[JYO] Non-Aviation Media Trying To Discredit GA

Aero-News Alert: Non-Aviation Media Trying To Discredit GA
Thu, 12 Aug '04

American Association of Airport Executives issues alert, reports NBC trying
to set up GA facilities and FBO's Rebecca Morrison, Staff Vice President,
Transportation Security Policy Department at the American Association of
Airport Executives, has transmitted the following memo and requested widest
possible distribution:

The following is a description of an incident that occurred today (11 Aug)
at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, a large GA facility.  We are sharing
this story with you as there are indications that it might be repeated
throughout the country.  We would like to thank Bob McDaniel, the Director
at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, for sharing the details of the incident
outlined below.

Earlier today two Middle Eastern men attempted to penetrate our
security.  They telephoned one of my helicopter FBOs and asked about a
charter flight.  After discussion of price and directions to the business,
they arrived an hour later.  When the office agent asked how they were
going to pay for the flight they produced cash.  When asked for ID, they
produced driver's licenses from two different states and they were driving
a car licensed in a third state.

Things didn't smell right so the mechanic took them into the hangar to see
the aircraft while the office person called the FBI and local police.  The
helicopter they were going to fly was blocked in by other aircraft so the
mechanic was able to stall them by having to slowly shuffle the blocking
planes.  Meanwhile the two men got their backpacks and odd-shaped luggage
out of their car.  Soon the local police arrived and they were hauled off
to jail in handcuffs.

After a little time behind bars, the FBI verified that the two men were
employed by NBC New York and were on assignment to get a story of how easy
it is to charter a helicopter for a terrorist attack.  The men had stayed
in a local hotel and purchased box cutters, leather-man knives, and other
potential weapons at the local Wal-Mart using a credit card.  The box
cutters had been hidden in the lining at the bottom of the back packs and
the other weapons were hidden throughout their baggage.  They had
audiotaped the telephone conversation with Arlene and were going to use it
as part of a national news story about how easy it is to get information
and directions to the location of the helicopter and then hijack it to
commit a terrorist attack.

I doubt they will be back at our airport soon and this is a story that will
never be seen since they were caught.  A very "well-done" to my FBO and
staff and the local FBI and police response forces.  We have since learned
that we were the first airport where this had been attempted and NBC
planned to attempt similar penetration stories around the country.  Please
help me spread the word to other airports.

---

AOPA's annoyed:

<http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2004/040812watch.html>

Proof AOPA Airport Watch concepts work
Here's the proof that GA airports really are small communities and that the
"residents" know when something is amiss. Yesterday, alert folks at a
general aviation airport contacted authorities who nabbed two suspicious
characters before they could cause trouble.

"This incident demonstrates the validity of the Airport Watch concept,"
said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Vigilant pilots and airport workers make
the best security force because they know who does and doesn't belong at
the airport. They can easily spot the things that just don't seem right."

But there's more to this story, including a twist worthy of Paul Harvey.

The story begins as a man telephones an FBO at St. Louis Downtown Airport
(CPS), not far from the Gateway Arch, and asks about chartering a
helicopter. About an hour later, two men of Middle Eastern appearance walk
into the FBO, pull out cash to pay for the flight, and present driver's
licenses from two different states as ID. Office staff notices their car is
registered in a third state.

"Things just didn't smell right," said St. Louis Downtown Airport Director
Bob McDaniel, "so the mechanic took them into the hangar to see the
aircraft, while the office person called the FBI and local police."
(Airport Watch guidance says to call local police or the FBI if you suspect
an immediate threat to life or property.)

The helicopter was blocked by other aircraft, and the mechanic used that as
an excuse to stall the two suspects, who began unloading backpacks and
odd-shaped luggage from their car.

Local police arrived shortly and hauled the suspects off to jail in
handcuffs. Police discovered box cutters and other potential weapons hidden
in the bags.

And now (with apologies to Paul Harvey), the rest of the story.

After a little time behind bars, the two "terrorists" confessed that they
were NBC employees from New York. Their assignment: A story on how "easy"
it was to get information and directions to a helicopter and then hijack
it. St. Louis was their first attempt; the network reportedly planned
similar tries to penetrate security at airports around the country.

"Kudos to the folks in St. Louis for using the Airport Watch concept to
thwart this 'terrorist' attempt," said Boyer. "Praise, too, to the local
police for responding quickly and appropriately.

