Every Now And Again We Hear About Airplanes Being Taken Without The Owner’s Permission.

When an airplane is taken without the owner’s permission, or in the case of outright theft, the question is commonly raised as to the danger imposed by general aviation aircraft flying off small airports. It’s even been stated in past news reports that small airports have lots of airplanes that could be stolen and used in a nefarious manner.

We in general aviation must assure our airport neighbors that we take appropriate precautions to lock our aircraft as best we can, and that we are aware that these things, while rare, can occur. It’s easy to argue the point out that bad things can also happen involving cars and trucks, but it seems to be more newsworthy when airplanes are involved.

After 9-11, AOPA has partnered with the Transportation Security Administration to develop a nationwide Airport Watch Program that urges pilots to use their eyes and ears for observing and reporting suspicious activity. This program introduced us to a concept called, Lock Up and Look Out. Maybe a review of the basics is a good thing every now and again, so let’s take another look at these programs.

Lock Up
Utilize aircraft door locks at all times (if so equipped) when the aircraft is unattended
If so equipped, always remove the ignition key
Consider the use of auxiliary locks to further protect aircraft from unauthorized use
Consistently lock hangar doors and close security gates
Even a simple padlock on a tiedown chain can discourage aircraft theft

Look Out
Look for anyone trying to access an aircraft through force
Be wary of someone who misuses aviation lingo
Be suspicious of out-of-the-ordinary videotaping of aircraft or hangars
If in doubt about someone on the airport, notify authorities

All of us know that general aviation is always a tasty target for unknowledgeable media hype. However, it is still up to us to do everything possible to protect our airplanes, our airports, and our positive image in the community.

(Images from file)

FMI: www.aopa.org