"Security tightened at Sonoma County airport"

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

System As Strong As It's Weakest Link
Security tightened at Sonoma County airport
Officials won't disclose details of local response to terrorist incidents in
United Kingdom
By BOB NORBERG
The Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat


New federal directives aimed at tightening airport security following the
terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom extend even to small facilities
such as the Sonoma County airport. 

Local officials said the orders from the Transportation Security
Administration will not be apparent to the public.

"They have not changed the threat level, and based on what I have been
hearing, it is not in the near future," said Jon Stout, manager of Charles
M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

It may not be a target, but with its recently inaugurated passenger service,
the airport could play a role in a terrorist attack, Sheriff's Capt. Matt
McCaffrey said.

"It is easy to say we are a small little airport in the middle of nowhere
and no one cares about us," McCaffrey said. "But what is their goal? What
are they trying to do? We might not be the target of the attack, but we may
be the jumping off point for the attack."

The airport is likely to have some high-profile visitors, potentially
including ex-presidents and foreign heads of state, with the Bohemian Club's
annual encampment near Monte Rio to start July 12.

Stout said airport security has not been tightened for that event, though
there have been some changes at the charter terminal where private planes
carrying Bohemian Club members often park.

Jeremy Epperson, general manager of Apex Aviation, said he will have workers
checking credentials of those entering the airport at the gate, instead of
relying on a video camera and intercom system.

He said that under the new federal directives, cars driving through the gate
must stop and let the gate close behind them to make sure they are not
followed.

The Sonoma County airport is on one of the lowest rungs for security on the
transportation administration list, based on its low level of commercial air
service, Stout said.

Seattle-based Horizon Air flies two round trips to Los Angeles and one to
Seattle each day, carrying about 5,200 passengers a month. The service
started in March.

Epperson, whose company provides the Horizon staff, said the new security
directives delineate a zone around the parking area for Horizon's planes to
keep unauthorized people away.

"The security issues have been ramped up a lot since 9/11, which is good,"
Epperson said. "We need to ensure with commercial service that we are doing
everything we should be."

For the passenger service, there are nine transportation administration
workers to check baggage and screen passengers. They will soon be replaced
by workers from the Trinity Technology Group of Fairfax, Va., which was
awarded a four-year, $5.2 million contract.

Other security at the airport is handled by airport personnel, Federal
Aviation Administration traffic controllers, airport business workers and
the Sheriff's Department, which has its helicopter based at the airport and
its bomb squad and low-security jail nearby.

The security measures are primarily surveillance and aimed at keeping out
unauthorized personnel.

There are no armed guards, no parking restrictions or barricades, measures
that were temporarily been put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks.

If the terror threat were to be raised, Stout said barricades could be up
within an hour and the Sheriff's Department would provide guards.

Stout said that Sonoma County and other small airports received the new
directives Friday, after the discovery in London of two vehicles packed with
explosives. On Saturday, a vehicle was driven into the Glasgow, Scotland,
airport and exploded in flames.

Stout declined to discuss the new measures for security reasons.

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

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


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