SPL. I'd been handling live and spent ammunition, and then carried the bag, so it is hard to see how the handles weren't contaminated.

Since then I've been very cynical about the efficacy of such tests.