NBC is attempting to demonstrate vulnerability of GA airports

The following was sent to me by our local EAA chapter. Please forward
it to those who need to know.

Corky Scott


Subject: [NBAA-avmgr] Attempted Security Breach at St. Louis Downtown
Airport
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 14:21:04 -0400


The American Association of Airport Executives sent a security notice
to its members August 11 that described an attempted GA facility
breach by a network news agency.

In an effort to show allegedly lax security procedures, NBC News
attempted to penetrate a charter helicopter operation at St. Louis
Downtown Airport. The attempt was thwarted and the individuals were
apprehended.

Though this breach of security was stopped, NBC and other news
agencies may attempt to repeat their efforts at other facilities
around the country. Operators must continue to be vigilant against
security breaches by news agencies "testing the waters" and, more
importantly, actual terrorist organizations or individuals intent on
doing harm.

Operators everywhere are reminded to review their security procedures
and reinforce their security policies. NBAA Members should review the
TSA's Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports
(http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/e...orial_1113.xml) and
NBAA's Best Practices for Business Aviation Security
(http://web.nbaa.org/public/ops/security/bestpractices/). Any
suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the Airport
Watch Hotline at (866) GA SECURE.

See below for an account of the August 11 incident provided by the
director of the St. Louis Downtown Airport.

Regards,

Berty Damato
NBAA Operations Service Group
__________________________________________

"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."

Any legal beagles out there care to comment on if these guys can be
prosecuted for anything even though they were hired by NBC? This stuff
really ****es me off--escpecially since we KNOW NBC won't air a story about
how WELL this FBO did in averting an apparent terrorist strike.

Marco


"Corky Scott" wrote in message
...
The following was sent to me by our local EAA chapter. Please forward
it to those who need to know.

Corky Scott


Subject: [NBAA-avmgr] Attempted Security Breach at St. Louis Downtown
Airport
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 14:21:04 -0400


The American Association of Airport Executives sent a security notice
to its members August 11 that described an attempted GA facility
breach by a network news agency.

In an effort to show allegedly lax security procedures, NBC News
attempted to penetrate a charter helicopter operation at St. Louis
Downtown Airport. The attempt was thwarted and the individuals were
apprehended.

Though this breach of security was stopped, NBC and other news
agencies may attempt to repeat their efforts at other facilities
around the country. Operators must continue to be vigilant against
security breaches by news agencies "testing the waters" and, more
importantly, actual terrorist organizations or individuals intent on
doing harm.

Operators everywhere are reminded to review their security procedures
and reinforce their security policies. NBAA Members should review the
TSA's Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports
(http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/e...orial_1113.xml) and
NBAA's Best Practices for Business Aviation Security
(http://web.nbaa.org/public/ops/security/bestpractices/). Any
suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the Airport
Watch Hotline at (866) GA SECURE.

See below for an account of the August 11 incident provided by the
director of the St. Louis Downtown Airport.

Regards,

Berty Damato
NBAA Operations Service Group
__________________________________________

"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."

Isn't this the same type of action one of the networks (NBC?) tried a
few years ago concerning chickens at a grocery chain?

Marco Leon wrote:

-- escpecially since we KNOW NBC won't air a story about
how WELL this FBO did in averting an apparent terrorist strike.

Actually they did do that. Check the last paragraph of the story on AOPA's home page.

George Patterson
If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
he gives it to.

Gary Drescher wrote:

"Mike" wrote in message
hlink.net...
HOWEVER...unless the reporters informed the employee of the FBO that they
were taping the telephone conversation, they would appear to be guilty of
conducting an unlawful wiretap - a Federal offense (they failed to mention
the wiretap in the story).

Are you sure? According to the RCFP, "The federal wiretap law, passed in
1968, permits surreptitious recording of conversations when one party
consents, 'unless such communication is intercepted for the purpose of
committing any criminal or tortious act in violation of the Constitution or
laws of the United States or of any State.'" They cite 18 U.S.C. § 2510 et
seq. (1999) (Wire and Electronic Communications Interception and
Interception of Oral Communications).

There are numerous statues concerning wiretaps. Generally, for federal
purposes, if one party of the conversation (e.g. the caller) has given consent,
recording is ok.

Some states have statues that require all parties to give consent to recording.

"Jenna" wrote in message ...
Some states have statues that require all parties to give consent to
recording.

Yup, but not Missouri.

Ya know, Middle Eastern-looking men just can't seem to get any respect
around airports anymore these days... g

I kinda wish the law would throw the book at the two reporters for
attempting to smuggle weapons aboard a charter aircraft, regardless of
their actual intent, exactly the same way as if they would have been
attempting to bring the weapons into the passenger boarding area of a
big airport to stupidly try to "test the security" there.

"Fed Up w/Liberal Media" wrote in message
...
I kinda wish the law would throw the book at the two reporters for
attempting to smuggle weapons aboard a charter aircraft,

Is there a law against bringing sharp tools aboard a charter aircraft?

--Gary

Completely OT from Piloting...

I was Googling for some more information about that airport, and came across
this very interesting virtual tour of East St. Louis:

http://www.builtstlouis.net/eaststlouis/eaststl00.html

--
Ben
C-172 - N13258 @ 87Y

"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
news:mV1Tc.300358$XM6.41084@attbi_s53...
"Fed Up w/Liberal Media" wrote in message
...
I kinda wish the law would throw the book at the two reporters for
attempting to smuggle weapons aboard a charter aircraft,

Is there a law against bringing sharp tools aboard a charter aircraft?

Of course not.