"Pittsburgh Airport Checks Reach Beyond Terminal"

Thursday, February 13, 2003

Airport Checks Reach Beyond Terminal
Access Roads Among Areas Inspected
WTAE-TV, PA


PITTSBURGH -- Travelers will find themselves under the scrutiny of security
officials even before they reach the terminal building under anti-terrorism
procedures put into effect this week at many airports.

Some airports are conducting inspections of vehicles approaching terminals,
part of the heightened terror alert status going on across the country.
Others have put the checks on hold, citing civil liberties concerns.

Federal officials increased the level of alert nationwide from
"significant-risk" yellow to "high-risk" orange based on intelligence they
said suggested a growing threat from Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist
network. Red is the highest level of the five-step alert scale, but no such
warning has yet been issued.

At airports, the heightened alert status translated into inspections of
automobiles approaching terminals. In some areas, airport representatives
said they were conducting random checks at curbside, while at other
locations every vehicle entering short-term parking areas was being opened
for a brief search.

At Pittsburgh International Airport, inspections were set to begin Wednesday
afternoon but were put on hold as airport officials waited for federal
clarification on how the searches should be conducted.

"We're still considering them and we're ready to do them, but they're on
hold indefinitely," said airport spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny. "We're waiting to
get direction from Washington."

At many airports, such as the relatively small Harrisburg International
Airport, the precautions were merely an extension of an established routine.
In Harrisburg, security staff have been checking cars in the short-term lot
near the terminal since shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, said Aviation Director
Alfred Testa.

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