"Screeners handle 'learning curve'"

Thursday, September 26, 2002

Screeners handle 'learning curve' 
Delays attributed to unprepared travelers, workers 
By Jason Roberson 
The Dayton (OH) Daily News 


DAYTON, - News of his grandmother's death prompted David Tremblay, 28,
of Baltimore, Md., to immediately book a flight to Dayton for her
funeral Wednesday morning in Troy.

Before returning home, Tremblay got some inside information on Dayton
International Airport from his family.

"They told me there's a rookie crew working here," Tremblay said while
waiting in a lengthy line for security screening. "But it's OK. Whatever
it takes to get over the learning curve."

Attitudes among those waiting in line varied Tuesday and Wednesday as 70
fresh baggage and passenger screeners worked their security posts. The
Transportation Security Administration employees were recently hired as
an effort by the Bush administration to beef up airport security in the
wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

But the long lines experienced by Tremblay and others can't be entirely
blamed on the fledgling security workers. Passengers should come
prepared and heed tips from airport officials, said John Thomas,
administrative officer for TSA workers stationed at the Dayton airport.

"We've still got people coming without proper identification. If you
have that in your hand, it helps the line to move smoothly. That way
you're not digging in your wallet or computer bag for it," Thomas said.

Arriving two hours before takeoff is recommended. "This morning, three
ladies flying to Florida were scheduled to leave at 9:30 a.m., but
arrived at the passenger security checkpoint at a-quarter-to-nine," he
said. "It's unreasonable to think that that's enough time to get through
the checkpoint, scanning at the gate and to board the plane."

Passengers should cut down on the amount of metal they wear since
everyone boarding a plane must pass through a metal detector, Thomas
said.

One mobile security scanner who travels to different airports on a
regular basis said passengers have tried to board with rather unusual
items.

"I had a guy last week in Austin, Texas, I guess he was a cowboy, tried
to board the plane with some big, huge, metal horseshoes," said Marvin
Connaster, one of 18 veteran security scanners who have been training
the 70 new scanners at the airport.

Connaster's responsibilities included prepping those in line to have
proper identification ready and to remove easily accessible metal
objects before entering the checkpoint. But Connaster and colleagues
recognize that not all metal objects are easy to remove.

"We won't ask you to remove your prosthetics or pacemakers," he said.


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