[Peetwo]

Update to hoax radio calls -

Kharon -  "..Even the most bleeding of hearts would concede interfering with ATC operations is not just a mischievous ‘prank’.  No matter the motive; this event should be treated as an act of terrorism, the perpetrator(s), shown no mercy and penalised to full extent of the law, and be grateful there is ‘law’ to protect their rights, from the likes of me..."

Well said Ferryman and despite ASA bleating bollocks statements about no "compromising of safety at anytime", it would seem the Feds have a similar take to the "K" quote above and have subsequently issued a very hard-line join press statement today -  

Via Oz Aviation:

Federal Police investigating bogus radio calls at Melbourne and Avalon airports
November 8, 2016 by australianaviation.com.au
 
A file image of the scene from inside the Melbourne Tullamarine air traffic control tower. (Airservices)

Federal police are seeking public help to uncover who is behind 15 unauthorised radio transmissions with aircraft and air traffic controllers at Melbourne and Avalon airports.

The Australian Federal Police says it is investigating the rogue radio broadcasts that have occurred at the two airports in recent weeks.

In a joint-statement with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and Airservices, AFP head of crime operations acting assistant commissioner Chris Sheehan said the incidents were being treated “extremely seriously”.

“The AFP, Airservices, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the aviation industry are all committed to ensuring the safety of the travelling public,” Sheehan said in a statement.

“These incidents are being thoroughly investigated by the AFP, with technical support from the ACMA.

“The airlines have been briefed to ensure the advice has been passed on to their pilots and to ensure appropriate measures are in place.”

Sheehan said there were appropriate procedures, processes and systems in place to ensure the safety of aviation operations at airports in Victoria and across the country, as well as air travellers.

Airservices said in the statement that “at no time was safety jeopardised as a result of these calls”, adding that it was working closely with the AFP and the airlines on the matter.

The statement said the person responsible for the unauthorised transmissions faced up to 20 years’ jail.

Anyone with information about this matter is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.

In the audio of one incident obtained by the ABC, someone pretending to be a pilot can be heard telling air traffic control his aircraft has suffered an engine failure.

Another incident involved a flight from Gold Coast to Melbourne where pilots of the aircraft aborted their landing after receiving instructions from someone pretending to be air traffic control.

From my reading of these 15 X hoax radio call incidents, it would seem that initially the AFP, ASA & ACMA were trying to keep their investigations under wraps, fearing perhaps a spate of copycat type incidents.

This is also evident by the fact that what should normally trigger a compulsory ATSB IRM or at least a RRP, does not appear to have occurred or is being purposedly withheld off the ATSB Aviation occurrence database. 

So now it is out in the open I wonder when the ATSB will be starting their transport safety investigation as the designated SSP first responders -  


MTF...P2

P2;

"So now it is out in the open I wonder when the ATSB will be starting their transport safety investigation as the designated SSP first responders"

And I wonder what level of action CAsA, as the over sighting authority of ASA, will undertake?

It's all very exciting really. Perhaps Beaker has a new job and has joined ASA as an ATC and has simply made a few 'wrong calls' by mistake? Did any of the rogue calls contain words including mi mi mi mi?

"Unsafe airwaves for all"

Update 09/11/16: Via the Age

'He is a menace': Air traffic controller warns radio hoaxer may risk lives
November 9 2016 - 1:45AM
Chris Johnston, Broede Carmody and Nino Bucci

As the police hunt continues for a radio hoaxer who illegally communicated with aircraft over Melbourne continues with no new leads, an air traffic controller has broken ranks to warn the "menace" hoaxer could endanger lives.

The air traffic controller, emailing Fairfax Media on the basis of anonymity, said the hoaxer was well-known to air traffic controllers because of "continual disruption for whatever personal gain" and he could "eventually compromise safety. He is a menace."


Video duration01:50
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[url=http://auntypru.com/forum/javascript:;]AFP hunt Melbourne air traffic control hoaxer

The Australian Federal Police are investigating a series of hoax calls to air traffic controllers and domestic pilots. Vision courtesy ABC News Melbourne.

Air traffic controllers working from Avalon and Melbourne airports had built up a profile of the offender, who is breaking federal laws under the Radio Communications Act and Aviation Transport Act and presenting a massive security risk to the airports and airlines.

"A male person who has listened to the comms (communications) between ATC (air traffic control) Tower Staff and pilots has mastered enough lingo and knowledge to attempt impersonations of an ATC Controller. He also has portable transmitting/receiving equipment, which is monitoring: Tower, Emergency & Avalon Frequencies and a vehicle to move around in, making tracking and discovery of him very difficult. On a few occasions (from 25 Oct onward) he has attempted to communicate to pilots to override ATC controllers to try and cause disruption, in most cases he has been ignored, calls from Tower to aircraft pilots to disregard unauthorised transmissions."

• Lone-wolf radio hoaxer hacks Melbourne air traffic control: AFP
  

The air traffic controller explained that when an unauthorised or unrecognised transmission appears on aviation radio frequencies an "interference" report was compiled for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) - but "on one instance he was so compelling he made an aircraft go wheels up and go around for another attempt at landing. His attempted disruption to controlled airspace and landing and take-off activities is very concerning."

The AFP are working closely with investigators from ACMA - nicknamed the "ghostbusters" - to find the hoaxer, who made 15 illegal transmissions, and who they say is working alone. The transmissions in which the hoaxer posed as an air traffic controller and persuaded an aircraft to abort a landing was Virgin flight into Melbourne from the Gold Coast on October 27.

The same day the hoaxer also impersonated the pilot of a light aircraft, issuing a mayday call and faking engine trouble. Audio from the incident reveals air traffic control personnel tried to assess the mayday call then began speaking to the the light aircraft which the unauthorised individual was pretending to pilot.

John Lyons, president of Virgin Independent Pilots Australia, said rogue radio transmissions were "a concern" because pilots must obey instructions from air traffic controllers but may not be able to verify who is or isn't a legitimate controller. He said rudimentary amateur VHF radio equipment could be used.

A plane takes off from Melbourne Airport, under the gaze of air traffic controllers. Photo: Craig Abraham

According to ACMA, who regulate all radio broadcasts, "unauthorised or improper use of these devices" is extremely rare in Australia. The air band transceiver devices, easily bought in retail stores and online, are not illegal. But using air band transceivers on specific aeronautical frequencies for airports and aircraft was subject to licensing.

"In general, rather than restricting supply of the devices themselves," said a spokesman for ACMA, "all operators are required to hold appropriate user qualifications. A person must not operate an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station unless they are qualified to operate the station in accordance with the Civil Aviation Regulations and any relevant Civil Aviation Orders. It is illegal to interfere with aircraft communications.

Unlicensed operation of air band receivers, which includes operation by an unqualified person, is also illegal.
The view from the control tower at Avalon Airport. Photo: James Davies

"Experience shows that risks of misuse are managed through curbs on the operation of the devices rather than limits on supply."

AFP Assistant Commissioner Chris Sheehan said all airlines had been briefed on the incidents "to ensure appropriate measures are in place."

Miscommunication between pilots and air traffic controllers is cited as a key reason for many aviation accidents. Photo: AP

The Aviation Transport Act stipulates that interfering with aircraft navigation facilities or "putting the safety of an aircraft at risk by communicating false information" are in the same class of offence as taking control of an aircraft, damaging an aircraft or planting a dangerous item on board.

An amateur radio enthusiast, who asked not to be named, said that while it was common for air traffic to be listened to, he had never heard of unauthorised transmissions. "They just sit in their cars all day and listen to the radio on their scanners," he said.