Plane Spotters Threaten CIA Ops

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7037720/site/newsweek/ ^

[jerseyboy4truth]

March 7 issue - Aviation obsessives with cameras and Internet connections have become a threat to cover stories established by the CIA to mask its undercover operations and personnel overseas. U.S. intel sources complain that "plane spotters"—hobbyists who photograph airplanes landing or departing local airports and post the pix on the Internet—made it possible for CIA critics recently to assemble details of a clandestine transport system the agency set up to secretly move cargo and people—including terrorist suspects—around the world.

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Google searches revealed that plane spotters Web-posted numerous photos of two private aircraft—one a small Gulfstream jet and the other a midsize Boeing 737—registered to obscure companies suspected of CIA connections. Some of the pictures were taken at airports in foreign countries where CIA activities could be controversial. When the 737 last year went through a change of tail number and ownership—a suspicious company in suburban Boston apparently transferred the plane to a similar company in Reno, Nev.—Internet searches of aviation and public-record databases disclosed details of the plane's new owners and registration number. One critical database, accessible via Google, was a central aircraft registry maintained by the government's own Federal Aviation Administration. A U.S. intel source acknowledged that the instant availability of such data and photos on the Internet is not helpful "if your object is clandestinity." (To see how it works, check the Web for info on a business jet carrying the Liechtenstein tail number HB-IES. The search should turn up pictures of that plane at a European airport, as well as public records and news stories describing how the plane, registered to a company called Aviatrans, once belonged to Saddam Hussein.)

[billorites]

CIA should stick to the latest generation stealth aircraft...

[BenLurkin]

Not surprising this is a problem.

American "UFO" spotting organizations were infiltrated very early on by the GRU and KBG who used them to gather intelligence on American black projects.

[DainBramage]

No offense but if you change the title like that people can't search for it to see if its posted already.

[Reactionary]

What? The CIA doesn't have enough sense to have these planes take off and land at military installations?

Brilliant.

[jerseyboy4truth]

You seen that commercial where some kid who's supposedly a super genius is showing an Army general his new super stealth airplane? The General sees nothing... takes a few steps... "What is this sh.." You hear a loud bump and he collapses in the middle of the empty hangar.

[jerseyboy4truth]

Sorry... the MSNBC title isn't very descriptive.

[cynicom]

CIA not doing their job very well.

[COEXERJ145]

The government has had it in for plane spotters since September 11th. They see us as terrorists and some have been arrested, threatened with everything from a 9mm to an M-16, and some injured by overzealous cops. So far the feds haven't made it illegal but I'm sure it is only a matter of time.

[jerseyboy4truth]

Not really... the only ones who bother me are the airport Rent-A-Cops. I usually take pics of military jets at McGuire... I just advise one of the guards on duty and it's not a problem.

[billorites]

"CIA not doing their job very well."

I guess if MSNBC is talking about them, probably not.

[COEXERJ145]

Consider yourself lucky then as some airports are not nearly as nice. Ones like DFW and IAH (as long as you don't wander into certain places) are real nice to spotters but others like ORD, PIT, and CLL are run by the Gestapo.

[Rhetorical pi2]

I admit in advance that I am a dummy. I probably also have stupid suggestions.

But the following is one or two:

1. Lease planes owned by United, Northwest, Delta, et al.
Keep rotating companies and use the same one rarely.

2. Arrange for private planes to be leased as part of a shared partnership. Have this done in an individual's name, and again, do this with several planes.

Someone doing thorough research could probably discover this, but it would be better than flying the same CIA plane over and over.

'saved my best for last: Fly stealth planes. :o)

[jerseyboy4truth]

If someone saw a Delta 767 landing in Tehran, they'd know something was up.

They should just lease private jets from Netjets, etc.

[Rhetorical pi2]

I apologize for using the Stealth plane line again. While I was typing two or three others posted the same line.

I hate it when that happens! :o)

[Gone_Postal]

make your own adventure

[jerseyboy4truth]

The TSA Rent-A-Cops don't know any better and don't have anything else to do.

I remember taking pics at a local airport when some local police sheriff comes over at tells me to either leave or be arrested. I packed my camera, took out my wallet, walked into the GA terminal, showed the FBO my license and asked if i could take a few pictures and walked on to tarmac. I plopped myself right infront of Mr. Sheriff on the other side of the fence.

[76834]

The government has had it in for plane spotters since September 11th. They see us as terrorists and some have been arrested, threatened with everything from a 9mm to an M-16, and some injured by overzealous cops. So far the feds haven't made it illegal but I'm sure it is only a matter of time.

My lifelong interest has been trainwatching. Love to watch them run, take photos, study the history of the railroads etc.
My hobby has taken similiar hits since Sept 11

[rockrr]

Scotty, is the transporter ready yet?

[Kretek]

The CIA doesn't have enough sense to have these planes take off and land at military installations?

So, all the Bad Guys' counterintelligence would have to do is watch the "military installations." It's a lot easier to blend into regular commercial air traffic coming out of a civilian airport.