Hoax ATC Messages
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Join Date: Dec 2001
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Hoax ATC Messages
Hi All,
Keep an eye on the Radiocommunications Agency's website <a href="http://www.radio.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.radio.gov.uk</a> for a press release on a hoax ATC caller in Scotland fined £3000 GBP for giving false messages to pilots. If its reported they can now be traced!!
Keep an eye on the Radiocommunications Agency's website <a href="http://www.radio.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.radio.gov.uk</a> for a press release on a hoax ATC caller in Scotland fined £3000 GBP for giving false messages to pilots. If its reported they can now be traced!!
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Sorry - it's not as simple as that.
Just because an incident is reported, it doesn't necessarily lead to tracing every time.
The Telecomuncations agency don't have the facility to trace every mallicious transmission.
Things are improving, but if a transmission is isolated or within a short space of time it makes it very difficult to trace.
Shame the sentences aren't mandatory jail terms.
Just because an incident is reported, it doesn't necessarily lead to tracing every time.
The Telecomuncations agency don't have the facility to trace every mallicious transmission.
Things are improving, but if a transmission is isolated or within a short space of time it makes it very difficult to trace.
Shame the sentences aren't mandatory jail terms.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Forgive me, but I have never heard of this kind of criminal activity in the US. I have two questions, firstly; just how commonplace are these false instructions? And secondly; how can the punishment for such an act be set at a mere fine?
Join Date: Sep 1999
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The guy in question made the transmissions from his house in my home town. I disagree that he should be locked up / fined £30,000, he made no transmissions of a hoax nature and simply put out requests to chat to overflights on a nominated discreet frequency.
I think he was too thick to realise airband frequencies aren't like CB's. No safety compromise intended; just a sad geeky enthusiast.
I think he was too thick to realise airband frequencies aren't like CB's. No safety compromise intended; just a sad geeky enthusiast.
Join Date: Nov 2001
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quote .....
Although it is not illegal to sell, buy or own a scanning or other receiver in the UK, it must only be used to listen to transmissions meant for GENERAL RECEPTION. The services that you can listen to include Amateur and Citizens' Band transmissions, licensed broadcast radio and weather and navigation broadcasts.
It is an offence to listen to any other radio services unless you are authorised by a designated person to do so.
end of quote
the above quote is taken from the web add'y quoted above .... as a matter of interest does this mean that all U.K. plane spotters using a radio to pick up ATC messages are operating outside of the law?
Although it is not illegal to sell, buy or own a scanning or other receiver in the UK, it must only be used to listen to transmissions meant for GENERAL RECEPTION. The services that you can listen to include Amateur and Citizens' Band transmissions, licensed broadcast radio and weather and navigation broadcasts.
It is an offence to listen to any other radio services unless you are authorised by a designated person to do so.
end of quote
the above quote is taken from the web add'y quoted above .... as a matter of interest does this mean that all U.K. plane spotters using a radio to pick up ATC messages are operating outside of the law?
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Kiltie .... in reference to my sugestion of a stg 30,000.00 fine, I am thinking in terms of malicious calls and seem to remember false instructions actually being relayed to an aircraft on approach, from a guy pretending to be the Tower ..... in such a case I hope we would all agree penalties should be harsh
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thanks for the quick answer EGCC ..... and to all the people in Greece ...... I'm sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy for thinking of you so badly over the Spotter problem .....
has anyone told David "P" that he's got a million or two people to send to jail next week ...... this is going to make the party in Greece look like playtime .....
has anyone told David "P" that he's got a million or two people to send to jail next week ...... this is going to make the party in Greece look like playtime .....
Join Date: Jan 2001
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His radio equipment could (and SHOULD) be impounded and his operating licence revoked - always assuming he had a licence in the first place. His actions give those of us trying to do their RAE a bad name. Unfortunately radio equipment is all too easily available to anyone who fancies owning it. I feel that radio equipment capable of transmitting should only be available for purchase to those who can produce the relevant licence. <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">
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The answer to many of these problems would be the banning of the sale of transmitters to other than those properly licensed to use them. When anyone can walk into a "pilot shop" and buy an airband transceiver we don't stand a chance.. and I speak as a controller who has had to compete with one of these hooligans on a busy Heathrow frequency.
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There are, or were radio receivers available which would, legally, pick up the airband frequencies but were incapable of transmission. I was lent one of these when my mum was visiting so that she could enjoy her favourite hobby of watching the comings and goings at LBA. The sound quality was not wonderful but was good enough to be able to hear which aircraft was approaching (all I needed to keep mum happy) as well as hearing some of the less official transmissions such as "Anyone know who won the golf?" reply -"Sorry, I'm a cricket man myself" Well what did he expect in Yorkshire?! But I digress. Like Heathrow Director I too feel that only properly licensed people should be able to purchase these transmitters. This is one time when public safety should override the civil liberty of being able to purchase anything you fancy.
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Innuendo- I am aware that it has happened in the US and the FCC + FAA have worked together to catch people.
Kiltie- Even putting out a "simple" request means a pilot could miss a proper instruction, so it's serious no matter what is transmitted.
Also in the UK you can be fined + sent to jail, but it is upto the courts to decide what sentence you recieve.
Kiltie- Even putting out a "simple" request means a pilot could miss a proper instruction, so it's serious no matter what is transmitted.
Also in the UK you can be fined + sent to jail, but it is upto the courts to decide what sentence you recieve.
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Hi All;
In response primarily to DX Wombat, there are many many scanners available on the open market which receive all civil and military aircraft transmissions, all of which, as has been mentioned previously are legal to own without any permit.It is a grey area concerning airband listening.By the letter of the law, yes it is illegal but nobody, including the police or any governing bodies here in the UK act upon said law. I have been led to believe that it is ok to listen but illegal "to act upon information received". I'm sure you are aware that it is also possible to buy or download programs that decode your ACARS transmissions? Ideal for the spotters who like to tie up the flyovers!
As for the brain dead idiots who procure airband transmitting radios and go on to use them, then I would think that £3000.00 is a too light a sentence and a custodial sentence should be considered. It is quite possible to buy said radios on the internet, on the several auction web-sites where I'm sure nobody is being asked for their licences.
In response primarily to DX Wombat, there are many many scanners available on the open market which receive all civil and military aircraft transmissions, all of which, as has been mentioned previously are legal to own without any permit.It is a grey area concerning airband listening.By the letter of the law, yes it is illegal but nobody, including the police or any governing bodies here in the UK act upon said law. I have been led to believe that it is ok to listen but illegal "to act upon information received". I'm sure you are aware that it is also possible to buy or download programs that decode your ACARS transmissions? Ideal for the spotters who like to tie up the flyovers!
As for the brain dead idiots who procure airband transmitting radios and go on to use them, then I would think that £3000.00 is a too light a sentence and a custodial sentence should be considered. It is quite possible to buy said radios on the internet, on the several auction web-sites where I'm sure nobody is being asked for their licences.
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[quote] As for the brain dead idiots who procure airband transmitting radios and go on to use them, then I would think that £3000.00 is a too light a sentence and a custodial sentence should be considered. It is quite possible to buy said radios on the internet, on the several auction web-sites where I'm sure nobody is being asked for their licences. <hr></blockquote>
Do you think these dickheads actually buy the equipment?? I think not. Most likely these are stolen from light aircraft at low security airfields.
Do you think these dickheads actually buy the equipment?? I think not. Most likely these are stolen from light aircraft at low security airfields.
