"Local Airport Is Prepared For Raise In Terror Alert"

Sunday, August 3, 2003

Local Airport Is Prepared For Raise In Terror Alert
KPOM-TV Ch 24 NBC, Ft. Smith (AR)


Despite the new threat from Al-Queada, U.S. officials have decided to keep
America's terror alert level at yellow, and local airports are ready to take
action if necessary.

Northwest Regional Airport directors say passengers won't notice any changes
at the XNA, but they are prepared for anything.

The constant changes in America's terror alert level in the past year has
prepared XNA to take action.

Mark Mellinger, the airports assistant director, says "After 9/11 there was
a big change in the procedures to go through with we're going to do this,
that, or whatever. Now that we've kind of been there already if we have to
go there again we'll know what to do this time."

But for now nothing is different, "Passengers?.. It should be business as
usual for them. They shouldn't notice anything different at all. The threat
level at XNA has not changed any," adds Mellinger.

If Northwest Arkansas was threatened, airport officials would be notified.

"We've worked closely with the FBI, with state police and anybody that can
get us intelligence in that matter," explains Mellinger.

Security is screening all checked luggage with trace detection machines and
checkpoint areas are more thorough with passengers.

And with an increased need for money for heightened, XNA has asked for
help,"We have gotten as many federal grants as we can to offset the
additional cost we've had to deal with," says Mellinger.

XNA hasn't seen any problems this summer. Numbers were up for people taking
vacations in May and June and airport directors expect July's number to
increase as well as soon as all the reports are in.

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************