Centerlines - December 2008 - (Page 36)

SOL M T C E C U R IN Y Eugene “We saw enhanced random screening of employees entering the SIDA (Secure Identification Display Area) and random vehicle inspections with more of a TSA presence around employees coming into work,” said Eugene Airport Manager Tim Doll. “Basically, the TSA was trying to prove that you can accomplish the security that is needed for employees randomly instead of hitting every employee every time they go into the SIDA. “I think the enhanced method is of benefit. It is not as much of a burden as 100 percent screening and I do feel that enhanced would work. If the TSA implements this nationwide, airports should be aware of potential delays. We didn’t encounter that, but I could see it happening at larger, busier airports.” to 100 percent employee screening because then you have people guessing anyway,” Redhead said. “That is why I would oppose 100 percent screening. While 100 percent may add another layer to enhance overall security, but at what cost? Especially given budgetary concerns, is there something else we should be better spending the money on?” Check-point Screening Craven County, N.C. The 100 percent employee screening at Coastal Carolina Regional Airport in New Bern, N.C., never delayed a flight, to the TSA’s credit, but it certainly slowed things down, said Airport Director Tom Braaten. All employees entering from the public area to the SIDA were subject to a physical search. “My maintenance people were out mowing the grass around the runways and when they came back to the SIDA areas they had to stop each time on their tractors and wait until the inspectors could go out and inspect them and the machines before they could come back into the barn,” Braaten said. “If they went to the front of the terminal to mow they would once again be stopped each time and have to call for an inspector to come around to the gate to inspect them. “So there is certainly a cost on employee time to both airports and “The only problem we had was with the initial hiccups with actually getting the contract started because of our private screeners.” — Ian Redhead, deputy director of operations and maintenance, Kansas City International Airport “We proved we can do it here,” Nagel said. “Our hope is that TSA can use Denver as a model for other airports instead of the 100 percent traditional screening that requires a huge infrastructure and huge personnel which the TSA and the airports can’t support. “The layered approach is most definitely what Denver would be in favor of, but I think there still needs to be some work on how that gets developed for all airports. Denver was able to dedicate certain personnel to that program. They may not be able to do that in other locations at other airports with smaller staffing realms. So that is something that still needs to be worked out so that when the TSA comes out with an initiative for employee screening, that it is a program that meets everybody’s needs no matter what size the airport is.” Kansas City Kansas City International Airport experienced zero delays once the program was up and running. The only delay encountered was actually getting the pilot program started, said Ian Redhead, deputy director of operations and maintenance. It did not receive any complaints from airline nor airport personnel. “The only problem we had was with the initial hiccups with actually getting the contract started because of our private screeners,” Redhead said, noting that Kansas City is one of five U.S. airports utilizing private screeners instead of federal screeners. Despite a week-late start, Kansas City shared similar results with other airports piloting enhanced security measures. The use of accelerated Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams at different gates seemed to be of benefit to the airport. “If we increase the amount of random screenings—repeat VIPR programs and things like that—I think we are likely to get a similar impact “For an airport our size where we don’t have a lot of turnover of employees and where we know the people, I think a good system of random checking throughout the day would probably be sufficient.” —Tom Braaten, director, Coastal Carolina Regional Airport 36 CENTERLINES | DECEMBER 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Centerlines - December 2008

Centerlines - December 2008 Contents President’s Message Canadian Airports Associates’ Corner Policy Center On the Hill and On the Stump Cover Story: Airport Belt Tightening On Management: Pooling DBE Resources Revenue Arena: New Revenue Streams Griesbach Concessions Award Winners Security: Employee Screening Pilot Tests New Technology: Wireless Growth Now Underway Grand Openings New Members Index of Advertisers/Advertiser.com Box Scores

Centerlines - December 2008

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