Aircraft re-registration in the media

chucky

chucky

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A story on NPR about re-registration. I think they do a reasonably good job laying out why the FAA thinks this is necessary, and why most aircraft owners don't.
 
Yup, we are all terrorists.

Out of the 119k 'questionable' registrations, 118k probably just didn't answer to a survey postcard from the FAA at some point in the last 50 years. This also includes airframes that have a registration but are sitting disassembled in somebodys barn or as a crumpled ball of aluminum in some african forest.
 
oh where to begin:

"Already there have been cases of drug traffickers using phony U.S. registration numbers,"

And exactly how will re-registration will prevent this?

"and more than 14,000 aircraft that have had their registrations revoked but may still be flying because the FAA has not canceled their N-numbers"

yeah, if the FAA cancels the N-number, that'll prevent someone from flying the airplane. (where is that sarcasm icon?)

"As a result, there is a "large pool" of N-numbers "that can facilitate drug, terrorist or other illegal activities," the FAA warned in a 2007 report."

how?

""The threat of people wanting to do us harm is very real, but the focus on re-registration or stale registration data on aircraft is not where the risk is likely to be," Warner said."

Exactly!
 
chucky said:
A story on NPR about re-registration. I think they do a reasonably good job laying out why the FAA thinks this is necessary, and why most aircraft owners don't.
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To me, this is a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. I don't have an issue with periodic re-registration of my aircraft. What I do find perplexing is the reasoning gien. No doubt re-registration will clean up the FAA database and make the paperwork all nice and will help generate revenue. But will that really thwart the illegal use of N-#'s or somehow identifying terrorists?

Gary
 
I doubt the move will generate revenue unless they charge us a lot more money, which they probably will eventually. I honestly can't blame them for wanting to know who has which airplane. It is sad that this is yet another bureaucratic shuffle and headache brought to you by America's never-ending and utterly unsuccessful War on Drugs.
 
Made prime time news here in Chicago, including interviews at my airport. Jim and Joe were very "team player" in the interview portion that was shown. Nothing said in the report about how asinine it is to first, single out GA aircraft, second, use as an example a properly registered and legally flown nutcase, or third, discuss how having a registration will in any way prevent the use of an airplane for illegal purposes.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7837959&pid=7837928
 
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I suspect the nutjob/terrorist that flew his airplane into the IRS building in Austin would have been stopped dead in his tracks with this bureaucratic obstacle.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I suspect the nutjob/terrorist that flew his airplane into the IRS building in Austin would have been stopped dead in his tracks with this bureaucratic obstacle.
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Instead of by the window in the building?
 
To some extent, I wonder how much ADS-B plays into this. Isn't the registration number of the aircraft sent as part of the transponder signal?

Of course, having an up-to-date database would have stopped the barefoot bandit:rolleyes2:
 
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While I don't think that the new registration requirement is a bad idea I think it's idiotic that they are using security and drug trafficking as a reason.
 
Everskyward said:
While I don't think that the new registration requirement is a bad idea I think it's idiotic that they are using security and drug trafficking as a reason.
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I agree 100%. But that's the new way to get any rule implemented now. This ranges from stadiums & air shows (no outside food/drink allowed since we don't screen it for explosives) to re-registrating aircraft. What are you- for the terrists?:crazy:
 
Oh the horror. :rolleyes2:

Its like registering guns. A criminal typically uses a stolen or illegal gun nor posseses the legal means to own or career one due to criminal record, city laws, etc. However, that doesn't stop the gang bangers killing each other or committing crimes with illegal guns.

All a drug trafficer or terrorist has to do is steal a plane and/or change the N number.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I suspect the nutjob/terrorist that flew his airplane into the IRS building in Austin would have been stopped dead in his tracks with this bureaucratic obstacle.
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That would have been unfortunate. He likely would have then used a more effective weapon (like his car, or a gun) and killed many more.
 
Anthony said:
Oh the horror. :rolleyes2:

<SNIP>
All a drug trafficer or terrorist has to do is steal a plane and/or change the N number.
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That relates to myquestion about the ADS-B. They would need to swap some electronics as well as do a paint/tape job.
 
A day in the life of a drug smuggler AFTER the FAA registration clean-up.

Morning: Wake, then while enjoying a long breakfast at an airport cafe near the U.S. Mexico border; select an aircraft to steal.

Noon: Fly stolen aircraft at treetop level, through canyons, etc. into Mexico and land at a remote farm airstrip controlled by your drug cartel.

Afternoon: Load with 2,000LBS. of Cocaine and prepare to depart for the U.S.

Evening: Just prior to a night departure check the FAA database. Damn the stolen aircraft is already identified as such on the FAA website. Scrub mission, unload cocaine, and curse the blinding efficiency of the U.S. government.

Night: Reassess entire life, press suit, and prepare resume for honest work; as there is no way to beat this kind of bureaucratic organization.


Also available in Powerpoint:wink2:
 
Matthew said:
The comments at the end are actually scarier than the report.
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On the plus side, those posters will be distracted by whatever the next alarmist news story is, and forget about this one. They average at least one a day, right?
 
If anybody asks you about this threat ask if criminals are unable to to drive cars or trucks with invalid license plates...if cops could only check the number on the plate from a mile away.
 
mikea said:
If anybody asks you about this threat ask if criminals are unable to to drive cars or trucks with invalid license plates...if cops could only check the number on the plate from a mile away.
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You are aware that, thanks to registration of ground vehicles like cars, they are no longer used by criminals or terrorists? I think this is proof positive that the sooner that aircraft are re-registered on a regular basis, zillions of lives will be saved and everyone will be secure against terrorist threats from the sky. :goofy:

Not to mention the many problems caused by out-of-date information in the FAA registration database. These problems are so numerous that it is impossible to list even one, since the FAA just doesn't know where to start. :rolleyes2:

Thankfully, the FAA has not considered changes to regulations that would require closer scrutiny of airworthiness certificates, since as we all know these have no bearing on crime or terrorists and are therefore of no interest to the public. :crazy:
 
The only thing a revoked registration will do to the law abiding pilot owner is prevent him from obtaining insurance. It does NOTHING to enhance the "a key component of the homeland security matrix".
What a bunch of dopes. It's all hyperbole to enhance their revenue stream.
 
Cap'n Jack said:
To some extent, I wonder how much ADS-B plays into this. Isn't the registration number of the aircraft sent as part of the transponder signal?
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Well, that's not really about ADS-B. Mode S transponders work like that already. Of course, it wouldn't be very hard to either turn off, remove, smash in, disable, or steal a transponder. There's an unlimited number of possibilities!
 
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