The Melbourne Airport (Source: melbourneairport.com.au)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Phil Brennan, who writes:
Just a follow up from last week’s story regarding hoax transmissions on airline frequencies at Melbourne airports. An arrest has been made and, if found guilty, the person may face up to 20 years imprisonment. Heavy stuff. Here’s a link to the Aust Federal Police media release:
Man charged following unauthorised radio transmissions at Victorian airports
This is a joint media release with Airservices Australia and the Australian Communications and Media Authority
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged a 19-year-old Rockbank (Victorian) man with serious offences related to the alleged unlawful interference with air traffic control and endangering the safety of aircraft at two Victorian airports.
The arrest follows an AFP-led investigation with the assistance of Airservices Australia, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and Victoria Police.
Between 5 September 2016 and 3 November 2016, there were 16 separate unauthorised radio transmissions at Melbourne Airport and Avalon Airport causing interference with air traffic control.
On 21 November 2016, the AFP arrested a man and subsequently charged him with:
- four counts of endangering the safety of aircraft contrary to Section 25(2)(b) of the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991 (Cth); and
- one count of interference likely to endanger safety or cause loss or damage contrary to Section 194 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth)
The man is scheduled to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court this afternoon.
The AFP’s head of Crime Operations, acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Sheehan said this arrest demonstrates how law enforcement takes the safety of the airline industry very seriously.
“The current security measures in place for the airline industry are robust, and the traveling public should be reassured we are treating this matter appropriately,” acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Sheehan said.
“These incidents were thoroughly investigated by the AFP with the technical support of Airservices and the ACMA.
“The offences this 19-year-old man faces carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.”
“The AFP also acknowledges the close working relationship with Qantas and Virgin Australia Group and the assistance provided particularly during the early stages of the investigation,” he said.
Airservices said there is no current threat to the safety and security of the travelling public as a result of these alleged radio transmissions in Victoria.
“Airservices worked closely with the AFP throughout this investigation to ensure the safety and security of the travelling public,” Airservices Southern Operations Manager Steven Clarke said.
“Airservices has appropriate procedures, processes and systems in place to ensure the safety of aviation operations at Melbourne and Avalon airports, and across the country and for the travelling public,” Mr Clarke said.
The ACMA uses a range of technologies and techniques to investigate and locate the sources of unauthorized or interfering transmissions across the radio frequency spectrum.
The ACMA reminds members of the public that making unauthorised transmissions may constitute a serious offence under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth).
> Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
So close to having a great acronym (ACME)
In WW2, the allied convoys on the North Atlantic had means to locate the German submarines from the extremely short transmissions used to coordinate their attacks. These days the authorities have much better equipment to do so.
So think twice before you do a stunt like this!
BTW: Naturally there is hardly any information about electronic warfare. Public knowledge is hardly more than the existence of secret satelites and “listening stations” like in Bad Aibling here in Bavaria, Germany. From the distance between these stations you can derive that they communicate with quite low-flying satelites. Some of these should be “traditional” spy satelites with cameras.
Simply knowing the state of the art I am sure that many of these satelites listen to RF signals from the ground – including precise location finding. The location finding technology is even needed to separate different signals on the same frequency.
Compare this to the recent discussion here about recording a complete broadcasting band and analyzing it later. Take three or more satelites that do this and have them record their precise position along. The rest is simply number crunching.