MassPort Badging? What?

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ajalali

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hi im andy
Hey so, anyone that flies out of massachusettes knows at most Class D and C airports, massport requires badges just to walk out onto the ramp. What's kinda weird about it is the fact that you can get escorted to and from your plane by someone with a badge and actually fly out of the airport.
I learned how to fly at Boeing Field in Washington, where Boeing finalizes their 737s and tinkers with some electronic military aircraft (like AWACS), not to mention the USMC Hornets that come in weekly. NO badge needed at all to walk out on the ramp or fly.

When I was getting fingerprinted to get my MassPort badge (its a three week process), I asked the cop why they do this, and he pulled the terrorism card, actually saying, and I quote, "Well, we don't want terrorists walking out there and flying planes into buildings."


I see where they are coming from. Yeah, security is for sure an issue. But isn't it with everything? On top of that, what about airports like Boeing Field, where the airplanes are WAY bigger and VIPs fly in weekly. And who's to say that background check is foolproof anyway? What do y'all think?
 
I'll take the airport badges more seriously as soon as they take into account what can be done with a rental truck like the size all of my household goods are currently sitting in.

How was the Oklahoma building and first Trade Center bombing accomplished, again?
 
I couldn't agree with you more man, I'm convinced they do it to suck the last 75 bucks out of you.
 
It's all security theater. I've long ago given up asking why these measures are put in place. There's no security benefit to any of them.

The county recently put up a new fence at my airport, complete with one of those electronic code gates. I'm sure that putting that fence there wasn't cheap. Only problem is that it's only about 4' tall. Nobody knows the combination, and it's easier to just reach over the fence and open the door from the other side than to bother getting the combo. It's a joke.

I was just at Ontario Intl (LA). The FBO I was at closed at 10pm, something I didn't realize in advance. I was trying to get back to my plane, and was ready to climb over the fence, but I noticed that the airport police station was right next door, so I asked some cops standing outside how I could get on the field. You'd think that'd be suspicious, but no, they were happy to help. Turned out the FBO folks were still around and waiting for me anyways.

Just remember, other than costing us money, airport security is a joke. It only inconveniences the good guys.

-Felix
 
It's totally stupid, but you're just going to have to suck it up like the rest of us and deal.
After you pay the initial $75, it goes down to $30 to renew. If anyone wants to PM me about how asinine the whole thing is, I will be happy to listen and to tell you some stories.
 
1) Ma$$port only operates KBOS and KBED. They don't have any control of
any other airport in taxachusetts.

2) Yeah, the measures in place at KBED are over-the-top and don't
provide any actual security.
 
Bob Noel said:
1) Ma$$port only operates KBOS and KBED. They don't have any control of
any other airport in taxachusetts.

2) Yeah, the measures in place at KBED are over-the-top and don't
provide any actual security.
Click to expand...

And KORH...Worcester.
 
I'm pretty sure either Lawrence (KLWM) or Beverly (KBVY) does to... I don't remember which one though.
 
ajalali said:
I'm pretty sure either Lawrence (KLWM) or Beverly (KBVY) does to... I don't remember which one though.
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As far as I remember, neither.

KBOS, KBED, KORH. All the places that either have or have had airline service.

KBED no longer has airline service.
Whatever KORH has for airline service is a joke. No one can land there if the wx is bad...they go to mins before anyone else in the state due to the fact that they are 1000' up from BED and BOS.
 
KBED no longer has PanAm flying out of it? Too bad...

When I got my badge (before moving to CA) I was told the reason for it was because of the airline service. If that is gone now and the badges still are in use, I imagine this is now a self-perpetuating bureaucracy.
 
deafsound said:
Whatever KORH has for airline service is a joke. No one can land there if the wx is bad...they go to mins before anyone else in the state due to the fact that they are 1000' up from BED and BOS.
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Worcester (ORH) had its last airliine operation in 2006, yet they still maintain ARFF crash crews, and a host of other expenses 'just in case'.

After almost twelve hours as a tenent at Worcester, I left for Spencer, five miles to the west.

The owner of the Radio Shop was detained by security for three hours because they caught him on his ramp , upside doen under the panel of a customer's plane, without his badge.

I only use ORH when it's hot and I'm fully loaded. I flown empty from Spencer to Worcester to pick up my brothers, and used their 7000 foot runway to take off heavy.
 
This was a biggie in my belief that AOPA went soft. When this happened, I didn't hear a peep out of AOPA.
 
Perhaps you are confusing Ma$$port with the Massachusetts Aeronautical Commission.
 
Bob Noel said:
Perhaps you are confusing Ma$$port with the Massachusetts Aeronautical Commission.
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I'm not really sure. I hava a MAC badge from Spencer as an aircraft owner. I've heard that the ORH based pilots must get fingerprinted and pay for a background check. I don't know if the MAC badge is tied to that, or if there is another Massport badge, or how it is controlled.

