Submitted by Charlton Stanley (Otteray Scribe) guest blogger
This has not gotten much national press….yet. I had been hearing of these events through the aviation grapevine, but did not know for sure it was actually happening until the story of Gabriel Silverstein broke on the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) news web page. Mr. Silverstein is a New Jersey businessperson who was returning from a business trip to California with his husband. He had filed a flight plan, and landed his Cirrus SR22, a small private aircraft, in Oklahoma for a fuel stop. At that time, he was subjected to a ramp check. By Federal Air Regulations, a ramp check is supposed to be done only by an FAA official. On a standard ramp check, the pilot has to produce documents showing the airplane is airworthy, is registered, and has the paperwork on board as required under Part 91 of the Federal Air Regulations. The pilot must show his or her pilot’s license and medical certificate. The Oklahoma ramp check was brief, and he went on his way. He had to stop for fuel again in Iowa City. Upon arrival, he went into the FBO (Fixed Base Operator) office to pay for his gas, take a break and file a new flight plan. When he returned to his plane, he found it surrounded by officers, being searched without his permission, and with no explanation. The officers said “Probable Cause” was the K-9 dog had “hit” on the baggage compartment. The officers ordered him to be quiet, and if he asked any more questions, he would spend the rest of the day in the back of a police cruiser in handcuffs.
CPB captions this as being at their Air and Marine Operations Center
One officer handed Mr. Silverstein a business card identifying him as being with the Department of Customs and Border Protection. Mr. Silverstein says the brown uniforms and shoulder patches he saw that day were identical to the one worn by the officer on the right in this stock CPB photo. On their web page, the CPB identifies this location as being at their Air and Marine Operations Center. I think we can safely assume this is not the main operations room, but only part of the operation.
Geography was not my favorite subject in school, but last time I looked, both Oklahoma and Iowa are a long way from any international border.
More Border Patrol and Homeland Security goodness over the jump, including a video interview with Mr. Silverstein.
This link is to the AOPA news page. There is a video interview with Mr. Silverstein where he gives his explanation of what happened (sorry, I can’t get it to embed). Since AOPA first broke that story, they have followed up with another account: Fresh reports of aircraft searches, CBP has little to say
Two CBP Air Interdiction officers stopping a small twin-engine plane on a runway.
Reason given? “Suspicion.”
James Fallows of The Atlantic has also covered the story in some detail. The pilot accounts he reports are chilling. Apparently, the simple fact that one is flying from west to east across the country is enough to arouse suspicion and bring out these guys to greet you.
In one incident, the officers wanted their dog to jump up on the wing of an airplane. The owner said he would allow it if the officer would take personal responsibility and sign a document attesting that he would pay for repainting the plane if the dog’s paws scratched the paint, and it would have to be witnessed by all the other 19 officers present.
Some of the pilots detained for these “ramp checks” report that when CPB agents can’t find anything, they seem to become increasingly angry and frustrated.
There has been at least one report where an agent started taking inspection plates off an airplane. That is illegal, since those inspection panels should only be removed (and replaced) by an FAA certified and licensed aircraft technician.
The CPB has developed a huge electronic net called the Air and Marine Operations Surveillance System (AMOSS). According to an online statement:
“AMOSS utilizes extensive law enforcement and intelligence databases, and tracking and communications networks to provide a single display that is capable of tracking over 24,000 individual targets.”
The CPB admits to monitoring FAA and military radar systems, but its full capability is unknown.
There are increasing numbers of heavy-handed searches. In one incident, a 70 year old glider pilot was forced down and arrested after flying over a nuclear plant, despite the fact no flight restrictions are shown on any chart, there are no NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen), and no listed TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions). Additionally, gliders, being unpowered aircraft, have the right of way over all other air traffic except balloons. Glider pilot Robin Fleming is interviewed here by AOPA:
When his case went to court, the charges were dropped, provided he sign a statement agreeing to not sue the law enforcement agencies and officers involved in his illegal arrest and detention.
This is just another chapter in the growing police state the US is becoming in the name of the “War on Terror” and the “War on Drugs.”
The floor is open for discussion and additional stories if any aviators out there have them. Personally, I would love to get a response from the CPB explaining just what they hope to accomplish by these draconian stops with no probable cause other than a general aviation plane is flying from west to east.
I am offering an open invitation to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Thomas Winkowski to log on and explain themselves.
raff,
Anything can fly if you apply enough force to it.
OS,
I didn’t know that a Jeep could fly!! 🙂
nick,
I remember. There is one in every crowd when you write about aviation. I had a troll in a Daily Kos diary recently who seemed to think all general aviation should be outlawed, and that everyone should fly commercial. I never did understand that reasoning except she kept talking about Cory Lidle crashing into an apartment building.
There really ought to be a Snopes page on the urban myth of the “rich white pilot.”
OS, It’s just all you rich pilots complaining about this and the closing of Miegs Field. You should fly commercial and get the full body cavity search just like us regular people. Remember that idiot from a couple weeks ago?
bk,
I used to be friends with the guy who kept his little Cessna plane tied down next to mine at the local airport. Elderly black gentleman. Former Tuskegee Airman and P-51 ace. It can happen to anyone.
