Warbird Information Exchange

You missed the memo for Public Education in America, circa 1980:

"Common Sense and sense of proportion to be removed from students minds at ALL COSTS."

Rich

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

I work security for a private company as a second job (a dreaded rent-a-cop). I'll be devil's advocate here. If the officer had guidelines to follow he HAD to do things a certain way. A simple misunderstanding can quickly be blown out of proportion if an area is supposed to be secure and anyone there is a suspect, the officer is unaware when he arrives on the scene that you are a harmless aviation buff. Some of the rules governing areas at sites are there for peoples protection and not just to be restrictive for the sake of it. That said, it is my company's policy to remove the person and redirect them UNLESS they resist, so my solution would have been to drive out in the pickup and move the person to a safe or legal spot, politely. Once you start argueing about it with me I am forced to investigate the truth and get it verified by the person that gave you that permission, however long that takes, and you will be detained until it's verified. Unfortunately there are a lot of guards out there, and TSA, and law enforcement, that get a power trip out of it. You never know which one you will get!
Best solution is to get it in writing.
I do however, agree that the restrictions are way out of line with the danger. I miss being a railbird.

If only he had a few doughnuts, could have bought him enough time to get his pics and then moved along peaceably!
Security just doing his job, a bit aggressively perhaps, but a breakdown in communications with those who gave permission. One can't have people roaming loose in active air areas of an airport. Should have been handled differently on both sides of the issue.

I woulda told him, "Hey what's the big deal? It's just a LB-30A!!!!"

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Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

I agree wholeheartedly, but a little profiling would go a long way here; Addison Airport (fer god's sake, not DFW!) + B-24 giving rides + nerd with an expensive camera with big lens = Not likely a terrorist bent on the wanton destruction of human life... I wasn't there, but I just don't see the imminent danger that requires calling for the Spanish Inquisition. Ooooooh! He's going to be reported to the TSA!

This whole country is going to he!! in a handbasket. I want to move to someplace like New Zealand. It's probably another 10 years away from being totally ruined by corrupt politicians.

I went airport bummin' here in Omaha, Ne. at a G.A. airport on the SW side of town, right off the I-80....After driving around the chain-linked compound, I finally found the entrance to the FBO there...I probably could/should have been arrested for bob-tailing in my Freightliner/large car...to get there, I had to drive on a weight restricted road...Gross weight allowed....#6000.....large-car.....#18000...

Since I didn't arrive by metal or composite bird, the locals there watched me like I was a known shoplifter...I went back to my truck and put on my PV hat with the N-numbers on it...Then the hammers were un-cocked.

The feeling that I got as I was leaving was, Man, if I was a kid in today's world, after seeing how all these airports are, I think I would hate airplanes....Sad feeling

Several years ago, I was doing a story on the CEO of Scott's, Jim Hagedorn. I went out to Port Columbus, the main commercial airport here, to shoot some images of him with the aircraft he commutes in. His aviation background was a big part of the story because he is, among other things, a former USAF F16 jockey.

THe happy coincidence of the day was when I learned that after our shoot, he was flying up to Jack Roush's in Michigan to pick up his newest acquisition...Old Crow (the D model). After talking a bit, we decided that I'd come back out and shoot his first landing in Columbus as Mustang owner.

I can promise you that, even with an escort, I made sure that we had clearance and that everyone who needed to know knew why we were there. As I suggested some of that, their maintenance chief kept saying 'good idea', and told me that he never would have thought to make an extra call about this big white lens stopping on the tarmac because he drove there all the time.

My point is, if I'm going somewhere to shoot something, it's MY responsibility to be sure I'm where I'm supposed to be.

THe overanxious/eager security guy in this incident never gets the chance to be oeveranxious if the photographer follows through on his due diligence first.

And for what it's worth, lots of photogs for small weeklies and entertainment rags are just starting out, make mebbe $25 per assignment, and are still learning their trade. It's entirely possible that he was out there with no more than any other hobbyshooter might have, and therefore not looking any more professional than anyone else out there.

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

Or he was out there taking pictures because he likes the plane. Not everyone takes photos to sell.
In this case, it is a case of, Bad Cop, No Doughnut !

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

The clear lesson here is that we must make it our business to know the rules, and to obey them. Period. It doesn't matter whether we like the rules or not, or whether we think they're silly or restrictive or "USSR-like". If we wish to snap our photos, we simply must comply. End of story.

If we don't like the rules, then we must write our lawmakers and tell them so.

Cheers,

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

there is no way to know the rules, when they are not public knowlage, alot of FARs were pulled from the FAR books and transfered to the TSA

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Not to beat a dead horse here, but there IS a way to know the rules in this situation.

Point to a space while standing with an official, and ask if you can shoot from there.

Matt, I have to admit I'm puzzled here. The guy broke the rules by his own admission. I'm not saying the security guy wasn't WAY over the top, but the simple fact is that the photog was where he shouldn't have been. Why are you not including him in the responsibility for the incident?

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

Probably TSA fatigue. It's not very hard to get.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Ryan, you may be absolutely right. I just know that, since it's part of my job NOT to get into those situations, it's my fault if I do, so maybe that's why I see it the way I do.

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

Some of us (I think) feel it's only a matter of time before they try to prevent you from flying on your own personally-owned aircraft - if things continue to progress. Also, it's getting harder to go to a big airport as a little guy if you don't have a badge for every little place you go - oh, and if you just get "suspected" of being a terrorist (and you know that plenty of people have wrongfully gotten on that list), it looks as though they'd like to take away more of your rights. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/22/ ... index.html

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

I don't know the rules. I do know that crossing a busy taxiway towards an airport's only runway carrying something is a big no-no. Addison is not the typical small airport. It is very busy with a lot of take-offs and landings. I cannot recall a time when there wasn't a line of planes waiting their turn to take off.

I don't live in Addison, I don't work for the city of Addison, I have no reason to comment, other than familiarity with the area. Years ago, I took a wrong turn while they were setting up for the Dallas Grand Prix at the airport and found myself cruising down the runway. That was kind of scary.

Due to the makeup of the city, the police in Addison are the envy of all the nearby cities. And since the airport takes up more than half of the city they are all familiar with it.

Turns out they didn't pull guns on the guy, didn't rough him up and didn't arrest him. He admitted he was in the wrong and isn't holding it against them (if you know the Dallas Observer, that is a bigger news story than the trespassing). It looks like the only way that TSA is involved is the report that will have to be filed with them.

I rarely miss an opportunity to go after government encroachment into citizens lives, but this time, I just don't see it.