hijack code requested by US Immigration.
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hijack code requested by US Immigration.
one of these freaking US immigration officers asked me what was the hijack transponder code?I think he was just curious.
do they have the right to ask?
do I have the right to answer?
do they have the right to ask?
do I have the right to answer?
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They have no right to ask. If he/she NEEDED to know (I can't imagine why), then he/she would know from their own official sources.
You are compelled to NOT answer such a question.
Regards,
Old Smokey
You are compelled to NOT answer such a question.
Regards,
Old Smokey
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And what did you reply???
I suppose technically you don’t need to answer, but if the immigration officer had ever heard of Google, then he didn’t need to ask anyone!!!
I suppose his request was innocent as I take it he knew what a transponder was and that there is a designated code for hijacks!!
I suppose technically you don’t need to answer, but if the immigration officer had ever heard of Google, then he didn’t need to ask anyone!!!
I suppose his request was innocent as I take it he knew what a transponder was and that there is a designated code for hijacks!!
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Last edited by 742; 6th Dec 2006 at 02:58. Reason: Well founded paranoia. little W is great.
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-I told him the code because the officer in question was standing close of an officer who was working in one of my ex-US company in avionic.
it is not like I was revealing the secret to how to hijack a plane, but answering to a federal officer who was curious about the code in question, or he was just playing with me. (their usual tricky game to see if you lie to them)and google it to find the code...
These guys usually think the entire world want come to the USA to stay and eat burgers all life!
I told him, I have a better job in Europe or even can get one in China,
and I did't see why I should work in the USA as a pilot and be on their food stamp program for the rest of my life...
after lowering his patriotism mind and explaining him 2-3 facts about how bad is the USA, he let me go and stamped my entrance card.
He didn't tell me their famous"welcome in America"...(Instead he runed to the restroom to
)
it is not like I was revealing the secret to how to hijack a plane, but answering to a federal officer who was curious about the code in question, or he was just playing with me. (their usual tricky game to see if you lie to them)and google it to find the code...
These guys usually think the entire world want come to the USA to stay and eat burgers all life!
I told him, I have a better job in Europe or even can get one in China,
and I did't see why I should work in the USA as a pilot and be on their food stamp program for the rest of my life...
after lowering his patriotism mind and explaining him 2-3 facts about how bad is the USA, he let me go and stamped my entrance card.
He didn't tell me their famous"welcome in America"...(Instead he runed to the restroom to
)
Last edited by dartagnan; 6th Dec 2006 at 11:37.
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I told him, I have a better job in Europe or even can get one in China,
and I did't see why I should work in the USA as a pilot and be on their food stamp program for the rest of my life...
after lowering his patriotism mind and explaining him 2-3 facts about how bad is the USA, he let me go and stamped my entrance card.
He didn't tell me their famous"welcome in America"...(Instead he runed to the restroom to )
and I did't see why I should work in the USA as a pilot and be on their food stamp program for the rest of my life...
after lowering his patriotism mind and explaining him 2-3 facts about how bad is the USA, he let me go and stamped my entrance card.
He didn't tell me their famous"welcome in America"...(Instead he runed to the restroom to
)
You know you shouldn't keep all those facts about 'how bad the USA is' a secret. I mean we cannot change the country to fit your standards without knowing exactly what is wrong with the USA according to you. So why don't you compile a list and post here or in "Jet Blast" so we can better accommodate you and address your issues on what all that is bad in the USA.
I noticed that you listed your location as EU. What perfect country are you from? Or is just the EU now, no more countries?
Perhaps with attitudes like yours I somewhat understand why some custom and immigration officials have a poor attitude when dealing with some people.
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hi con-pilot,
I think they have start first to harass me for no good reason and I think I had the right to defend myself as I don't have the right of an attorney.
I came as a tourist to see a friend and to spend some money to rent an aircraft and fly some hours in the US.
They start to harass me more and more, open my wallet, my bags, ask me questions like where you go?, why do you come here?,how many bags have you?, how long I was staying here?how many hours do you want fly here, can I see your logbook, do you have a flirt ?...(their questions was more and more embarrassing). By chance I was not tired and I had no problem to answer to their questions.
as I don't have anything to lose in the USA and I know my rights with my US visa(I can get an hearing within 6-12 months with a US immigration judge) , I told them the true reason of my visit to the USA. They called my friend to see if I was telling the truth.(I carry a phone number in my passport for this reason).
at the end of this little conversation of 20-25 minutes, I had my little revenge by telling them why I don't intend to stay, work, or live in the USA and I want get out of this country as fast as I came in(the only thing I like in the USA : I can rent a plane at 60-70$/hour) .
