UK small airfields defenceless against small aircraft says Judge.
Such flights do happen on occasions and a number of the perpetrators get caught due to prior intelligence gained by the authorities. This link highlights a similar illegal immigrant flight that was monitored by the police with a successful outcome.
Immigrant smugglers caught after sky chase - Telegraph
Immigrant smugglers caught after sky chase - Telegraph
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
GeeRam, very true, Woodhall Spa runways are only suitable for float planes now and East Kirkby is now shorter and grass. Spilsby has disppeared under sheds. Metheringham and Manby are intact.
PN,
Manby is most definetly NOT intact!
Runways and all taxiways dug up and removed and tower demolished years ago.
Metheringham is also only hanging on with vast swathes of concrete lifted.
Manby is most definetly NOT intact!
Runways and all taxiways dug up and removed and tower demolished years ago.
Metheringham is also only hanging on with vast swathes of concrete lifted.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Metheringham was perfectly usable for an illicit light aircraft last time I drove down it. Manby has a perfectly suitable taxiway. Then there is Stubby too.
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Strubby 33 (?) doesn't look well ... it wasn't even used for taxying in 65 
But, agreed, light aircraft can get into all sort of small places, whether they have well-maintained landing surfaces or not.
But, agreed, light aircraft can get into all sort of small places, whether they have well-maintained landing surfaces or not.
Presumably closed borders following brexit will sort this problem?
Presumably closed borders following brexit will sort this problem?
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Why cant we monitor lower airspace for potential intruders more effectively? Like many have pointed out above we face not just low flying aircraft, but now UAVs, or drones or paragliders or whatever.
Is it that difficult? Is it cost against likelihood? Granted we couldn't do the whole UK but how about from the Lizard to the Wash, or Humber even?
Also what do the Israelis do? They must counter their threat somehow.
Is it that difficult? Is it cost against likelihood? Granted we couldn't do the whole UK but how about from the Lizard to the Wash, or Humber even?
Also what do the Israelis do? They must counter their threat somehow.
That airfields list gave me a nasty touch of nostalgia.
Looking down the list.......... served there on posting, served there on detachment, did a course there, tught there, did an inspection visit there, was a passenger from there/into there, got my kippers from there, drove past that in its heyday ...............
sic transit.
Looking down the list.......... served there on posting, served there on detachment, did a course there, tught there, did an inspection visit there, was a passenger from there/into there, got my kippers from there, drove past that in its heyday ...............
sic transit.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
HS, the difficulty we now face is exactly the same weakness that the Soviet Union faced 50 years ago and they reinforced their air policing with missiles. Remember Mathias Rust, now if anyone should have been intercepted it was he.
Now supposing we were warned of the departure of a light aircraft from Europe and were able to observe it approaching the UK at low level, then what? Would we scramble a QRA Interceptor?
Let us supposed we decided that option was too expensive and instead were content to track the aircraft overland. We see it alight at some farmer's strip or disused airfield - or even an active RAF airfield out of hours (it has been done) - now what?
We notify the civil police who send a car hot foot to the landing ground. Would they be in time? They can't stop hare coursers so what chance immigrants?
Now supposing we were warned of the departure of a light aircraft from Europe and were able to observe it approaching the UK at low level, then what? Would we scramble a QRA Interceptor?
Let us supposed we decided that option was too expensive and instead were content to track the aircraft overland. We see it alight at some farmer's strip or disused airfield - or even an active RAF airfield out of hours (it has been done) - now what?
We notify the civil police who send a car hot foot to the landing ground. Would they be in time? They can't stop hare coursers so what chance immigrants?
The Big Picture
Compared to the thousands of unprotected beaches, harbours, and quiet inlets that make up the UK the 'Airfield ' issues are small,and are in the main 'overseen' by users and the unofficial control of Spotters. who are quite expert at noticing strange happenings anywhere.
With precious few resources available for control of 'strips' and former military fields it is up to the GA fraternity to assist where possible, and ensure we keep our 'freedom' which is of considerable benefit to us all.
As for 'contact' with authorities if there is something to report do not mess about with e-mail or pay for numbers just do the 999 bit, it still works amazingly well, and response times can be very good when needed.The authorities are stretched and we need to protect the freedom we enjoy; its a win win situation.
With precious few resources available for control of 'strips' and former military fields it is up to the GA fraternity to assist where possible, and ensure we keep our 'freedom' which is of considerable benefit to us all.
