ASIO bans tower visits
Thread Starter
ASIO bans tower visits
A couple of days ago I wanted to take a couple of students for a visit to Bankstown tower, only to be told that ASIO has banned all non staff from all airport control towers around the country for the forseable future due to heightened security concerns.
Is ASIO over reacting or what?
Is ASIO over reacting or what?
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What a load of crap....
ATC cant visit the flight deck and pilots cant visit the tower. Both were great ways to expand your knowledge of the others operations. Hopefully this stupidity wont last.
ATC cant visit the flight deck and pilots cant visit the tower. Both were great ways to expand your knowledge of the others operations. Hopefully this stupidity wont last.
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I can only imagine that some one with the IQ of Maxwell Smart is dreaming up all this nonsense.
From your knowledge of your local airport how hard do you think it would be for some one to enter airside and do pretty much what ever they liked? (this is assuming they were serious and did some home work) I am not suggesting you offer ideas however.
If I were running this circus I would start with airport security, strengthen cockpit doors, screening checked in baggage and more in depth security checking of people aloud to work airside, caterers, ground handlers, engineers pilolts flight attendants the whole shooting match.
As for protective services, my experience is that they are a real dads army, and they let them lose in an aircraft armed with what????? F%(^&%(&g unbelievable.
From your knowledge of your local airport how hard do you think it would be for some one to enter airside and do pretty much what ever they liked? (this is assuming they were serious and did some home work) I am not suggesting you offer ideas however.
If I were running this circus I would start with airport security, strengthen cockpit doors, screening checked in baggage and more in depth security checking of people aloud to work airside, caterers, ground handlers, engineers pilolts flight attendants the whole shooting match.
As for protective services, my experience is that they are a real dads army, and they let them lose in an aircraft armed with what????? F%(^&%(&g unbelievable.
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ASIO INDEED.
I doubt that Asio would have any direct input to banning airport tower visits.
If it were true that tower visits were banned, then perhaps this banning would have been an edict from ASA, as directed by the Federal police or Federal government policy.
Asio has NOTHING to do with petty stuff like that.
Sounds more like a storey from someone in a tower with a BIG ego and a SMALL life.
I doubt that Asio would have any direct input to banning airport tower visits.
If it were true that tower visits were banned, then perhaps this banning would have been an edict from ASA, as directed by the Federal police or Federal government policy.
Asio has NOTHING to do with petty stuff like that.
Sounds more like a storey from someone in a tower with a BIG ego and a SMALL life.
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I know they are more security conscious these days about who visits, but I'd have thought if a terrorist wanted to visit the tower they'd probably come flying through the window (without a clearance.) 
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prunie, you also forgot to mention that he sent most (not all) of the better controllers away to other places like Tamworth and further afield. Just told them on Friday arvo that they would be showing up for work on Monday at their "new" place of employ. No regard for families etc. Nice Fella.
[ 19 November 2001: Message edited by: 429 CJ ]
[ 19 November 2001: Message edited by: 429 CJ ]
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Ozgrade3,
Not sure about that... Security is much tighter of course, but I know a few pilots that have been inside towers in the last few weeks.
ASIO would probably only have a say in it if a specific plot has been uncovered by them. Even then, I think the directive would come from somewhere else like ASA, the APS or the AFP like prunehead says...
Maybe the controller was just looking for an excuse?
Lancer
[ 20 November 2001: Message edited by: *Lancer* ]
Not sure about that... Security is much tighter of course, but I know a few pilots that have been inside towers in the last few weeks.
ASIO would probably only have a say in it if a specific plot has been uncovered by them. Even then, I think the directive would come from somewhere else like ASA, the APS or the AFP like prunehead says...
Maybe the controller was just looking for an excuse?
Lancer
[ 20 November 2001: Message edited by: *Lancer* ]
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BWAHAHAHAHA 
We taxied past the tower in YSCB today, and there were about TWENTY in the tower.
So, unless they're doing "Tower" endorsements in Canberra to all the new ATCO's, I think someone has an over-active imagination......
We taxied past the tower in YSCB today, and there were about TWENTY in the tower.
So, unless they're doing "Tower" endorsements in Canberra to all the new ATCO's, I think someone has an over-active imagination......
Thread Starter
I'm not pulling anyones leg, was my boss himself who rang the senior atco at BK and was told the ASIO bit. We can only go on what we're told.......started in the last few days.
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There is an ASIO document circulating throughout ASA (and I believe most other commonwealth agencies) which details certain restrictions on visitors during "YELLOW ALERT" ... which was more or less put in place immediately following sep 11. Visitors are still allowed with stricter supervision basically. Ask again for the visit (or call ASA Canberra number to find out the facts)
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The twenty or so were no doubt members of our small defence force. All tower visits other than business are banned presently at Canberra. The day after, and I am unsure for how long, visits to the fire station were also banned.
ASIO/feds have visited, on more than one occasion, the flying schools re certain students and there flight training or reasons for it. I think the tower ban had been the process of human nature (knee jerk) rather than constructive defence. Obviously nobody has reassessed the situation. TYPICAL
ASIO/feds have visited, on more than one occasion, the flying schools re certain students and there flight training or reasons for it. I think the tower ban had been the process of human nature (knee jerk) rather than constructive defence. Obviously nobody has reassessed the situation. TYPICAL
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Hi All,
Made an inquiry with the ATC Chief at Airservices and following quoted from his reply:
quote
Not directly aware of any ban on visits.
Our security alert status has increased at all facilities, as a result
of recent world events, as you would have expected. All staff are
displaying identity cards, and gates/doors are closed and manned.
Visitors are accompanied etc.
unquote.
I would think it prudent to pre-arrange any proposed visits with the supervisor of the facility.
Made an inquiry with the ATC Chief at Airservices and following quoted from his reply:
quote
Not directly aware of any ban on visits.
Our security alert status has increased at all facilities, as a result
of recent world events, as you would have expected. All staff are
displaying identity cards, and gates/doors are closed and manned.
Visitors are accompanied etc.
unquote.
I would think it prudent to pre-arrange any proposed visits with the supervisor of the facility.