Homeland Security Calling ...

Bob Axsom · #1 06-01-2009, 07:01 PM

My wife and I returned from a weekend trip to southern California in our RV-6A today (6-1-09) and after landing at Tucumcari, NM on a leg from Sedona, AZ the fueler told me that Homeland Security called and asked for the registration number of our airplane. He said that they did not know if it was a twin or a fast single. He went on to say that Homeland Security calls them a couple of times a week for things like this.

Without going into my view on this I would just like to know if anyone knows what the h3!! they are doing?

Bob Axsom

Ironflight · #2 06-01-2009, 07:17 PM

You want better than that? Just ask Jay Pratt about his encounter with the Citation down near Big Bend earlier this year (he was in his Cub clone...)!

Aviator168 · #3 06-01-2009, 07:19 PM

Can home land sec access FAA's database? Doesn't seem like it. You would guess after 9-11 all gov agencies would be using a common database, or at the very least, share information. Guess that's not case here

DeltaRomeo · #4 06-01-2009, 07:58 PM

Re-opened (one of the other mods deleted it, but I think it's relevant to the RV community...actual data point....so I reopened it). It would be nice if an FAA type could chime in here with possible explanations as to what they are doing in Bob's situation.

dr

Geico266 · #5 06-01-2009, 08:04 PM

More than likely they were monitoring for drug runners? Anything to do with SoCal / border area is gonna be watched. Sedona is not really close to the border though.

Bob Axsom · #6 06-01-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator168

Can home land sec access FAA's database? Doesn't seem like it. You would guess after 9-11 all gov agencies would be using a common database, or at the very least, share information. Guess that's not case here

In this case they tracked me but had to get my number from the fueler to start the database action. Why is Homeland Security tracking private law abiding planes and getting their registration numbers for entry in a database. The only thing I passed over during the whole trip was Albuquerque and that was above the Class C airspace. When people in a US security agency track my airplane and call the airport where I land and have them relay my airplane registration number to them I get concerned. I wondered two things: 1) What is the purpose of this action? and 2) has anyone else had a similar experience?

Bob Axsom

6 Gun · #7 06-01-2009, 08:14 PM

big
brother is watching
i guess they must have people in dark rooms watching radar screens and rv,s
look like missiles compared to spam cans

Geico266 · #8 06-01-2009, 08:15 PM

Bob, They are just doing their job and asking questions. You were not detained or directly questioned, ramp checked, and your trip was not disrupted in any way. While I can understand your feelings of being "watched" the facts can be watched every time we fly. Everytime you file a flight plan, use Flight Following, ATC, Flight Services, ect., a record is made of you and your aircraft and details of the flight.

Every phone call you make, every time you use a credit card, PDA, every time you hit enter and your puter, make a bank transaction, walk into any store, you are being recorded and your actions are being scrutinized.

N941WR · #9 06-01-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geico266

Bob, They are just doing their job and asking questions. You were not detained or directly questioned, ramp checked, and your trip was not disrupted in any way. While I can understand your feelings of being "watched" the facts can be watched every time we fly.

Larry,

I disagree with you. While we are tracked when we fly, we have the option of flying anonymously, if we elect to do so. TSA and DHS has no right or need for the N-number when a private citizen is traveling on their own.

This is more like the government tacking your every movement when in your car.

rocketbob · #10 06-01-2009, 08:33 PM

This same thing happened a two weeks ago while our breakfast crew was at Columbus, IN for breakfast. I observed the line guy writing N-numbers down of all the airplanes on the ramp, and headed back for the phone. Obama was due in Indy later that day, and of course the military was everywhere. I asked the line guy about it and he said there was an aircraft that shut its transponder off the night before and they thought he landed here, whatever that meant. Thats when I politely told him if it were me on the phone, I would give them some numbers, but they might reflect my sudden dyslexia.