Aircraft Spotting - Fight Against Terrorism

Fight Against Terrorism

In the wake of the targeting of airports by terrorists, enthusiasts' organizations and the police in the UK have co-operated in drawing up a code of conduct. This attempts to allow enthusiasts to continue their hobby and to increase security around airports, by asking enthusiasts to contact police if they believe something they see or hear is suspicious. Birmingham and Stansted pioneered this approach in England and prior to the 2012 London Olympics, RAF Northolt introduced a Flightwatch scheme based on the same co-operative principles.

The organization of such groups has now been echoed in parts of North America. For example, the Bensenville Illinois Police Department have sponsored an Airport Watch group at the Chicago O'Hare Airport. Members are issued id cards and are given training to record and report unusual activities around the airport perimeter (members are not permitted airside). Meetings are attended and supported by the F.B.I., Chicago Department of Aviation and the T.S.A who also provide regular training to group members. The Bensenville program was modelled on similar programmes in Toronto, Ottawa and Minneapolis.