Access to private airfields.

[Dan Winterland]

Recently, an aircraft I own a share in was damaged while parked in it's hangar. It appears to have been cause by someone walking into the tow-bar attached to the tailwheel which hit the elevator, maybe while taking photographs. . The syndicate owner who parked the aircraft last discovered the damage three days later when he next planned to fly. The aircraft shares a hangar with five others, none of the other owners went near our aircraft and the engineers had not been to it either. We consider a likely scenario is that a visitor to the airfield walked into it. Photographers were seen in the hangar while the doors were left open over those three days. This airfield hosts mainly vintage aircraft and ours shares a hanger with five other vintage and rare types. The airfield attracts a lot of attention from enthusiasts and the airfield management does not discourage them, despite the airfield being private property. Apart from the cost, there is a significant flight safety issue here. The damage was significant and obvious in this case, so the pilot next to fly it would have seen it on the next pre-flight inspection. But if it had been slight, it could have gone unnoticed. Also, the aircraft will be out of action for several weeks and it will now not appear in an air-show scheduled for it.

May I ask enthusiasts that if you want to take photographs, you make yourselves known and ask permission first. You should not go into hangars without it, and take great care if it is given. You should not walk backwards to frame a shot without looking behind you. And if you do have an accident, report it! This unfortunate event will certainly result in some management action. Bear in mind that many airfields are privately owned and you may be trespassing if visiting without permission. Our airfield has clear notices telling visitors that it is private property and that the airfield environment is out of bounds for safety reasons. The airfield has not banned enthusiasts yet, but any further inconsiderate acts may result in action that will spoil it for all.

Also, may I ask anyone reading this who is a member of air enthusiast forums on other web sites to copy and paste this message on those.

[treadigraph]

So sorry to hear this Dan.

As a teenage and early twenties "spotter" in the 1970s/80s it was always a pleasure to be allowed round hangars, particularly those with interesting residents - permission was always sought, and mostly given along with the admonition "don't touch anything!" The exception to that last comment was the late Michael Jones at the Tiger Club who knew that there was no need; maybe he could tell proper enthusiasts from reggie tickers. The only time I recall somebody colliding with an aircraft in the hangar, it was a bloke my mate kindly gave a lift to at Biggin Hill; ATS let us wander round their hangar, he walked into the trailing edge of a 172's aileron - the only damage was to his dignity and a row of diamond cuts on his forehead from the flutes on the aileron. I guess being around light aircraft and gliders from a very early age with my father drummed into me the reasons for taking care of other people's property.

I do hope your aeroplane is back in action quickly.

[TCAS FAN]

So sorry to hear this Dan.

As a teenage and early twenties "spotter" in the 1970s/80s it was always a pleasure to be allowed round hangars, particularly those with interesting residents - permission was always sought, and mostly given along with the admonition "don't touch anything!" The exception to that last comment was the late Michael Jones at the Tiger Club who knew that there was no need; maybe he could tell proper enthusiasts from reggie tickers. The only time I recall somebody colliding with an aircraft in the hangar, it was a bloke my mate kindly gave a lift to at Biggin Hill; ATS let us wander round their hangar, he walked into the trailing edge of a 172's aileron - the only damage was to his dignity and a row of diamond cuts on his forehead from the flutes on the aileron. I guess being around light aircraft and gliders from a very early age with my father drummed into me the reasons for taking care of other people's property.

I do hope your aeroplane is back in action quickly.

Going back a decade when the Tiger Club were at Redhill, remember in my spotting days the pale blue signs on every entrance”Aircraft spotters not admitted”! As with many other aerodromes, didn’t take heed, never got thrown out.

[ShyTorque]

From my experience at my nearest airfield, it’s just as likely to have been scrotes looking for something to steal.

A while back, thieves took all the fuel from parked light aircraft. As bad as the fuel theft itself was, the filler caps were left off, allowing rainwater to get into the tanks. Extra security had to be installed, more secure fencing, gates, shutters, cameras, the lot.

Same airfield, the bare airframe of a vintage Auster was undergoing restoration and awaiting re-covering. It was placed carefully by the sidewall inside a hangar, resting on trestles. It was knocked off, causing some of its tubing to get bent, then was put back, by persons unknown who chose not to report it.

