Menu Sign In Contact FAQ
Banner
Welcome to our forums

Security at the GAT at larger airports

So far I’ve had the opportunity to experience security at the GAT of a few larger airports. The hassle one has to endure has been less than that for flying with an airline. What helps is that one is usually their only “customer”.

However, now I’ve been looking at some reports about flying into EDDS (Stuttgart), which I have to do next week, and I saw people reporting that even as the pilot one is not allowed to bring a beverage through security at the GAT.

Now I wonder what my rights as PIC actually are when someone wants to perform these security checks when I want to access the apron in order to get onto my own aircraft.

Frequent travels around Europe

Really? And I bet there is a vendor machine just behind the security fence? HSQMIP…. it’s all in the name of security…

No problem with beverages at ZRH GAT. At least I’ve never had a problem so far, nowhere.

LSZH(work) LSZF (GA base), Switzerland

In Stuttgart it all depends on who is on shift. They rotate with the main terminals and if they’re new to the GA, they do not know the rules. I have passed many times there with knifes, drinks, etc. When you have a problem, ask them to call the supervisor to educate them about the rules. Never had the situation in EDDS (even though I’ve passed it maybe 200 times) but had it once in Friedrichshafen EDNY where a call to the supervisor resolved the issue.

I remember an interesting occasion at Dresden EDDC where my passenger was not allowed to pass through GA security and had to be accompanied by a security guy.
That was a bit annoying as the security guy had to be called and it took a while for him to come over.
I (as a pilot) could just walk through security.

Other than that Dresden EDDC was a brilliant airport, just strange security regulations.

Makes perfect sense to ask for the supervisor. But I was curious about the rules itself.

I remember from PPL training – and that’s a long time ago – that as PIC I decide what goes on the aircraft and what stays on the ground. I also remember something about a list of dangerous goods that per ICAO rules are not be transported by air unless there is a special permission. We had the conversation about jerry cans where that also came up.

So … If I as PIC declare that item X goes on board, can security at the airport actually deny me to carry it?

What are the rules governing these things?

Frequent travels around Europe

Stephan_Schwab wrote:

So … If I as PIC declare that item X goes on board, can security at the airport actually deny me to carry it?

Stephan, I suggest you head over to Pprune and read up on the security Nazis at LHR. Admittedly, the UK is the worst country – by far! – for that, but it’s a pretty depressing read… doesn’t matter if you are in command of a PA28 or a 777…..

Warsaw Modlin EPMO the other day found it necessary to ‘confiscate’ a bottle of whiskey from my bag despite my being ‘escorted’ by handling staff. Once it went in the disposal bin they were not allowed to recover it despite protests! Can’t imagine what happened to it later of course! Grrr…

EGBW / KPRC, United Kingdom

Stephan_Schwab wrote:

So … If I as PIC declare that item X goes on board, can security at the airport actually deny me to carry it?

I’ve always regarded these checks not so much about what items go flying but what items go air-side on the airport premises. While I may be in charge of what I carry aboard my flight, I’d say the airport may very well define certain items (hopefully not a bottle of water but maybe weapons) as undesired to be carried along TO the aircraft. A bit like those hotels who do those checks for anyone entering the lobby (not so much in Western Europe, but certainly the norm e.g. in India).

Hungriger Wolf (EDHF), Germany

I have to admit that it does annoy me that random people suspect me of preparing a major crime when I do nothing else but board my own means of transportation. A security check at the entrance of a hotel would certainly annoy me unless it is clear from the circumstances like a hotel in a war zone.

To me there is no point in checking my stuff when I get driven by an airport employee from the GAT to my aircraft and upon arrival I immediately go about preparing for the flight. Maybe it would be smarter and less expensive to watch that I actually board my aircraft and not stroll around the apron. There is an American security guy who calls it Security Theater what is being performed to make the general public feel safe. I tend to agree.

There is another aspect. When I buy an airline ticket I usually give away certain rights as part of the contract. I have to accept whatever they (airline, airport, etc.) deem necessary or not use their service. So I have a choice. When I park my own aircraft at a random airport where I legally landed and leave through the GAT – potentially with items they don’t like – nobody checks me or my stuff. It’s when I come back to get access to my property that I am forced to undergo a screening or be denied access to my property or be stripped off another property. Obviously, there are different types of airports and it is very likely that I fly in from an airport with no screening nor access control to one that feels the need to screen GA pilots. There is no logic in that.

There is no problem asking someone to produce a pilot license before allowing access to the apron or execute the rights as PIC I’m asking about. But once that has been established everything else should stop.

Frequent travels around Europe

…and I saw people reporting that even as the pilot one is not allowed to bring a beverage through security at the GAT.

Don’t believe all the nonsense people write on the internet. I stopped reading reports and product reviews on the internet years ago. A simple waste of time.
At EDDS (my homebase since 1989) as pilot you can carry almost everything, apart from weapons and tools unless you have a special permit. Even your passengers can carry what they want. The security personnel will put a label on any bag that contains liquides and items like pocket knives and inform you about it, so that you can place those bags in a baggage compartment.

EDDS - Stuttgart
44 Posts
Sign in to add your message

Back to Top