He stamped my entrance card for 90 days...then finally he asked me the transponder code and I replied kindly and then I left with a nice"Ok guys, have a good one!!!!".
I think they have start first to harass me for no good reason and I think I had the right to defend myself as I don't have the right of an attorney.
I came as a tourist to see a friend and to spend some money to rent an aircraft and fly some hours in the US.
They start to harass me more and more, open my wallet, my bags, ask me questions like where you go?, why do you come here?,how many bags have you?, how long I was staying here?how many hours do you want fly here, can I see your logbook, do you have a flirt ?...(their questions was more and more embarrassing). By chance I was not tired and I had no problem to answer to their questions.
as I don't have anything to lose in the USA and I know my rights with my US visa(I can get an hearing within 6-12 months with a US immigration judge) , I told them the true reason of my visit to the USA. They called my friend to see if I was telling the truth.(I carry a phone number in my passport for this reason).
at the end of this little conversation of 20-25 minutes, I had my little revenge by telling them why I don't intend to stay, work, or live in the USA and I want get out of this country as fast as I came in(the only thing I like in the USA : I can rent a plane at 60-70$/hour) .
He stamped my entrance card for 90 days...then finally he asked me the transponder code and I replied kindly and then I left with a nice"Ok guys, have a good one!!!!".
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erm - what are you worried about exactly?
Their job is to assess your attitude and judge whether you are telling the truth about being in the country for a legal purpose.
Asking a question which (a) he may have known about, as he could have been a pilot as well, and (b) he could easily use to judge whether you were a pilot or not in reality, is hardly being rude or offensive.
They are supposed to engage with you in brief convesation nowadays, in order to judge your character, so why not just answer the damn question politely, and have a pleasant chat with another human being.
I can't understand some people's overly defensive attitudes to be honest!
Their job is to assess your attitude and judge whether you are telling the truth about being in the country for a legal purpose.
Asking a question which (a) he may have known about, as he could have been a pilot as well, and (b) he could easily use to judge whether you were a pilot or not in reality, is hardly being rude or offensive.
They are supposed to engage with you in brief convesation nowadays, in order to judge your character, so why not just answer the damn question politely, and have a pleasant chat with another human being.
I can't understand some people's overly defensive attitudes to be honest!
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Agree with Lucifer entirely.
I have entered the US for work - they now engage with you in order to determine why you are coming into the country. Far better than the dismissive and rude pencil-pusher attitude they used to have.
Some people seem to be angling for arguments these days...
I have entered the US for work - they now engage with you in order to determine why you are coming into the country. Far better than the dismissive and rude pencil-pusher attitude they used to have.
Some people seem to be angling for arguments these days...
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Entering USA
I fly to the USA a couple of times a year on vacation, as my older daughter lives there (and is married to a local cop). As a Brit, I go under the "visa waiver program" (very nice,but technically they can send you straight back again if they don't like the look of your face - no arguments, no rights!) I've been doing this on a regular basis since well before "911".
I've been working in the Middle-East for around 20 years, and my passport is usually crammed with various Arab States visas, and understandably I am usually asked about this - no problem - and what I do in the Middle-East - "Sell American golf course mowers". This used to get a chuckle from the immigration guy, but nowadays I only get asked why I'm there, and pulled out for a more detailed investigation,and a full hand-search of my baggage.
First of all, I would have thought that the amazing computer system that scans my fingerprints and retina would be able to tell the guys that I go roughly every six months and have never been a problem during my visits?
Secondly, the last time (Christmas) I mentioned to the lady immigration/TSA (not sure which) type that "I suppose this is because of the Arab visas in my passport" (after they finally let me go) and her reply was "Well sir, you should worry if we don't check people with Arab stamps". If I were a British-converted-islamic-terrorist bound to cause mayhem; then surely I'd have made sure I had a clean passport before I went?!
I should add that I have at all times been polite to the guys (remembering that they can chuck me straight out if I'm not!) - and they have always been polite and courteous to me. It's just a pain in the **** every damned trip and a half-hour delay getting out of the airport for what would appear to me to be "displaying security", rather than "real security". I certainly don't feel reassured by their logic!
(and did I mention the "random extra screening"of my bags at LGW??)
