Washington Post: Surveillance planes spotted over Baltimore

Here is an interesting article from the Washington Post concerning an aircraft spotted by a Baltimore resident and what he found out after he did a little digging.

The plane appeared to be a small Cessna, but little else was clear. The sun had already set, making traditional visual surveillance difficult. So, perplexed, Shayne tweeted: “Anyone know who has been flying the light plane in circles above the city for the last few nights?”

That was 9:14 p.m. Seven minutes later came a startling reply. One of Shayne’s nearly 600 followers tweeted back a screen shot of the Cessna 182T’s exact flight path and also the registered owner of the plane: NG Research, based in Bristow, Va.

“The Internet,” Shayne, 39, told his wife, “is an amazing thing.” What Shayne’s online rumination helped unveil was a previously secret, multi-day campaign of overhead surveillance by city and federal authorities during a period of historic political protest and unrest.

Washington Post Article

I wanted to share this with the members here that are interested in who might be looking at us when TSHTF.... or even when it isn't, maybe.
Dang... I should have added this (from the WP article):

The FBI declined to comment on the flights. Capt. Eric Kowalczyk, a Baltimore Police Department spokesman, referred questions about the flights to the FBI.

So, ask them, but don't hold your breath waiting for an answer.....

a reply to: butcherguy

Welcome to the surveillance state, where everything you do is being watched and documented by someone somewhere for your own good and the safety of the public. Don't ask questions though, because it is all a matter of national security.

originally posted by: SpaDe_
a reply to: butcherguy

Welcome to the surveillance state, where everything you do is being watched and documented by someone somewhere for your own good and the safety of the public. Don't ask questions though, because it is all a matter of national security.

Since it is the FBI that is apparently orchestrating the operation, I don't see that any laws are being broken here. But it is good to keep track of what they are doing and how they operate... just to be ready for the future.

a reply to: butcherguy

I agree that there were no laws being broken because it was all in plain view in public. I just don't like that when asked they completely dodge the question. I wonder if anyone has filed a FOIA request about it?

a reply to: butcherguy

NG Research - The Ng research group in the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech performs work in aerosol chemistry.

NG Research Website

Why would they be flying a plane so close to an urban area when they specialise in "Aerosol Chemistry"?

originally posted by: SpaDe_
a reply to: butcherguy

I agree that there were no laws being broken because it was all in plain view in public. I just don't like that when asked they completely dodge the question. I wonder if anyone has filed a FOIA request about it?

Agreed.
They are our government and should be transparent in these domestic cases, IMO.

originally posted by: flammadraco
a reply to: butcherguy

NG Research - The Ng research group in the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech performs work in aerosol chemistry.

NG Research Website

Why would they be flying a plane so close to an urban area when they specialise in "Aerosol Chemistry"?

Very good question.... this is looking a little more complicated now, eh?

a reply to: butcherguy

I bet it was a flying stingray device used to spoof everyones phones. They send out a signal that looks like a ligitimate cell tower, they then eavesdrop on the conversation and collect the texts and pictures. They use them on drug bust operations in Clearwater Fl.

originally posted by: Mandroid7
a reply to: butcherguy

I bet it was a flying stingray device used to spoof everyones phones. They send out a signal that looks like a ligitimate cell tower, they then eavesdrop on the conversation and collect the texts and pictures. They use them on drug bust operations in Clearwater Fl.

Bingo!

a reply to: flammadraco

Different group..

The guys you linked to are based in Georgia.

The NG research mentioned in the article is based in Virginia.

originally posted by: Mandroid7
a reply to: butcherguy

I bet it was a flying stingray device used to spoof everyones phones. They send out a signal that looks like a ligitimate cell tower, they then eavesdrop on the conversation and collect the texts and pictures. They use them on drug bust operations in Clearwater Fl.

Here is a Wired article on Stingray and Dirtbox, specifically talking about how Cessna'a are used by different authorities for this exact purpose.....gathering cell phone info. It is a well known tactic and likely what these planes were doing.

Source

originally posted by: Chadwickus
a reply to: flammadraco

Different group..

The guys you linked to are based in Georgia.

The NG research mentioned in the article is based in Virginia.

I have yet to find anything solid for NG Research in VA... other than the fact that the aircraft is registered to that name. That doesn't surprise me though, if this is a government operation operating through a fake civilian proxy.

More info on the FBI 'secret air force' and its capabilities.
arstechnica.com

originally posted by: flammadraco

Why would they be flying a plane so close to an urban area when they specialise in "Aerosol Chemistry"?

When an atmosphere science guy says "aerosol" he doesn't mean spray can.

They're likely studying particulates in the air over the city.

originally posted by: Vasa Croe
It is a well known tactic and likely what these planes were doing.

Yeah, SOCOM does this too. It's a sort of flying COMINT station, and not only can it do cell phones, they can monitor all sorts of comm links. Or track them. Or spoof them.

In fact, any time you see a news story with a Cessna or other light plane doing loops around an area and the authorities are waffling, that's what they're up to. There are rumors there's a Cessna based ARGUS sort of deal as well, you can identify mass numbers of peeps in crowds.

originally posted by: Bedlam

originally posted by: flammadraco

Why would they be flying a plane so close to an urban area when they specialise in "Aerosol Chemistry"?

When an atmosphere science guy says "aerosol" he doesn't mean spray can.

They're likely studying particulates in the air over the city.

No, it has been established that the flights are FBI surveillance and have nothing to do with the aerosol studies group.
The Baltimore PD have announced that they will have an announcement later tonight via social media.

originally posted by: butcherguy

originally posted by: Bedlam

originally posted by: flammadraco

Why would they be flying a plane so close to an urban area when they specialise in "Aerosol Chemistry"?

When an atmosphere science guy says "aerosol" he doesn't mean spray can.

They're likely studying particulates in the air over the city.

No, it has been established that the flights are FBI surveillance and have nothing to do with the aerosol studies group.
The Baltimore PD have announced that they will have an announcement later tonight via social media.

You asked why an aerosol group would be over a city. I'm not debating that the flights in the OP are feds.

NG has been involved in this sort of thing before, btw.

a reply to: Bedlam
I no longer believe that the aerosol studies group has been a part of this operation. That was all I was addressing.

originally posted by: Bedlam
NG has been involved in this sort of thing before, btw.

Is it the same NG that purports to study aerosols?