High Security Threat to the UAE Airports.

[Plank Cap]

Never mind the various battling groups further north, the real threat to the UAE's airport security has been discovered:


BBC News - British plane spotters arrested in United Arab Emirates (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-31699722)

Should give the British Consular officials something to do.........

[Hotel Tango]

Although the UAE is not particularly spotter friendly anywhere, with care it's OK. Unfortunately for them Fujairah is particularly security conscious due to the sensitive military movements there. So hanging around the perimeter with binoculars/scopes, cameras and notebooks is going to invite problems.

[Emma Royds]

This story was highlighted on BBC1 in the UK this morning. It will be interesting to see if anything happens due to the fact that this has hit the national media.

I have heard of someone who had done exactly the same thing at Fujairah Airport and was detained and eventually transferred to Al Wathba prison. That is where they keep those that are deemed to be a risk to national security. Because of that perceived risk, one can be held indefinitely without trial in the UAE.

The only way these individuals will be seeing freedom is if there is intervention at a high level.

It also raises an interesting point of what counts as being sensitive to UAE national security, especially at the moment. Get on the wrong side of a policeman and the possibilities could be limitless. It's also ileagal to take a picture that has any Emirati in the image and they have not given their consent, even if they are in the background of the image. Save the Nat Geo contributions for when you are out of the UAE.

[thefoxandfirkin]

They may be should have stuck with the Fairford and Southport airshows me thinks. Did they never ready the story about the guys who got caught in Greece....:ugh:

[DCS99]

If something goes wrong here you won't even get a bar of soap and a Mars Bar from the British Embassy.

Plane spotter's wife 'disappointed' by UK government's response - BBC News (http://m.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-31710164)

[Hotel Tango]

The guys in Greece were at a military installation. That can spell trouble in many European countries let alone others. FJR is a civilian airport with a great many interesting aircraft types, most of Russian make. Unfortunately the airport also handles sensitive military related movements which the UAE government doesn't want to publicise. This was their mistake. Maybe they knew it and risked it, or maybe they were simply ignorant about FJR's sensitivity.

[falconeasydriver]

Serious question, where these guys retarded? or just stupid, either way they deserve what they get, living proof that not all possess the ability to think.

[Hotel Tango]

either way they deserve what they get, living proof that not all possess the ability to think.

Hmm, considering some of the air accident reports I have read lately, would you be happy if I said the same for the FD crew concerned?

[falconeasydriver]

HT, stupid is just that stupid, there are many examples of stupidity in life, aviation is merely one area. As for how I would feel? I defer to the late Alan Sheperd, and his oft repeated prayer "please lord don't let me F^ck up".
Plane spotting is hardly comparable to aviating HT, nothing in the commission, the action or the risk assessment even resembles flying an aeroplane.

[Mr Angry from Purley]

The wife states they didn't realize plane spotting was so serious. Well I read the news that says u a e are sending planes to combat zones and everyone knows surely that Arab countries don't like spotting so please don't use that excuse it's well trodden. There is even up to date info on aviation sites saying cameras are banned at a hotel at Abu Dhabi airport so no excuse #common sense

[Hotel Tango]

My point, which you obviously failed to understand falconeasydriver, is that for one reason or another we all do "stupid" things now and again. That includes pilots, as is well documented in many accident reports. I in no way was trying to compare plane spotting to flying an aeroplane. :ugh:

[jack schidt]

The problem with "stoopid" folks is they are too stoopid to realsize they are stupid!

J

[Hotel Tango]

and they can't write correctly either :}

[falcon12]

Having worked at FJR recently I can say that on the airport terminal approach road there are signs regarding no photography being allowed. On the other side of the runway, where the greater majority of mainly abandoned aircraft wrecks are slowly decaying in the sun and salt laden atmosphere, there is a main road where you can park and snap pics as much as you wont. There are no warning signs posted.

Its true that photography on any civilian airport is forbidden. But when going airside, a camera will not be permitted but your mobile phone, with camera, will be!!

If you are aware, as a foreigner, that in the UAE that in the event of any incident you are guilty until you can prove your innocence. I think this maybe difficult in this case.

As to 'sensitive military flying', does a foreign military helicopter doing a mail run once in while qualify?

[Hotel Tango]

As to 'sensitive military flying', does a foreign military helicopter doing a mail run once in while qualify?

I don't know when you last worked there, but I'm certainly not talking about helicopter movements!

[aileron droop]

imagine two Arab fellows doing the same type of spotting near an american base. I am just saying ...:=

[falcon12]

Hotel Tango

All of 2013 then up to June 2014. So what did i miss seeing or is it wise not to say on this thread....?

[TCAS FAN]

All appears to have gone very quiet, anyone know what happened to the two spotters aka "National Security Threat", have they been released?

[rascott3888]

Arabian Business - 18 March - The three men, "who have been behind bars since their arrest on February 22, were told this week that their detention in custody would be extended for a further 28 days, until April 12."

Manchester Evening News - 17 May - "charges are yet to be brought against them."

One look at the facebook page of Conrad Clitheroe (or a read of comments posted by their friends) and it is obvious that these guys are serious travelling plane-spotters.


Sending these three guys home immediately would make a great deal of good sense.

[ExXB]

UAE residents warned against photographing aircraft | The National (http://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/uae-residents-warned-against-photographing-aircraft)

Please don't shoot the messenger.

[Catwalk Dweller]

According to the Manchester Evening News, Conrad Clitheroe and his two friends were released on 20 April, and is back home:

"I still can't believe I'm home": Released Dubai planespotter on his two month jail torment - Manchester Evening News (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/dubai-planespotter-conrad-clitheroe-home-9117798)