Scanners Prohibited at Air Show

[AD0JP]

The Great Colorado Air Show is this weekend, October 16th and 17th, 2021. It is being held at a civilian airport, Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL).
On the Air Show web site there is a big banner of must read information. Scanners are not listed there as prohibited items. However, looking at their FAQ
page under Entry Restrictions, Walkie-talkies, HAM radios, scanners are prohibited. I understand the restrictions on transmitters, due to potential
interference. I also know that some military bases prohibit scanners. This is the first time that I have seen a prohibition on scanners at a civilian airport
during an air show. See https://www.greatcoloradoairshow.com/faq/ and look under ENTRY RESTRICTIONS.

 

[belvdr]

I wonder if their intent is not to have a bunch of speaker blaring various conversations, based solely on their wording. If that's the case, I wonder if they would let you in if you had ear buds with it.

 

[wtp]

maybe some folks brought in two-way radios and said they were scanners.
most people can't tell the difference.

 

[W9WSS]

I heard of a past story where attendees at a race track couldn't bring in hand-held scanners unless they rented them from the site's vendor. I don't know the name of the vendor which had exclusive rights for scanner rental, or which race track this came from. If that were the case, I'd find something else to occupy my time like basket weaving or making blankets out of Club t-shirts (just kidding of course). Have a great day in whatever form or activity you choose.

 

[bob550]

I wonder if their intent is not to have a bunch of speaker blaring various conversations, based solely on their wording.

It's an airshow, not a golf tournament! I doubt that "blaring" speakers would contribute to the noise already flooding an airshow.

 

[belvdr]

It's an airshow, not a golf tournament! I doubt that "blaring" speakers would contribute to the noise already flooding an airshow.

Got me; I've never been to one. Just speculation.

 

[SurgePGH]

The Great Colorado Air Show is this weekend, October 16th and 17th, 2021. It is being held at a civilian airport, Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL).
On the Air Show web site there is a big banner of must read information. Scanners are not listed there as prohibited items. However, looking at their FAQ
page under Entry Restrictions, Walkie-talkies, HAM radios, scanners are prohibited. I understand the restrictions on transmitters, due to potential
interference. I also know that some military bases prohibit scanners. This is the first time that I have seen a prohibition on scanners at a civilian airport
during an air show. See https://www.greatcoloradoairshow.com/faq/ and look under ENTRY RESTRICTIONS.

REALLY seems like a cut and paste from who knows where. Walkie Talkies, HAM Radios, Scanners BUT no direct mention of air band radios. The line about CBD being illegal on all federal installations seems suspect. CBD is not a drug if the THC levels are below the federal threshold. This airshow isn't being held on a federal airfield is it? That entire section just seems bizarre.

 

[N9JCQ]

Usually, they have those restrictions at air shows on military bases, not at civilian airports.

 

[prcguy]

I would contact the airport and ask if the ban is just for the air show or are scanners simply banned all the time at the airport. The airport is probably considered private property and they can make up whatever rules they want, even thought they don't make sense. You can certainly watch the show from just outside the boundary of the airport on public land and I would dare someone to try and prohibit my scanner in that case.

 

[natedawg1604]

Realistically it's a question of how serious they are about ENFORCING this. Also, don't bring any SCANNERS, instead IF (and only IF) security asks, tell them it's a sports radio or weather radios etc. You might laugh but it's worked for me on several occasions at very big events. Just be creative and discreet and you'd be surprised what people won't notice...

 

[iMONITOR]

See https://www.greatcoloradoairshow.com/faq/ and look under ENTRY RESTRICTIONS.

It clearly says scanners are restricted.

 

[bearcatrp]

Screw them. sneak it in.

 

[bob550]

Got me; I've never been to one. Just speculation.

Well then, from one who's attended multiple air shows over the years, let me help your imagination. You're standing in a crowd of thousands of screaming humans watching the Blue Angels flying 6 F/A-18 Super Hornets as low as 1500 feet above your head. The experience gives new meaning to the term "noise". Then when you aren't suspecting, a single jet flies 50 feet over your head from behind the crowd. If you manage not to pee yourself, you'll have an experience you won't forget.

 

[GlobalNorth]

If you've ever been to an NHRA drag race, a NASCAR 250 miler, or a pro tractor pull... an air show is logarithmically louder.

 

[paulears]

Surely this is just a case of being covert on entry. There are people who blast their scanners through speakers, and maybe this annoys them. In your pocket with earphones in nobody will notice. Or make up a permit in Photoshop. Use a logo and make it look official and stick it in a laminate on a lanyard.

 

[AJAT]

Or make up a permit in Photoshop. Use a logo and make it look official and stick it in a laminate on a lanyard.

Just wear this and yellow vest. It will get you in anywhere with a hundred radios hanging off your belt.

 

[superdeez]

It's because the staff, who is unfamiliar with radio technology, may be unable to determine the difference between a scanner and a handheld airband transceiver, with which one might wreak havoc. That's probably their #1 concern with noise being #2.

Sanford airshow is the same way. I was going to go with my folks, but we screwed up on the date and missed it by a week. The folks couldn't go and I couldn't get off of work in time, so I decided to stop by after my night shift at another airport. I tried to bring in a folding chair and a Sporty's SP-125 and was told I could either have them "confiscated" and enter the show or put them back in my vehicle and promptly take the vehicle home. I chose the latter. Since my work can take me onto another airfield, I guess I get my own airshow all the time anyway.

 

[wtp]

go for the obvious...
take the antenna off and put it against your head like it is a phone and keep talking to it as you walk by...
(this is dependent on size of course)

 

[iMONITOR]

go for the obvious...
take the antenna off and put it against your head like it is a phone and keep talking to it as you walk by...
(this is dependent on size of course)

Yes size matters!

 

[wtp]

i could never get in with my pro2001 and the car battery....

actually i had a pro2001, and a CB (trc451) bolted together and a car battery when i did security decades ago.
the radios were on top and the battery was in a plastic milk crate.