Question about flight simulator brings visit from police

The Recorder ^ | 1/6/04 | VIRGINIA RAY

[Pro-Bush]

Question about flight simulator brings visit from police

By VIRGINIA RAY Recorder Staff

COLRAIN - An innocent inquiry to a Staples store clerk about a computer software program that teaches how to fly an airplane by instrumentation brought a surprise visit this holiday season to a local family from the state police.

"At first, I felt a little angry and violated" about someone telling authorities about her inquiry, said Julie Olearcek, a 15-year Air Force Reserve pilot. "But now that time has gone by, I realize it may take someone like that, who's a little nervous, who may save the day." Olearcek's husband, Henry, is also a flier, currently on active duty, and frequently away from home these days.

About a week before Christmas, Olearcek said the couple's 10-year-old son, who has flight simulation software and is keenly interested in learning to fly like his parents, commented that he'd have to wait until his dad retired to learn to fly by instruments. She went to Staples soon after and took her son to the office supply store, where he looked through the available software.

"He was disappointed because there was military stuff, but it was all fighting stuff, so I asked the clerk, and he was alarmed by us asking how to fly airplanes and said that was against the law," Olearcek said. "I said I couldn't imagine that, but, because (the clerk) was a little on edge ... I left." But "what saves us, is people are paying attention," she said.

Olearcek said she and her husband both were well aware that the Office of Homeland Security had raised the threat level during the holiday and of the generally increased terrorism alert following the Sept. 11 plane attacks.

"And rightly so, this puts people on edge," she said.

But she was taken aback by what happened next.

"By 8 p.m., a state trooper was at my house," she said. "At first, it was a little unnerving because it was pouring rain and my husband had just left ... My son said he heard someone walking around outside and it startled him. We had put our Christmas tree in front of a sliding glass door and the trooper ended up tapping on the glass of that door and putting a flashlight in and it scared us."

But Olearcek said she doesn't believe the trooper was intentionally trying to frighten her family. Nor does she blame the clerk for erring on the side of caution.

"We all have to be aware," she said, not really even wanting to speak of the incident on the record, but wanting to keep the record straight. "It's not just the people in uniform who have to be looking after this country. So when people see something out the ordinary, they pay attention. Maybe by the way we worded the question - who knows? - it triggered the individual. Still, if they had done their homework (at Staples) they would see I home school my children and am a frequent customer and have a teacher's ID on file."

Olearcek said the trooper asked her if she had inquired about the software, and she said she had and showed him her military identification.

"He was totally understanding, but protocol means he has to follow through," Olearcek said. "I immediately gave him my military ID and I had no problem giving it to him. At first I felt like, 'Wait a minute, this is America.' But we also have to understand it takes everybody to pay attention. At first I was a little frazzled with someone knocking on my window at 8:30 at night, but the bottom line is this is a civilian who has tried to do his best."

Sgt. Donald Charpentier of the Shelburne Falls State Police barracks said police received a telephone call from the Staples manager "that a person had been looking for instructional videos regarding flying planes."

"Those programs are quite common for entertainment and training, but he felt it was suspicious enough to warrant a call," Charpentier said. "We responded, and it turned out to be innocent enough; a person looking to buy a Christmas gift."

Staples' spokesperson Sharyn Frankel said the employees were doing what they have been told to do.

"After 9/11, our store associates were instructed that if they see something suspicious or out of the ordinary, they're to contact their managers and local authorities," Frankel said. "It's all about keeping our associates and customers safe and this was out of the ordinary and kind of raised a red flag and they did what they thought was right."

"Bottom line is we've all got to look out for each other, and I wasn't harmed," summed up Olearcek. "And what if it were the other way around? It's going to take everyone in each town to look after one another."

You can reach Virginia Ray at: gray@recorder.com.

[Iris7]

I have been many places in the world. One thing special, of many things, about America are the police officers. Remarkable bunch.

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[XHogPilot]

I'd be in the slammer if it was up to that clueless Staples clerk! I use MS Flight Simulator as an instructional tool for flying. By the way, I'm a USAF Command Pilot, and hold an FAA ATP in three jumbo jets, currently flying Boeing 777s.

[Pro-Bush]

You are a brave, and thank you for keeping US safe. From Los Angeles to Washington, across the Atlantic to the the United Kingdom and Europe, terrorists were poised for another attack, I imagine it was sketchy! Flight 68 from the London to DC and Flight 223 from France to LA especially!

Do you fly internationally?

[jaykay]

If Staples is that jumpy about people interested in 'Flight Simulator,' why do they bother to continue stocking it?
Are a woman and her kid likely terrorism suspects?
Did they look like Arabs/Muslims?
How many real crimes were committed while the cops rousted out mom and kid?

[MattAMiller]

he was alarmed by us asking how to fly airplanes and said that was against the law

Jaw dropping stupidity. How does such a person even get through the day?

[Wilhelm Tell]

Lack of common sense is destroying this country. I have to wonder if the people who were interested in the flight simulator were civilians, would the FBI have called on them? Would some poor sap who only tried to buy a video game be labeled a "person of interest" for the rest of his life? There are many 10 year olds who are obsessed with sadistically violent video games, and that is seen as normal. Some 10 year old is interested in aviation, and everyone gets paranoid. I guess he should have asked for a video game that teaches one how to steal cars and shoot people. No one would have had a second thought about that.

[Las Vegas Dave]

What happens to the people that call "1-800-be a pilot" ?

Do they get their $50 for the introductory flight back?

[Pro-Bush]

No answers, sorry. Very good questions though.

[Pro-Bush]

he was alarmed by us asking how to fly airplanes and said that was against the law

Seems a little Gestapo like to me!

[Pro-Bush]

Thanks for the laugh!

[BlackbirdSST]

What a FReak Show! Blackbird.

[Criminal Number 18F]

At first I felt like, 'Wait a minute, this is America.' But we also have to understand...

It isn't, anymore.

Score one for the alliance of international terrorists and home-grown power-hungry police. d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[milemark]

Thanks a lot ragheads. Because of you, I have to take off my shoes in airports, be harrassed by crotch-sniffing dogs and wand-waving dropouts, take an empty milk jug on the plane with me because I can't get in line for the can and now if I ever want the latest version of Flight Simulator, I can't go to Staples, I'll probably have to get one that "fell off a truck" on the black market where the Jihad goons will be getting theirs.

[sawyer]

I once knew a women at the library that told some one they had no books on races not being the same as the govt would not let people write such books and that was 25 years ago. To this day I can not figure where the lady working at a library got that into her head.

[JosephW]

Scary over-reaction.

I remember back in the late 70's their was a program by SubLogic call A2-FS1 (Apple II, Flight Simulator 1). Also came with a scenario built in called Red Baron. The company became history long ago, but I still remember playing it.

I hate to admit it but I distinctly remember aiming for buildings and other landmarks as I had no hope of landing and wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. Can you imagine what some clerk or nutball in the govt could do to a kid now that did the same? It was innocent then, and would be for most people now.

I think Microsoft may have bought the rights to the game (not sure). If they did, are they sponsoring terrorism by allowing a later version (with much better graphics and controls) of this game to exist and still be sold?

Maybe it's time to arrest Bill Gates or Steve Balmer just on the suspicion. Maybe this is something the Linux community can really sink their teeth into.

[Pro-Bush]

Bump! Read your profile. You are a true patriot.