YSSY spotting - Radar Field is off Limits

[Bob C]

No Micheil, not at all and I don't mean to offend and I apologise to anyone who feels that way. Unfortunately, it's the people who flaunt the rules and disobey signs who make it difficult for the vast majority of us.

The reference to Long Bay was somewhat tongue in cheek as I doubt that anyone would end up in the clink for trespassing.

I worked over many years to further the interests of spotters in Perth. But unfortunately, I have had personal experience of the damage miscreants can do which ruins the hobby for others. There are Perth based members of this Board who can confirm the work that myself and others of the then AEGWA executive did in Perth over 10 years ago, and others before us, with airport authorities to ensure that enthusiasts were understood and given reasonable access to pursue their hobby.

We worked with the authorities who issued us with ID cards, gave us frequent airside access and members of our group followed a Code of Conduct and we acted as a rudimentary "Airport Watch" and were given a number to call to report any suspicious activities.

And a couple of years ago when the the Sydney Airport Watch was first mooted, I had lengthy correspondence with the AFP representative , offering the Perth experience as a model. I still have that correspondence on file as well as my last ID card from WAC in Perth.

SACL and others can confirm these statements by reference to WAC or AFP.

Once again, apologies if I offended anyone which was unintentional.