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  • Plane Spotters ARRESTED in Delhi

    http://www.bangaloreaviation.com/201...rested-in.html

    Stephen Hampston (46) and Steve Martin (55) were detained in their fourth floor room of the Radisson hotel at Mahipalpur right opposite runway 11-29 at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, for indulging in "suspicious" activities.

    Police sources said the duo, who were suspected to be tracking the movement of flights arriving and departing from the international airport, were allegedly in possession of powerful binoculars and other sophisticated equipment. As most Bangalore Aviation readers know, spotters use high power binoculars, telescopes and camera lenses. The Duo was also using the AirNav RadarBox which is a Real Time Virtual Radar using ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) radar signals. Just like scanners for audio broadcast, the box is only a receiver and projects a virtual image of the ATC radar screen and most of the security agencies involved in the investigation have given clearance to the software.
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  • #2
    Hmm... Interesting. Have there been any developments at all? Have they been charged?
    Seeing the world with a 3:2 aspect ratio...

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    • #3
      I sent information on spotting and its beneficial aspects to the major newspapers in Delhi. Hindustan Times, Times of India, and Dainik Bhaskar.

      HT has printed a weak article
      http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Def...375515A55773D.

      TOI appears better

      http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=T

      Why did these two not contact the API. We are the only officially recognised spotting group in India and would have advised them as well as introduced them to some spotters in Delhi.

      With the security situation so tense thanks to the recent bombing, why did they decide to use the RadarBox is beyond me. As Brits did they not recall the post 7/7 paranoia ?

      Last edited by BangaloreAviation; 2010-02-17, 09:25.

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      • #4
        As Brits did they not recall the post 7/7 paranoia ?

        And what pray was this? There was no detaining of plane spotters or Photographers after this event. If there were it would be exactly what the perpetrators of these events would want..

        Can't comment of what happens in India but there was no clamp down on spotting in the UK after 7/7.

        Graham

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        • #5
          Originally posted by greekspy2001 View Post
          As Brits did they not recall the post 7/7 paranoia?

          And what pray was this? There was no detaining of plane spotters or Photographers after this event. If there were it would be exactly what the perpetrators of these events would want..

          Can't comment of what happens in India but there was no clamp down on spotting in the UK after 7/7.

          Graham
          Graham, please read my article. http://www.bangaloreaviation.com/201...rested-in.html Spotting is still in the closet in India even during normal times. The Pune bomb blasts were just a few days ago and Delhi is one of the cities specifically identified as a potential city. Paranoia is high.

          Add to this the fact that these two locked themselves in the room with a DND sign for more than a day, and mix in a scanner and the AirNav RadarBox and it is obvious that a security ignorant of spotting as a hobby will go nuts.

          With regards to security and spotting. Even in India there is no clampdown. At Bangalore, we are officially recognised and we are spotting as normal. I just cannot figure out why Stephen and Steve did not contact us (we have a group on JP) so that we could introduce them to Delhi spotters.

          I have spotted at LHR in December along with Azizul Islam. Thanks to his long beard and the fact we are both South Asian origin we have been questioned. The white spotters were not. Not that it offended me. I was happy that the police were on their toes, but let us not denude ourselves. We pay and expect security officers to be suspicious and keep us protected. Unfortunately in India they are ignorant of spotting, so large tele-photos, telescopes, scanners, and Virtual ATC freaks them out.

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          • #6
            As I said I cannot comment on India.

            However was commenting on the phrase you put about paranoia in the UK which IMHO simply didn't happen. Yes things did go on a higher security alert but planespotting didn't stop. You say you were questioned, I have had that in the UK and other parts of the world. Once they found out what I was doing they let me carry on, guess this happened to you. Neither you or I were detained.

            Even had the local police round the house after a visit to RAF Fairford. He was rather embarrassed to do it, but the RAF Police had noted my car reg. and had reported it so he had to visit. We both agreed it was a waste of his time.

            So please don't equate what happen in Delhi to what happens here.

            Graham
            PS Yes I have used my Radarbox in Hotel rooms..........

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            • #7
              I'm a member The Aviation Enthusiasts Security Scheme ( TAESS ) here in the UK. Rather than me typing on, go to this link for more information on this scheme. http://www.taess.org.uk/

              Airport authorities need to understand that the spotters, aviation photographers....call them what you will, have a deep interest in maintaining security around our airports. They are probably the single most effective group around for this and would know the difference between a genuine spotter and someone up to no good almost immediately. Police patrol airports but are very conspicuous in their marked cars and don't get to be all around the airport all of the time anyway. The groups of spotters stay in one place and form a deterrent simply by being there. No terrorist is going to hang around to be "spotted" !!, especially by a group of people armed with high end photographic equipment.
              My TAESS ID card had proven useful in the past, both in the UK and abroad. We are not only issued with an ID but also a printed booklet in major world languages explaining what we do. I can only urge local spotters to make contact with the police and/or security agencies in their area and make an attempt at forming groups such as the TAESS.
              If it 'ain't broken........ Don't try to mend it !

