Flight School Security Awareness Training for Aircraft and Simulators

October 26, 2004
Scenarios – Flight School with Airplanes

Question
During a routine aircraft walk-around inspection, you notice a plane on the flight line that has had its wheel wells strengthened. Further investigation shows that an additional bar has been welded on the undercarriage of the aircraft to each wheel of the plane. This aircraft is a typical, single propeller plane and is not commonly used for transporting heavy loads.

Answer
Your first response should be to contact a supervisor. A supervisor should be informed immediately to begin investigating the situation. Strengthening the wheel wells is an unusual modification that raises suspicion. This situation calls for further investigation before reporting to the GA hotline since there may be circumstances surrounding the situation.

Question
On the way out to your aircraft you notice an individual working on a plane next to yours. Curious, you look into the plane and watch as the man works beneath the aircraft’s console. It looks as though the man is making alterations and changes to the wiring beneath the console.

Answer
Your first response should be to question the individual. If the individual provides strange responses to your questions you should then contact a supervisor. The supervisor will take appropriate follow-on actions which may include initiating an investigation until appropriate officials arrive and also contacting the GA hotline to report the incident, and possibly contacting local law enforcement if the situation warrants. Page 17
Flight School
Security Awareness
October 26, 2004

Question
Locking your plane up for the night, you happen to observe the wheels and undercarriage of a plane nearby. You see brush stuck in the wheel wells and splashes of dried mud on the undercarriage of the plane. This plane has definitely been landing in areas other than standard runways.

Answer
You should report this situation to your supervisor immediately. Since there is no one around, there is no immediate threat, so there is no need to bring other agencies into the situation yet. Your supervisor will begin an investigation to determine whether there is an acceptable reason for the shape of the wheels and underside of the aircraft. Once the investigation is started, there may be sufficient reason to bring other agencies into the situation, but that will be determined by your supervisor.

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