Plane enthusiasts on security detail at Calgary airport

People who enjoy watching airplanes take off and land have volunteered to improve security at the Calgary airport.

Plane spotters hang out at the airport watching planes, sometimes armed with binoculars, radio scanners and cameras.

About 40 regular spotters have formed a new group called the Calgary Airport Watch Program, which has the support of the Calgary Airport Authority and the RCMP.

Dedicated spotters know the airport and can tell when something unusual is going on such as a drug deal or someone taking photos of airport facilities, said plane spotter Mark McWhirter.

"It can be something as small as if there's a coyote on the runway," he said."You know who to deal with and that way you don't have to worry about it being hit by an aircraft."

More eyes on airport

The Calgary Airport Authority welcomed the help with security and airfield safety.

To join the new group, spotters will have to pass a police background check. If they qualify, they will be given special clothing to make it easier to identify them once the program begins in the fall.

An airport or plane can be a target for criminals, said Sgt Terrance Zeniuk of the RCMP.

"It is something that we see as being very, very important and inevitably the more eyes and ears you have in the community who are helping you harden that facility, the less of a target we hope it will become," he said.