I'm pretty sure my badge expired in 2006, but I'd have to check. I know Gregg (owns Spencer airport) got a nice digital camera from MAC to take the pictures.
 
I had to get a badge at my home airport, Republic in Farmingdale NY (KFRG). You pay $70 and have to take an on-line test where you can keep on redoing the question until you get it right.
 
deafsound said:
As far as I remember, neither.

KBOS, KBED, KORH. All the places that either have or have had airline service.

KBED no longer has airline service.
Whatever KORH has for airline service is a joke. No one can land there if the wx is bad...they go to mins before anyone else in the state due to the fact that they are 1000' up from BED and BOS.
Click to expand...


so, i found the thing about the beverly badges... but it doesn't say if it's massport or not. Whatever, doesn't matter, but here it is.

"All pilots and plane owners, Identification badges required to enter airfield. Please obtain ID badges at managers office located in the airport administration building, east side."

http://www.beverlyairport.com/forpilots.php
 
Airport badging in MA is just plain stoopid. When the system was first talked about, it was decided to standardize the access throughout the 33 airports. As it happened, because of the security mandates, most of the airports opted for their own systems. As a result, my airport badge at MARSHFIELD doesn't get me into LAWRENCE so I had to get a separate LAWRENCE badge. The good news is that LAWRENCE only charged me $20 for 3 years where MARSHFIELD, where my plane is based, charges me $35 a year (to the MARSHFIELD AIRPORT COMMISSION at that). The result is 33 separate access systems and routines.
LAWRENCE is not a MASSPORT airport. It has its own rules (and we are all so much better for it). MASSPORT is like any other MA agency. Just show them the money.
MA Aeronautics Commission charges (and can, by law) $165 a year for a single engine under 2,500 pounds. It goes up from there. This is in lue of a MA state Excise or sales tax on aircraft or aircraft parts. Of course, this year, they wanted to add the tax without repealing MAC's authority to collect.
And let us not forget that MASSPORT charges generous landing fees at all of their airports. PARKING. Don't forget the proplock. If you do, you can rent one for $15 a day. And the B-17 is flying out of LAWRENCE this weekend because MASSPORT wanted an armed detail 24/7.
 
SkyHog said:
This was a biggie in my belief that AOPA went soft. When this happened, I didn't hear a peep out of AOPA.
Click to expand...

You should read more.

AOPA was all over it along with Michigan and New York passing their own laws to register and fingerprint pilots and flight students nad various states mandating prop locks. They made it known that the FAA regulates pilots and we have enough cow-towing pols in DC to cover any knee jerk vote grabs.
 
I just called BEVERLY. I asked if either of my badges would allow me access. The person I spoke with said the pedestrian gates are not secured because there is no federal requirements.
Guess THEY are not a MASSPORT airport either.
The access badges are regulated by MA Aeronautics Commission.
 
rcigliano said:
I had to get a badge at my home airport, Republic in Farmingdale NY (KFRG). You pay $70 and have to take an on-line test where you can keep on redoing the question until you get it right.
Click to expand...
What are the questions? How do you open a gate?
 
John;

I use to be based at OWD up untill 2002. They were getting the photo ID system up and running when I moved to Maryland. I know when I was still there we had to get "put on a list" to get the gate codes plus we make sure our planes were in the listed location or tie down. I was in a community hanger and they did check quite offten. The Students had to get on a list as well at that time.

I have heard that there have been changes made that make life a little more difficult. When I was last there the transients had to sign in and out simular to the ORH procedure.

I was based at OWD for 18 years and it was a nice field that was very easy to use and be based at. Sadly that will never be again.

John J
 
silver-eagle said:
What are the questions? How do you open a gate?
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You had to pas the test in order to get approved for the badge. It asked questions about airport security. Once you passed the test and paid the $70, you received the badge which is sent to the FBO where you pick it up. You need to be an aircraft owner or affiliated with an FBO in order to get a badge.

The badge opens the gates.
 
mikea said:
You should read more.

AOPA was all over it along with Michigan and New York passing their own laws to register and fingerprint pilots and flight students nad various states mandating prop locks. They made it known that the FAA regulates pilots and we have enough cow-towing pols in DC to cover any knee jerk vote grabs.
Click to expand...

Reference? I don't buy it (I looked everywhere when it was happening and never heard a response from AOPA once).
 
SkyHog said:
Reference? I don't buy it (I looked everywhere when it was happening and never heard a response from AOPA once).
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They started requiring MAC badges around the same time they stopped collecting sales tax on aircraft.


Their claim was that they were trying to track an increase in in-state aviation.

At least that's what I heard they told the Mass Airport Manager's Association (MAMA)
 
Just received mine for Worcester(ORH) since they are managed by MassPort I needed to go through their security check also they now require me to leave my badge with my flight school when leaving the airport.

The airport lost all their commercial airline business so the only busines they have is GA and they treat us like they are doing us a favor!

I like working with the tower otherwise I'd find another field and have some fun for a change!
 