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              • #8
                I don't agree for the need for Airport watches/Airport Groups in the UK. Still a liberal at heart and don't feel the need to get approval for something that is perfectly legal here. Would hate the day when you need to get official sanction to go spotting/photographing and see this as the start. Can't imagine being unable to go to XXX airport because I'm not a member of the local group.

                Off my soap box now as I know other will disagree. As you can see it is close to my heart.... why? Clue Greece 2001

                So sorry Brian won't be joining today

                Graham

                PS Ofcourse being a free country one can have a different opinion and join those groups

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                • #9
                  I'm not saying that there should be a NEED for such groups but from personal experience they certainly help. It's much the same as belonging to a "Spotters Club", it gets you access sometimes to places that you can't normally go.
                  If it 'ain't broken........ Don't try to mend it !

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                  • #10
                    There are some places on my list that i have decided NEVER EVER to go spotting. India is on top of my list. I have no desire of going through what these two gentlemen are going through right now.

                    UK definitely has the right mind-set when they say that spotters are the best to know of suspicious activity. Its extremely hard to convince the US authorities to follow that approach.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by saupatel View Post
                      ....UK definitely has the right mind-set when they say that spotters are the best to know of suspicious activity....
                      ....unless you go to Gatwick !! They don't mind you hanging around...but don't try to park a car on the perimeter road and don't go up to the fence.
                      Gatwick police do not have a sense of humour !!!
                      If it 'ain't broken........ Don't try to mend it !

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by BangaloreAviation View Post
                        I have spotted at LHR in December along with Azizul Islam. Thanks to his long beard and the fact we are both South Asian origin we have been questioned.
                        Hi Devesh - I don't recall us being questioned on those two particular days. I was a bit weary when we were on top of T5 and the police car passed by us, but if I recall correctly they never came round to us. You might have confused some other occasion with someone else.

                        It's may be because all the cops around LHR know me by now - "the crazy guy with a name like mine and have a beard and still a plane spotter".

                        But that just shows what good fortune we have here. Yes the police/scotland yard have been to my house but I don't mind that and it shows that they were doing their job properly. They were very nice and understanding about it too.

                        I am enrolled to the Aviation Enthusiat's Scheme run by the Heathrow police and have found that ID to be helpful not only at LHR but other UK and foreign airports too. I understand why some of my friends don't agree to this (due to civil rights and free country etc.) but I choose to have it due to my appearance (and of course due to endless nagging from my better half )
                        CheersAziz


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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by DC10&MD11 View Post
                          Hi Devesh - I don't recall us being questioned on those two particular days. I was a bit wary when we were on top of T5 and the police car passed by us, but if I recall correctly they never came round to us. You might have confused some other occasion with someone else
                          I think it was when you were parking the car. Sorry, those two days at LHR was a blur. Heady excitement mixed with jet lag.

                          In any case, I think we are digressing from the core topic. In India there is tremendous ignorance of spotting across the board. This naturally breeds suspicions. With the recent Pune bomb blasts, security agencies are on high alert and need to show their political masters, action.

                          If you observe, Stephen and Steve are not being detained for spotting per se, but rather for the use of scanners and radarbox and what has caught the agencies' goat is that they were recording ATC conversations.

                          I tried to help out and sent information on spotting to two major newspapers in Delhi. Their articles despite all the info sent to them is reflective of the ignorance.



                          Hindustan Times ePaper: English Newspaper provide all latest news from India and world, current headlines, breaking news on business, sports, world and entertainment with exclusive Opinions and Editorials.


                          Also check the thread at AirlinersIndia http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/...airlinersindia

                          What is surprising to all of us spotters in India, is why did these two not contact any of us prior to coming. Apart from explaining the situation, we would have introduced them to Delhi based spotters, who would have escorted them.
                          Last edited by BangaloreAviation; 2010-02-18, 04:47.

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                          • #14
                            TV show raises the profile and awareness of spotting

                            After the fiasco in Delhi, we spotters in Bangalore used the occasion to showcase spotting with TV channel News 9.

                            See the video here. http://www.bangaloreaviation.com/201...-airplane.html

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                            • #15
                              India

                              Interesting video. Hopefully it will make people more aware.

                              I still would not take my chances in india.

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