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Took the family to the Alliance Airshow yesterday. They had generic signs posted indicating no Firearms other weapons, coolers, etc., could be taken into the show. However, they had no metal detectors or other searches going on at entrance.

Thought ya'll migh like a couple of pics;

Pilot's seat of an Apache helicopter;


F/A 18 Superhornet making a high speed run. A fine aircraft;


An F16 Falcon, F15 Strike Eagle and a WWII fighter.


FAT ALBERT, the Blue Angle's C130 making a high performance take off. They accelerate to 150 knots, rotate to 45 degrees nose up, and light the Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO)


Fat Albert low altitude run.

Angels on the flight Line;


Saddle UP!


18" of seperation;


Planes 5 and 6 doing a high speed, minimal seperation opposing pass.


Another high speed pass by the solo pilots;

Thanks for those pictures.

I took my young son to these shows for years and now he's lead tech on Apaches. Stationed overseas and loving it.

Brought back some good memories. Kid on my shoulders, loud roars and the smell of Jet fuel.

I haven't actually gone to the Alliance Airshow in years. We are close enough that the Blue Angels rattle the house windows and set off the car alarm when they fly over. They start practicing early in the week of the airshow, so by the weekend, I have seen their show about a half dozen times.

Glad to know you enjoyed it, though!

A friend at work used to be crew chief on Fat Albert.

Thanks for the pics.

Great pics! Thanks for posting.

I have some more as well, Ill post em up in this thread once I get off my lazy butt.

Considering that the ramp at AFW is considered an Aircraft Operations Area (AOA) any firearms not in checked bags was a violation of Federal as well as Texas law. Yes, it's an industrial airport but the AOA rules apply.

wheelgun1958 wrote:Considering that the ramp at AFW is considered an Aircraft Operations Area (AOA) any firearms not in checked bags was a violation of Federal as well as Texas law. Yes, it's an industrial airport but the AOA rules apply.

Can you show me the Texas law carry there would have violated?

txinvestigator wrote:

wheelgun1958 wrote:Considering that the ramp at AFW is considered an Aircraft Operations Area (AOA) any firearms not in checked bags was a violation of Federal as well as Texas law. Yes, it's an industrial airport but the AOA rules apply.

Can you show me the Texas law carry there would have violated?

Don't know about Texas law, but as someone who works inside the AOA of an airport, I can guarantee you it's against federal law.

The WWII fighter with the F-15E and the F-16 looks like a P-47 Thunderbolt.

elb

packina40 wrote:

txinvestigator wrote:

wheelgun1958 wrote:Considering that the ramp at AFW is considered an Aircraft Operations Area (AOA) any firearms not in checked bags was a violation of Federal as well as Texas law. Yes, it's an industrial airport but the AOA rules apply.

Can you show me the Texas law carry there would have violated?

Don't know about Texas law, but as someone who works inside the AOA of an airport, I can guarantee you it's against federal law.

If it was AOA, they would not allow the public to enter in the first place. There are waivers for this kind of thing.

Renegade wrote:

packina40 wrote:

txinvestigator wrote:

wheelgun1958 wrote:Considering that the ramp at AFW is considered an Aircraft Operations Area (AOA) any firearms not in checked bags was a violation of Federal as well as Texas law. Yes, it's an industrial airport but the AOA rules apply.

Can you show me the Texas law carry there would have violated?

Don't know about Texas law, but as someone who works inside the AOA of an airport, I can guarantee you it's against federal law.

If it was AOA, they would not allow the public to enter in the first place. There are waivers for this kind of thing.

You don't get close enough to take pictures on airplanes on the ramp without being in the AOA. Anytime you're in an Airport Operations Area, you're subject to screening by TSA, and must meet the requirements for entering the passenger secure area of the terminal building.

That they weren't screening at Alliance astounds me. Local airshows in this area include metal detector and x-ray screening, and you don't get in with a pocketknife, much less a handgun.

I have just a little experience in the concept...I'm an air traffic controller, I work and park inside the AOA, and I'm subject to TSA screening....although as a "known face" it's usually just an ID check and waved past.

Texas law doesn't matter here, we're talking Federal law...Texas law doesn't address a post office, either, but it's still illegal to carry there.

I have not been able to find any Federal Code that prohibits carrying in an AOA per se.

Title 49, § 1540.111 says you can't enter a 'sterile' area with a loaded firearm. Sterile area is defined as 'a portion of an airport defined in the airport security program that provides passengers access to boarding aircraft and to which the access generally is controlled by TSA, or by an aircraft operator under part 1544 of this chapter or a foreign air carrier under part 1546 of this chapter, through the screening of persons and property.'

IANAL, but the way I read it if they chose to open the area without screening during the air show, then it would not be classified as a sterile area, so would not be prohibited by Title 49.

I think it really depends on the airport and mode of operation it is in at the time. I know several private pilots that carry while they fly. If they are not required to go through a screening process to get to their plane, then they can carry.

You can read Title 49, Subpart 1540 here

packina40 wrote: That they weren't screening at Alliance astounds me. Local airshows in this area include metal detector and x-ray screening, and you don't get in with a pocketknife, much less a handgun.

These air shows have been going on for decades. Is this the first one you ever heard of? I have been on the flight line at DFW, Love, Alliance, and dozens of military bases. They get a waiver from the usual rules. They also often let celebrities and media fly with them during pre-show practice.

At LAFB, they even let me in the cockpit of an F15. This in spite of the sign that clearly read " NO TRESPASSING. USE OF DEADLY FORCE AUTHORIZED". At Love, I was allowed to walk up and touch an F117 right after DS. Of course other A/C such as C130, C5, Chinook, and AWACS, they let you hop right on.

They have never searched at any air show I have been to. I was at Alliance a decade ago when Ross Perot Jr, flew a Mig-25. Of course he paid for it and did a pre-flight, but he just hopped in and took-off.

As an ATC have you ever been on the runway of DFW? I have (OK, it was inactive at the time) Well if you want, you can if you go tomorrow. They are having the annual run/walk. They got a waiver, cause normally you are not allowed to walk on the runways.