SkyHog said:
Reference? I don't buy it (I looked everywhere when it was happening and never heard a response from AOPA once).
Click to expand...
AOPA sues Michigan, says the state's pilot background check law is unconstitutional
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2002/02-3-060.html
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AOPA sues New York over pilot background check law
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2006/061207nysuit.html]
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AOPA asks judge to overturn N.Y. background check law

AOPA filed a motion for summary judgment in federal court last week, asking the judge to overturn the state's requirement that student pilots have a background check and receive permission from the state's commissioner of criminal justice information services before receiving flight training. In its lawsuit, AOPA contends that the law is unconstitutional because the regulation of aviation has been reserved to the federal government.
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2007/070412ny.html
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State alcohol law preempted
http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2003/pc0311.htmll
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TSA says, "Pilot and airport security is our responsibility"
Letter bolsters AOPA's federal case against Michigan law

Apr. 15, 2003 — In a letter to AOPA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says in no uncertain terms that individual states have no authority to require pilot background security checks; that power lies solely with the federal government.
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-2-044.html
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AOPA Action New York background checks law hurts flight schools

A New York law enacted last year requiring criminal background checks of flight school students has hurt business in the state. AOPA and seven New York flight schools have joined together, suing the state to have the law repealed.

One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, East Hill Flying Club, has been unable to sign up any new students since the law took effect.

Another plaintiff, American Flyers, is not accepting any new students at its Westchester County Airport facility and will close that flight school as soon as its current students complete training, in part because of the New York law's requirements.

Five other plaintiffs have also experienced--or anticipate experiencing--significant economic losses because of the law.
http://www.aopa.org/members/ftmag/article.cfm?article=5878
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http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2002/020628alert.htm
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2004/041022virtual.html
http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/epilot/2005/050715epilot.html

That's all I found in a few minutes. Maybe if you were an AOPA member you could make a better judgement of what AOPA is doing or has done.
 
mikea said:
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2002/020628alert.htm
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2004/041022virtual.html
http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/epilot/2005/050715epilot.html

That's all I found in a few minutes. Maybe if you were an AOPA member you could make a better judgement of what AOPA is doing or has done.
Click to expand...

None of those links point to Massport or anything having to do with the crap they're pulling there.

Massport requiring special badges to get on the ramp, requiring special locks for the props, requiring escorts at all times when on the ramps for transient traffic, etc.

Michigan and New York happened years ago, before they shifted focus 100% to User Fees. The Massport garbage happened later.

If you do find a reference, Mike, try not to be so snotty in the response too, its unbecoming of you. I'll become a member again when Phil's gone, and/or AOPA decides to operate as an advocate for general aviation again.
 
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>t looks like AOPA cooperated with Mass on the badges.

I doubt ma$$port took any suggestions from anybody wrt badges.
 
MassPort can you say Nazi Germany? OK BOS being a Bravo/International airport fine I don't think I'll ever fly into there so I don't care but holding all the other Airports to the same standards is crazy just F'n crazy:eek:.
Everything stated above which may seem stupid or ridiculous to those not living during the reign of MassPort its all true sad but all true. But being Nazichausetts its to be expected and it keeps all the politicians relatives gainfully employed, their work? Hassling us who pay their salaries. And don't get me going on their gun control bull****.
Now its 11:30 and I to ****ed to get some sleep!
 
silver-eagle said:
I just called BEVERLY. I asked if either of my badges would allow me access. The person I spoke with said the pedestrian gates are not secured because there is no federal requirements.
Guess THEY are not a MASSPORT airport either.
The access badges are regulated by MA Aeronautics Commission.
Click to expand...

Hey John, it's been awhile! What amuses me most about the 'security' at MA airports, which is supposedly mandated by MAC is the fact that while some fields have fences and high-tech badge systems we also have those fields like PYM and CQX where just about anyone that can lift the latch on the fence can make their way onto the field.
 
jcb8282 said:
Hey John, it's been awhile! What amuses me most about the 'security' at MA airports, which is supposedly mandated by MAC ...
Click to expand...

Right after 9/11, MAC came out with a new list of security requirements, which included an 8 foot perimeter fence, and 24/7 armed security guards. They shortly revised those, and most of the requirements becan with the phrase "The airport operator may..."

I fly from a privately owned, public-use airport in Massachusetts. The only fence is around the pool.
 
Actually, they have required badges at Boeing Field for years now. At least as long as I have been a tenant, which is about 8 years.
 
News to me, unless maybe it was for people who parked their planes at north/south/wherever parking. Were you parked there?

I didn't and still don't have a yellow badge, and I've never been confronted about it. However, I DID have a Red Badge because I worked at Wings, but when I was flying, I took it off and left it in my car...

And plus, when i did refuel planes at north and south parking, none of the tenants had badges...not visible at least.
 
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Anyone with flightline access at BFI is required to display a badge. However, I never do, and most do not. I have only been questioned a couple times about it.

All tenants are required to be badged. I'm at the NE hangars,.. it's the same at the tie-downs.
 
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