iscover
Issue-95_00094_tuqu75
On the Airbands
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I would like to take this opportunity to clarify a misleading television news item which appeared recently relating to myself and the entire hobbyist area of monitoring airline communications.
The item appeared as a result of the Police charging a juvenile who had obtained both a scanner and an aviation handheld transceiver, and had used the transmitter to talk to two aircraft on Tamworth tower frequency at Tamworth NSW, play “ATC”, and cause them to abort their landings. The TV news in question displayed a shot of the pages of a recent “On the Airbands” article, with the voice overlay stating “the information was readily accessible”. My name was clearly visible on TV screens on both the evening news and the later news summary repeat. The suggestion was that the young man had obtained frequency information from this column to carry out his activities. In fact, the truth is that he was an Air Cadet, who had done two full days work experience actually within the Tamworth tower cab! “On the Airbands” and indeed the management of AA magazine are appalled that persons can readily purchase aircraft transmitting equipment without being licensed on that band. No proof of having a pilot’s licence is required prior to purchase of the radios. Most are bought from outlets at secondary GA airports, such as Bankstown, Archerfield, Moorabbin etc. The situation, legislation wise, should be changed as a matter of urgency.
In the USA, at one time, before one was able to purchase amateur radio equipment, one had to furnish a valid ham licence. Now, civil liberty legislation has precluded that happening, and once again, non-licensed people can virtually buy any kind of transmitting device that they want, as long as they have a pile of cash to pay for it. I believe that the civil liberties of a few must be cast aside for the right to security and protection of the greater populace, such as air travellers on regular public transport aircraft. And if that means you can’t buy an aircraft transceiver without a pilot’s Flight Radio Operators Certificate, then so be it. A letter to this effect has been forwarded by me to the appropriate Federal Minister for Communications asking him to at least look at the present situation and determine how it can be remedied.
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