CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[Helius]

When I fly into certain airports in China the airline requires all blinds to be drawn when the plane lands/takes off. They are very serious about it, even dimming the cabin lights to make it super obvious if anyone so much as opened it a crack they will get ordered to shut it immediately. To be honest, I’m surprised such measures are not already in place around Shanghai shipyard.

Because there really isn't much one can make out with the naked eye at that altitude. Even with your smartphone sporting that 50x digital zoom, the most you're gonna capture is a fuzzy photo with a heavily-pixelated subject blown up from a native size no bigger than your pinky nail.

Let's just assume this was taken with a phone camera. Just how much detail can you honestly discern from zooming in as much as you can, with the resolution that it has?

It's when people start using telescopic lenses and proper rigs to capture the kind of details that then get disseminated into what we see being shared on here and elsewhere, that it starts to become a security concern.

 

[A.Man]

When I fly into certain airports in China the airline requires all blinds to be drawn when the plane lands/takes off. They are very serious about it, even dimming the cabin lights to make it super obvious if anyone so much as opened it a crack they will get ordered to shut it immediately. To be honest, I’m surprised such measures are not already in place around Shanghai shipyard.

I flew to Shanghai Pudong Airport quite few times a year. I usually set window business or first class. In past ten years, only once, I could see Jiangnan Shipyard right in front of my eyes. It is very difficult for a person to see Jiangnan every "right" time. I guess, those photos were taken by air crews, more like pilots. They knew the right time, right place, right angle to take photos of Jiangnan Shipyard.

 

[Moonscape]

I think a mirrorless full-frame with a kit zooms lens with max focal length => 100mm would be both compact and powerful enough to capture that level of detail from an airplane window. There's no way they are going to stop people carrying that type of fairly typical vacation equipment from going through security:

 

[taxiya]

So that if and when the MSS does do enforcement it is done so assuredly and discreetly, as opposed to broadcasting to the whole plane that they're presently flying over an under-construction aircraft carrier of the Chinese Navy and that they should pay no mind to it.

A military facility being there isn't a secret to hide. There are lots of such places with a large board saying "no photograph". Everyone knows what is going on in that shipyard, Whatever MSS does isn't broadcasting something nobody knows. What they does is to send a warning that they may take more serious and tough actions.

If we are being serious, then my suggestion was done as other member said and will be done when MSS gets serious. On the other hand, your suggestion doesn't work practically, for the safety for everyone on board, nobody is allowed to walk around during takeoff, climbing, landing and descent, sitting on his seat an air marshal would not see anybody doing anything next to their window.

 

[Helius]

A military facility being there isn't a secret to hide. There are lots of such places with a large board saying "no photograph".

You're just repeating what I said -

The planes are flying over at best a militarily sensitive area, not a top-secret site a la Area 51, otherwise the air space would've been closed to commercial traffic to begin with.

Everyone knows what is going on in that shipyard,

Not everyone flying on a passenger jet into/out of Shanghai is a military enthusiast.

Whatever MSS does isn't broadcasting something nobody knows.

Firstly, bit of a contradiction with your above statement ("Everyone knows what is going on in that shipyard").

Secondly, you took the word 'broadcasting' a bit too literally -

Forcing the shades closed just clues people in as to what is up and risk a Streisand effect as everybody has now become curious.

What they does is to send a warning that they may take more serious and tough actions.

That's stating the obvious.

If we are being serious, then my suggestion was done as other member said and will be done when MSS gets serious. On the other hand, your suggestion doesn't work practically, for the safety for everyone on board, nobody is allowed to walk around during takeoff, climbing, landing and descent, sitting on his seat an air marshal would not see anybody doing anything next to their window.

Firstly, if we're seriously talking practicality, every passenger's luggage is already scanned prior to check-in and customs, all before even getting to the boarding stage. Flags would've been raised concerning anyone with the particular seating arrangement that would coincide with a view overlooking the shipyard along the flight path, and possessing the kind of equipment that could be identified as potentially engaging in "scenic photography" that would be easy for an air marshal onboard, who would likewise be seated accordingly, to monitor. And this is just one speculation of how such a measure may conceivably be implemented.

Secondly -

One solution - Posting air marshals on those flights to spot anyone trying to snap a shot during the flyover, then invite them for coffee as they disembark.

Emphasis on "one solution", not the only solution, let alone the best.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

China MSS: "Don't you dare take photos of Fujian anymore!"

EO Browser Sentinel-2 satellite:




Looks like they are still testing the EMCATs, with the dead load device seen around the bow port side launch position. Photo dated today (24 December 2023).

 

[Overbom]

Dunno what MSS is doing here. If they consider the shipyard a sensitive military site then they should close off its airspace and deploy EW systems to block any drones from taking photos/videos

Anything else than this won't achieve much

Even with all warnings and threatening announcements, given that the airspace remains open to commercial flights, 100% you are going to have a few idiots taking photos/videos and then posting them online for internet points.

 

[Deino]

By the way, for what as a literal translation does MSS stand for?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

By the way, for what as a literal translation does MSS stand for?

Ministry of State Security (of the PRC).

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

A world-famous photograph - CV-18 Fujian has finally began her sea trials!

Spoiler: Spoiler

(Obviously PS-ed)

AHAHAHAHAHAHA

Person 1: Let's see if this can bait Rupprecht (i.e @Deino) XD

Person 2: Just stop baiting, Rupprecht is almost becoming a snout