Dangerous Game U.K. Warns of Phony Air Traffic Controllers

The Associated Press L O N D O N, Aug. 27  Pilots in Britain are being told to beware of phony air traffic controllers. Britains air traffic watchdog has issued a safety alert after an accelerated number of instances in which radio hackers have posed as controllers and given false instructions to pilots. In all 20 cases reported in the United Kingdom so far this year, the pilots determined the instructions were bogus before acting on them, the Civil Aviation Authority said today. But, in its safety circular, the agency noted a significant increase in the number of reported occurrences of unauthorized and malicious transmissions being made on U.K. air traffic frequencies. In 1998, only three such cases were reported, but the number rose to 18 last year. The aviation authority noted it did not consider the problem a major safety issue since, before taking any action, pilots are required to read back instructions to controllers, who then can countermand the bogus information. The radio hackers also often use incorrect technology, which immediately tips off pilots, the authority said.

A Criminal Act But Richard Dawson, president of the Guild of Air Traffic Controllers, warned trouble could be ahead. This is a criminal act which could ultimately result in a serious accident, Dawson said. The problem is that the people making these spurious calls are mobile and can be very difficult to trace. The portable transmitters used by the hackers are supposed to be operated only with a license, but they can be bought by mail-order for as little as $450.

This is clearly a safety concern, and there need to be stricter controls on the sale of this equipment, said Carolyn Evans, technical secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association.

The Sunday Times reported that a plane landing at East Midlands Airport was given bogus instructions by a hacker last month. The genuine controllers did not hear the false transmission and were alerted only when they heard the planes crew speaking to someone else, the newspaper said. Realizing the aircraft could be in danger, a controller issued the frantic instruction Respond to my voice only!

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/airtraffic000827.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), August 27, 2000

Answers

Sunday Times

August 27 2000 BRITAIN

Radio hackers steer aircraft into danger

Jonathan Ungoed-Thomas and James Clark

RADIO hackers posing as air traffic controllers are endangering hundreds of lives by giving bogus instructions to pilots as they take off and land.

A criminal investigation has been launched after one plane last month was twice given false instructions by a hoaxer as it approached a British airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a safety alert after 19 similar incidents in the past eight months. "There has been a significant increase in the number of reported occurrences of unauthorised and malicious transmissions being made on UK air traffic frequencies," warns the CAA safety circular. They include fake distress calls and false instructions.

"This is a criminal act which could ultimately result in a serious accident," said Richard Dawson, president of the Guild of Air Traffic Controllers. "The problem is that the people making these spurious calls are mobile and can be very difficult to trace."

Last month a plane landing at East Midlands airport near Derby was given bogus instructions by someone purporting to be an air traffic controller. The genuine controllers did not hear the false transmission and were alerted only when the crew could be heard speaking to someone else. Realising the aircraft was in potential danger, one of the controllers issued the frantic instruction: "Respond to my voice only." A spokesman for the airport said last week: "A malicious transmission was made to an aircraft and a criminal investigation is under way."

Last November a man posing as an air traffic controller at Edinburgh airport gave a plane a bogus flight path but was foiled by alert controllers. Two months before, a radio ham at Manchester airport was de-tected issuing false commands to pilots who became suspicious because he was not using correct terms.

Pilots preparing to land have always been susceptible to interference from other radio traffic. Crews regularly complain of music from pirate stations suddenly broadcast into the cockpit and even conversations betw-een cab drivers. They are, however, anxious about the increasing menace posed by hoaxers' commands, usually heard only in the cockpit and not by traffic controllers. Although pilots always read back instructions, the fear is that a mistake or a communications breakdown could result in a tragedy.

The CAA circular highlights peculiarities that are likely to expose a bogus controller: "The malicious messages may sometimes be identified by a change in the individuality of the transmissions, [such as] the controller's voice characteristics."

In 1998, there were just three malicious transmissions; last year there were 18. The CAA has reported 20 so far this year. There have been no prosecutions. The portable transmitters used by the hoaxers can be operated only with a licence. They can, however, be bought by mail order for as little as #300. "This is clearly a safety concern and there need to be stricter controls on the sale of this equipment," said Carolyn Evans, technical secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association.

The government yesterday announced an investigation into potential danger from cabin air on passenger jets. The Sunday Times last week revealed new evidence of toxic leaks.

Additional reporting: Jason Frenkel

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), August 28, 2000.