OS,
I could not help but think about the old Writ of Assistance as I read this.
That writ was abolished by the 4th Amendment.
Here is one antidote:
OS:
a good friend of mine has a 30-40 year old “twin tail doctor killer” and is an engineer working for a construction company. He is not rich either. It also takes a good amount of money to do upkeep so he forgoes other things.
So it isnt only the rich who fly as you say.
Looks like they’ve moved from terrorizing those WWB (walking while black/brown) to the those FWW (flying while white)
Those charges should have been dropped without any promise to not sue the bustards.
Nancy,
You encountered marketing cookies. The games you were playing had to come from somewhere, and the way many program writers recoup their money is to host ads. Some ads are random, and some are targeted. For example, if you play an action game, you might find ads from the NRA. Play one involving animals, and a PETA or ASPCA ad might pop up.
The more important thing to know is the government has a way to track you in the same way. That is why I don’t have a smart phone. I have a flip phone that does exactly two things. It makes and receives phone calls. I do not have voicemail set up and no numbers stored in the phone memory.
voltaic:
the GOP? what the fuk?
Last time I checked we had a democratic administration, the press votes for democrats, the majority of federal government employees vote for democrats, the heads of the majority of the federal agencies are run by democrats and you think it is the GOP?
The GOP are a bunch of wussies because they are not defunding this stuff.
Oh did I mention there is a democratic majority in the senate and that the head of the IRS is a democrat?
The GOP wants to stop abortion and give ultrasounds to women as well as make them pay for their own birth control. None of which is happening.
However the other stuff is happening and it is happening under a democratic administration.
I want to put to rest the myth that pilots and plane owners are rich. Most are ordinary people. Some are wealthy, yes. However the average general aviation airplane is 40 years old, and both of the two airplanes I have owned cost less than my Jeep. So, get over it. Some aviators even build their own airplanes to save money. Costs no more than restoring an old car.
So as for “rich” “white” pilots, I see some folks have not been around small airports much.
IIRC, Mr. Silverstein is a real estate agent and small businessman.
This is not directly related but can probably be connected. I have been posting on F/B about the NSA and yesterday when I went to play a stupid game on my iphone which I rarely do until recently, the logo of the NRA actually came on the screen and stayed a few seconds. I was dumbfounded and still am! What was the NRA logo doing on my cell phone? btw, all the data of the game had been missing and when I went to check it later it was being re-installed. I woke up last night and deleted the games. They are ones that are one the iphone since I do not purchase these things. It begs the question….
As this behavior continues, it will as history has proven, become unbearable and give rise to an armed insurrection.
I just don’t get how these guys believe in the great American freedoms yet behave as brownshirt /intolerant/authoritarian thugs who do everything they can to create a police state.
It really is only a matter of time before someone or many someones say enough is enough and start putting a stop to this assault on democracy and liberty.
For you brownshirts who are monitoring these comments,
My name is, Stephan Patterson, Palmer, Alaska
The military industrial, homeland security, fear complex has to justify its existence, or risk funding cuts. Money that could be spent to improve American lives is going instead to make them fearful of every move they make, every uniform they see and every person they pass that looks “different.” The Orwellian State is becoming a reality. It’s stunning that the corporate controlled media is generally purposely useless around these matters and these gestapo tactics are accepted by the vast majority of the ambivalent, ignorant, or obsessively fearful populace. Democrats are spineless to fight it and GOP wants an authoritarian state that controls how people act.
How do you all feel to be a nigger?
Holy crap, OS. That’s pure Gestapo tactics. A sure sign of how quickly and how far our nation has fallen.
Thanks for speaking up.
Another area where law enforcement is violating the very laws that they are supposed to enforce.
This pattern of violations conditions Americans to accept unlawful behavior – it is easier to acquiesce than to fight.
Now perhaps some rich white pilots can identify with what poor minority youth in Brooklyn go through every day.
I do not fly but this is really sad. How much longer before we have to file driving plans when we travle between states? Are we going to be searched at the borders when going for vacation from Virginia to North Carolina or Maryland?
Why cant we stop this? What is going on? It seems we the people are impotent to stem this tide? Why?
Because we all want free sh*t from DC. And that gives them power over us.
They give us baubles and trinkets and they take our liberty. Just like our ancestors gave the Native Americans beads and blankets. Those baubles and bangles are coming at a steep price.
The govt b-crats are protecting their jobs. Most of the government needs to be cut back and some departments need to be eliminated. Stop government hiring and stop govt pensions, give them 401k’s instead and make them pay for their own dam health insurance. Eliminate congressional pensions as well. You want to spend 30 years in congress? Put your own god dam money in a 401k, who the fuk do you think you are?
We run these sons of b*tches, they dont rule us. Lets start acting like the god dam boss instead of being treated like the hired help.
Lets start suing these government agencies, local, state and federal and bringing civil suits against individuals who are letting these pissants run amok.
FUK THIS SH*T
apologies for the bad language, I am really tired of b-crats who think they own me.
Troubling story OS. I look forward to Napolitano’s response! It is scary that this kind of heavy handed actions can be taken with little or no probable cause. These guys have way too much time on their hands.