Save IAH Spotting Areas

This petition urges the Houston Airport System and the City of
Houston to reopen the public aircraft observation area on Lee Road
and forego plans to close a similar area on Rankin Road at
Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The Lee Road
viewing area was closed on January 3, 2003, and the Rankin Road area
is to be closed in the near future as an overreaction to the failed
shoulder-mounted missile attack on an Israeli airliner in Kenya.
These fears were exaggerated by a recent news report on KTRK 13 in
Houston showing the proximity of the viewing areas to the airport.
In reality these areas do more to prevent such an attack, while also
providing a place for families and aviation enthusiasts to enjoy the
great views offered by our airport.

Our reasons for reopening the public observation areas:

1. Terrorists using this type of heat-seeking missile can do so
within several miles of an airport. They would most likely choose an
isolated area, rather than a public area full of aircraft spotters,
photographers, and families simply enjoying a fascination with
aircraft. The areas in question constantly have people coming and
going, and any suspicious activity would be noticed and reported.
In closing these areas, you are eliminating the largest and most
effective watchdog. Additionally, these areas are patrolled by
various law enforcement officers on a regular basis. If that
isn't enough, the Rankin Road area is situated no more than half
a mile from a Houston Police Department training facility. There
are numerous other facilities surrounding the airport, such as
parking lots, that haven't been closed in the interest of security
even though they provide a far more private and effective area for
such acts to take place.

2. The viewing areas are on land owned by the public. The airport
itself is public property, funded through federal and state grants,
as well as user fees levied on the airlines. We, as taxpayers and
travelers, pay for it in one way or another. The airport itself is
run by a group of public servants who therefore have an obligation
to act in the interests of Houstonians. Rather than have policy
shaped by erroneous media reports, we look to show that there is
strong public support against the new measures. We certainly
advocate anti-terrorism measures, but only so long as the
consequences of those measures are outweighed by the benefits.

3. The public's fascination with aviation has existed since the
Wright Brothers. Watching and photographing aircraft is one of our
liberties that should not be taken away by public servants for
unjustifiable reasons. The use of the term "security" is wearing
thin, as our liberties are being taken away one by one. We cannot
continue to tolerate such changes, even if they are as minor as
closing two airport observation areas. Every time these new changes
are enacted, terrorists have succeeded in perpetuating their
underlying mission in instilling fear, a fear that will, in all
likelihood, never be realized.

4. There are hundreds of aviation enthusiasts from all over the
world who travel through Houston and take advantage of these
observation areas. In fact, some travel to Houston for the sole
purpose of aircraft spotting and photography. These people spend
thousands of dollars on airfares, hotels, rental cars, meals, camera
equipment, film, etc. As evidence of this, Houston hosted the
Airliners International 2002 show from June 20-22, 2002, which
brought together hundreds of aviation enthusiasts. Events such as
this inject money into our economy and promote the exchange of
information between citizens of Houston and the rest of the world.
One would think these guests would be more than welcome here, but
thanks to the closure of the public viewing areas, a good portion of
them will look elsewhere for aviation photography. Not only is this
a bad economic decision, but it tarnishes the image of an otherwise
prosperous and wonderful city.

In conclusion we urge the Houston Airport System and the City of
Houston to reopen the public observation area at Lee Road and forego
plans to close the Rankin Road observation area.

Sincerely,