[treadigraph]

Going back a decade when the Tiger Club were at Redhill, remember in my spotting days the pale blue signs on every entrance”Aircraft spotters not admitted”! As with many other aerodromes, didn’t take heed, never got thrown out.
I do recall those notices - one was by the bike racks which were alongside the Tiger Club's back door! Ah, that hangar...

[chevvron]

Nowadays there are people stealing whole engines, pricipally 'Rotax, plus electronic instrument displays.

[N707ZS]

The spotter and enthusiast is an easy target to blame.

[Private jet]

There's also the "Urban Explorer" brigade. A century 21 euphemism for trespasser, which legally is a "civil matter" so the property owner is next to powerless ( and the trespassers know it). If they do damage, then it becomes criminal, but good luck proving it to the level of proof required in a court of law.

[Abrahn]

There's also the "Urban Explorer" brigade. A century 21 euphemism for trespasser, which legally is a "civil matter" so the property owner is next to powerless ( and the trespassers know it). If they do damage, then it becomes criminal, but good luck proving it to the level of proof required in a court of law.

Trespass on a licensed aerodrome is not a purely civil matter.

[Private jet]

Trespass on a licensed aerodrome is not a purely civil matter.
If you say so.....:rolleyes: Doesn't say licensed airfield in the OP does it? Also the burden of proof still stands.

[India Four Two]

the only damage was to his dignity and a row of diamond cuts on his forehead from the flutes on the aileron

I think every Cessna driver has had a diamond embossed forehead at least once. I know I have!

[N707ZS]

We presume the tow bar will be stowed somewhere safe now instead of being a trip hazard.

[GrassRootsFlying]

We presume the tow bar will be stowed somewhere safe now instead of being a trip hazard.

Probably best you don’t come into our hangar then. Thank you for pointing that out.
Regards

[N707ZS]

I have been in many hangars over 40 years. Work and pleasure, the pleasure always asked or being invited. It was usually the pilots who caused the "its wasn't me" damage to the aircraft. One example a Pa 28 pushed back in a rush taking a lump out of a rudder.

[SWBKCB]

Perhaps enthusiasts should be asked for a contribution to airfield insurance costs? Our airfield insurance requires all non-members to be signed in and accompanied.

[BonnieLass]

When I was a teenager, I used to go to Cranfield every weekend to photograph the various aircraft there, especially on fly-in days which were fabulous cos you could stand and chat to the owners of the wonderful aircraft and, of course Rogers Aviation and their aircraft. After some months of visiting in all weathers I was invited into the Roger's hangars and was shown around the various aircraft that were there for maintenance. Such an enlightening time being able to pick the brains of those who worked on the aircraft. Time went on and this all lead to actually going up in many of those aircraft and on one occasion I was invited to sit in the sharp end of a Yugloslavian HS125 whilst they did engine tests (obviously I know that was a bit naughty - health and safety etc - but I was invited and was not about to refuse).

I would never, ever have considered entering those hangars without permission. Common sense alone told me that it had many potential dangers such as sharp edges, tow bars, wings etc (and I can relate to the diamond embossing since my first flight in a C152 ended with said markings, to which the owner of the aircraft told me, whilst giggling, that it was a rite of passage to obtain those marks when around high winged Cessna's)

However I did note that on public days and when people who were at the airfield to walk their dog or just enjoy a country stroll around the peri track that if the hangars were open, they would blindly wander in without permission (including hopping over the chain with a "do not enter" sign hanging from it) and when approached by staff the usual excuse was "I was looking for a loo". They were swiftly escorted back out and sent on their way crosslegged.

My time of exploring hangars sparked the love of aviation that I still have now, some 40 or so years later. But as said, I would never have been so arrogant as to enter those hangars without being invited first.

[ShyTorque]

Some folk have no social skills, just think they're entitled and that no rules should apply to them.

I have an unusual, open topped car and one day I parked it at the side of the road at a tourist spot while I nipped along to the chip shop. When I got back a few minutes later with my takeaway lunch there was a young child sitting in my car while his father took photos. I voiced my strong objection - the father spoke as if he thought I was being totally unreasonable!

[bobward]

Isn't the operative word here 'private'? I'd be pretty annoyed if someone toddled up my drive way and went poking around in my garage without permission!
Same principle, n'est pas?

[SWBKCB]

Isn't the operative word here 'private'? I'd be pretty annoyed if someone toddled up my drive way and went poking around in my garage without permission!
Same principle, n'est pas?

Or wander into your place of work and ask for a look around? Apparently having aircraft around makes it different.