Authorisation to listen to ATC will be given in some ridiculously complicated piece of UK aviation legislation. How about we look for it? It you’re authorised, it’s legal to listen. If not, it’s a criminal offence. It’s really not open to “reasonable argument”.
Either way, listening on a scanner from the ground, and recording and putting it on the Internet for everyone to hear is a criminal offence. Ofcom’s guidance is unambiguous and direct.
A few data points:
Jan_Olieslagers wrote:
And what information would one obtain by using a transmitter?
Who cares? Such a “contract” is probably illegal seen in relation to current privacy laws in any case, as long as the transmissions are not encrypted. It doesn’t look like they will be encrypted in any foreseeable future.
I think jan was taking the p1ss by asking
And what information would one obtain by using a transmitter
to which the answer is obviously NONE.
Aviathor wrote:
US airlines used to broadcast ATC on the passenger entertainment system so everybody onboard could listen to it from pushback to landing.
I believe United still does that on international flights, at Captain’s discretion. I’ve enjoyed it on transatlantic flights and once listened ATC on channel 9 for the entire flight. I was surprised to hear Air Canada flights speaking French with ATC in Quebec, and enjoyed hearing the protocol for checking in to ATC when reaching Europe after a period of radio silence.
I got some input on this from a long-time insider in the business…
So, still no evidence of prosecutions in the aviation sphere.
One might wonder why the law is still in place. Useless old laws tend to get repealed, eventually. My guess is that the law still suits some parties, because there is so much potential for ridiculing someone who you heard on the air.
I understand that in Germany one is not allowed to publish ATC conversations publicly.
There is a similar law in Sweden, but with the exception that you are not allowed to publish communications that was not intended for you.
So now back to my original question, is it similar in Germany? Is it ok to publish conversation that I myself had with ATC, as long as I cut out anything else not related to me?
Are there any other ways to go around this law? E.g. cutting out the ATC audio and typing the conversation with letters in the video? Or using voiceover with the same talk as the original audio, where everything is reproduced using my own voice?
The relevant law is § 206 of the German Penal Code.
It is very strict. The predominant interpretation is that you have to have consent of all parties involved in an ATC communication to avoid the infraction. That means it is generally prohibited to distribute any recordings of radio communication in German airspace.
So it is ok if it is not a recording?
Wer unbefugt einer anderen Person eine Mitteilung über Tatsachen macht, die dem Post- oder Fernmeldegeheimnis unterliegen
Those who without authorization inform a third party about facts that are protected by the postal or telecommunication secret…
Whatever means. The information itself is protected and the fact that the communication took place. In reality a lot of people ignore it but it is the law and you can be prosecuted.