"And to NBC, we challenge you to put this story on the air, as you have
done so many anti-GA security references. But somehow, I don't think we'll
see it leading Nightly News." Aero-News Alert: Non-Aviation Media Trying To Discredit GA
Thu, 12 Aug '04

American Association of Airport Executives issues alert, reports NBC trying
to set up GA facilities and FBO's Rebecca Morrison, Staff Vice President,
Transportation Security Policy Department at the American Association of
Airport Executives, has transmitted the following memo and requested widest
possible distribution:

The following is a description of an incident that occurred today (11 Aug)
at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, a large GA facility.  We are sharing
this story with you as there are indications that it might be repeated
throughout the country.  We would like to thank Bob McDaniel, the Director
at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, for sharing the details of the incident
outlined below.

Earlier today two Middle Eastern men attempted to penetrate our
security.  They telephoned one of my helicopter FBOs and asked about a
charter flight.  After discussion of price and directions to the business,
they arrived an hour later.  When the office agent asked how they were
going to pay for the flight they produced cash.  When asked for ID, they
produced driver's licenses from two different states and they were driving
a car licensed in a third state.

Things didn't smell right so the mechanic took them into the hangar to see
the aircraft while the office person called the FBI and local police.  The
helicopter they were going to fly was blocked in by other aircraft so the
mechanic was able to stall them by having to slowly shuffle the blocking
planes.  Meanwhile the two men got their backpacks and odd-shaped luggage
out of their car.  Soon the local police arrived and they were hauled off
to jail in handcuffs.

After a little time behind bars, the FBI verified that the two men were
employed by NBC New York and were on assignment to get a story of how easy
it is to charter a helicopter for a terrorist attack.  The men had stayed
in a local hotel and purchased box cutters, leather-man knives, and other
potential weapons at the local Wal-Mart using a credit card.  The box
cutters had been hidden in the lining at the bottom of the back packs and
the other weapons were hidden throughout their baggage.  They had
audiotaped the telephone conversation with Arlene and were going to use it
as part of a national news story about how easy it is to get information
and directions to the location of the helicopter and then hijack it to
commit a terrorist attack.

I doubt they will be back at our airport soon and this is a story that will
never be seen since they were caught.  A very "well-done" to my FBO and
staff and the local FBI and police response forces.  We have since learned
that we were the first airport where this had been attempted and NBC
planned to attempt similar penetration stories around the country.  Please
help me spread the word to other airports.

---

AOPA's annoyed:

<http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2004/040812watch.html>

Proof AOPA Airport Watch concepts work
Here's the proof that GA airports really are small communities and that the
"residents" know when something is amiss. Yesterday, alert folks at a
general aviation airport contacted authorities who nabbed two suspicious
characters before they could cause trouble.

"This incident demonstrates the validity of the Airport Watch concept,"
said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Vigilant pilots and airport workers make
the best security force because they know who does and doesn't belong at
the airport. They can easily spot the things that just don't seem right."

But there's more to this story, including a twist worthy of Paul Harvey.

The story begins as a man telephones an FBO at St. Louis Downtown Airport
(CPS), not far from the Gateway Arch, and asks about chartering a
helicopter. About an hour later, two men of Middle Eastern appearance walk
into the FBO, pull out cash to pay for the flight, and present driver's
licenses from two different states as ID. Office staff notices their car is
registered in a third state.

"Things just didn't smell right," said St. Louis Downtown Airport Director
Bob McDaniel, "so the mechanic took them into the hangar to see the
aircraft, while the office person called the FBI and local police."
(Airport Watch guidance says to call local police or the FBI if you suspect
an immediate threat to life or property.)

The helicopter was blocked by other aircraft, and the mechanic used that as
an excuse to stall the two suspects, who began unloading backpacks and
odd-shaped luggage from their car.

Local police arrived shortly and hauled the suspects off to jail in
handcuffs. Police discovered box cutters and other potential weapons hidden
in the bags.

And now (with apologies to Paul Harvey), the rest of the story.

After a little time behind bars, the two "terrorists" confessed that they
were NBC employees from New York. Their assignment: A story on how "easy"
it was to get information and directions to a helicopter and then hijack
it. St. Louis was their first attempt; the network reportedly planned
similar tries to penetrate security at airports around the country.

"Kudos to the folks in St. Louis for using the Airport Watch concept to
thwart this 'terrorist' attempt," said Boyer. "Praise, too, to the local
police for responding quickly and appropriately.

"And to NBC, we challenge you to put this story on the air, as you have
done so many anti-GA security references. But somehow, I don't think we'll
see it leading Nightly News."
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