Fencing around airports; perhaps you've noticed this trend over the last 10, 15, or even 20 years. As we as a population have become more aware of security and potential threats, physical barriers have been added to our lives in the name of protecting us. Some people see these security measures as unnecessary barriers and headaches, while others accept them and deal with them.
There are more important things you can spend time focusing on than the fencing that protects your aircraft!
Airport Fence
Fences keep honest people honest ...... If a person has truly evil intentions, then a chain-link fence will likely only slow them down. However, this means that it will take longer to complete any nefarious activity they intend to undertake. Therefore, they are more likely to be caught or even "scared off".
In addition, the fence provides enough of a barrier to keep out those who are aimless and have no evil intent but no incentive to cause trouble elsewhere. Basically, dealing with fences and barbed wire is too much trouble for those looking for "low-hanging fruit" types of trouble. It's easier to dump some dumpsters in the yard than to go through the security fence and drop off a plane at the local airport.
Airport Fence
If someone sees an airport fence, then they may turn away because they may not want to be seen as doing something wrong by trying to enter the fence by mistake. Enclosed communities are considered desirable and reputable.
If aviation wants to succeed, we need to embrace this feeling. If we educate the public that the uniqueness of airports requires fencing, which is why they should come and be part of the airport, then we can use security fencing to our advantage. Imagine that with a slightly different idea, we could take some of the barriers we now see as disadvantages and barriers that keep people away from aviation and turn the fence to our advantage!
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, these fences do play a role in protecting our level of safety while flying. Good fencing will keep wildlife, especially deer and coyotes, away from runways and taxiways. Have you ever seen a car after hitting a deer on the highway? Deer usually lose the battle, but I would hardly say that cars often win ...... Remember, cars are designed to be able to hit things, or at least provide some level of safety when they do (or when things do). On the other hand, airplanes are designed to fly as effectively and efficiently as possible, not (especially) to withstand a major wildlife attack.
