Melbourne Airport Officials Get Serious about Security

Melbourne Airport Officials Get Serious about Security
Vero Beach Press-Journal, FL

January 8, 2004

MELBOURNE — Officials at the Melbourne International Airport said making the 
place secure inside and outside is critical as the publicity increases for 
terrorist threats. 

In response to the elevation of the national terror alert a few weeks ago, 
airport security staffers are making frequent patrols of the terminal and the 
airport grounds. Aviation Director Jim Johnson said the airport uses the same 
number of staff, but reassigns more of them to surveillance. 

But it took the public keeping its eyes open to catch a few trespassers a few 
weeks ago. On Christmas Eve, two teenagers scaled a 7-foot-tall barbed-wire 
fence on the west side of the airport property, Johnson said. Motorists noticed 
the pair and called the police, he said. The teens were apprehended on the 
airport grounds by Melbourne police and charged with trespassing. 

Airport security checked the grounds, but found nothing suspicious. Johnson 
said it wasn't clear why the teens scaled the fence. 

"They said their car had broken down," Johnson said. "Surely they realize 
climbing the fence was an idiotic thing to do." 

The incident provided a reminder to airport officials about the important of 
security outside the terminal. Johnson said since the barbed-wire fence wasn't 
enough of a deterrent, the airport will pay closer attention to the area. 

"We're evaluating it now," he said. "One thing we'll do is keep the area around 
the fence clear of trees or brush, so there's nothing there that someone can 
use to boost themselves up." 

Inside the airport, all luggage is checked prior to airport workers loading it 
onto the planes, Johnson said. All airports nationwide are required to have 
equipment to scan luggage for explosive devices, but Johnson said federal 
officials discourage airports from verifying whether they have the equipment. 

Since the airport currently has no international flights, no travelers at 
Melbourne have to be photographed or fingerprinted in accordance to the federal 
policy implemented for foreign flights Monday. Melbourne is planning charter 
flights from England later this year. 

The additional security measures at Melbourne and other airports nationwide 
make Johnson optimistic travelers can fly without worry. 

"Last year turned out to be the safest year in commercial aviation history," he 
said, basing his claim on the fact that there were 25 commercial plane crashes 
worldwide — the fewest ever — and two in the United States. 

"Instead of being apprehensive about traveling, people should look at what's 
going on today and see that the government is seriously intervening to protect 
passengers," Johnson said. 


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