As for 'contact' with authorities if there is something to report do not mess about with e-mail or pay for numbers just do the 999 bit, it still works amazingly well, and response times can be very good when needed.The authorities are stretched and we need to protect the freedom we enjoy; its a win win situation.
Why cant we monitor lower airspace for potential intruders more effectively? Like many have pointed out above we face not just low flying aircraft, but now UAVs, or drones or paragliders or whatever.
Is it that difficult? Is it cost against likelihood? Granted we couldn't do the whole UK but how about from the Lizard to the Wash, or Humber even?
Is it that difficult? Is it cost against likelihood? Granted we couldn't do the whole UK but how about from the Lizard to the Wash, or Humber even?
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I operate a light aircraft from a former WW2 airfield that has been deemed by the authorities as being " high risk " for illegal activities, just the fact that the authorities have considered the possibility shows that they have an eye on the situation.
There is far more monitoring of these sites than is obvious to the casual observer.
Aircraft spotters are an unusually good source of information for the police and should not be underestimated, it should be remembered that it was the spotters who some time back alerted the police to an illegal entry to LHR......... not airport security.
There is far more monitoring of these sites than is obvious to the casual observer.
Aircraft spotters are an unusually good source of information for the police and should not be underestimated, it should be remembered that it was the spotters who some time back alerted the police to an illegal entry to LHR......... not airport security.
W. E Johns wrote about this problem several times in the 50s and 60s. Those of us who grew up reading "Biggles" will remember many such stories.
Not a new problem, but with modern aircraft maybe a bigger problem than Johns envisaged all those years ago.
Not a new problem, but with modern aircraft maybe a bigger problem than Johns envisaged all those years ago.
Used to cycle up to nearby Seething as a teenager. We found mouldy belts of live machine gun ammunition in one building. It was never absolutely deserted, but we avoided contact with anyone as there was a feeling of no-man's land about the place.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
There was a Naval operation to report Warsaw Pact Shipping. There was a Freephone number for the spotters. Whilst 999 would work for the general public, for the aware a direct Freephone number would be good too, especially for after the event calls.
MPN 11
Strubby is an active twin site airfield with a well maintained 700m tarmac runway and two grass strips one glider one fixed wing.
James Bond (Daniel Craig) has a (not so) secret strip not so far away!!!!!
There must be half a dozen private strips within 20 miles of Strubby.
Strubby is an active twin site airfield with a well maintained 700m tarmac runway and two grass strips one glider one fixed wing.
James Bond (Daniel Craig) has a (not so) secret strip not so far away!!!!!
There must be half a dozen private strips within 20 miles of Strubby.
Last edited by ericferret; 12th Jan 2017 at 10:53.
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Daily Mail are still cracking on about similar, and how they flew into blighty without much in the way of checks or hassle.
Where there's a will there's a way, like all things.
SUE REID exposes how Britain's many small airfields are vulnerable to terrorists | Daily Mail Online
Goodnight.
Where there's a will there's a way, like all things.
SUE REID exposes how Britain's many small airfields are vulnerable to terrorists | Daily Mail Online
Goodnight.
Spotters
A and C Said
"I operate a light aircraft from a former WW2 airfield that has been deemed by the authorities as being " high risk " for illegal activities, just the fact that the authorities have considered the possibility shows that they have an eye on the situation.
There is far more monitoring of these sites than is obvious to the casual observer.
Aircraft spotters are an unusually good source of information for the police and should not be underestimated, it should be remembered that it was the spotters who some time back alerted the police to an illegal entry to LHR......... not airport security."
I've heard tales about their ability to track aircraft and esp unusual types around the UK in practically real time and also their vigilance with regard to remote old strips.
Are there any other examples? Should point out I'm not a journalist and just for curiosity
"I operate a light aircraft from a former WW2 airfield that has been deemed by the authorities as being " high risk " for illegal activities, just the fact that the authorities have considered the possibility shows that they have an eye on the situation.
There is far more monitoring of these sites than is obvious to the casual observer.
Aircraft spotters are an unusually good source of information for the police and should not be underestimated, it should be remembered that it was the spotters who some time back alerted the police to an illegal entry to LHR......... not airport security."
I've heard tales about their ability to track aircraft and esp unusual types around the UK in practically real time and also their vigilance with regard to remote old strips.
Are there any other examples? Should point out I'm not a journalist and just for curiosity