CAA: GA News, "Unlocked airport gate was not a security threat, FAA says"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Saturday, October 13, 2001

Unlocked airport gate was not a security threat, FAA says
by Carol Thompson
The Oswego (NY) Valley News


A gate inadvertently left unlocked at the Oswego County Airport last
Thursday night was not considered a security threat, according to a
spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration. At least not at the
moment.

According to Arlene Salac of the FAA in New York City, general aviation
airports, also known as private airports, are currently under no special
security measures following the terrorist incidents of Sept. 11. That
posture is currently under review, however.

"Our administration is looking into security measures for general aviation
airports," Ms. Salac said.

The Valley News received a report from a local resident Thursday, Oct. 4
that an airport gate was open. A visit to the airport confirmed that report.

According to Bruce Bisbo, deputy director of Auxiliary Services, the gates,
which are electronically controlled, may have experienced a malfunction.

"Private airports aren't viewed as a threat," Bisbo said. Although at this
time they are considered to be non-threatening, their vulnerability is under
review by the FAA.

"A crop duster could fly out of there," said Oswego County Legislature
Chairman Morris Sorbello, who is also a pilot.

The county airport is non-commercial, therefore, no flight crews are on
planes. The FAA requires no flight logs or traffic counts to be kept.

The airport is only staffed during daytime hours, and those who have planes
on site can access them at any time during the night.

According to the FAA, a private airport can set up voluntary agreements with
pilots for the purpose of imposing time limits.

In years past, neighbors of the Volney airstrip have complained about the
noise coming from planes taking off and landing in the middle of the night.
Ms. Salac said those type of complaints can be dealt with by noise-abatement
studies and noise ordinances.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have also left some local residents concerned
about the safety of the nuclear plants. Ms. Salac said the FAA has not
issued a "no fly zone" over Scriba's three plants, although circling the
plants is not permitted. Some states have ordered "no fly zones."

The planes that use the county airport are considered to be too small to do
any damage by flying into a nuclear plant. According to John Winslow of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, planes of that size could not hold bombs.

Sorbello said security is a concern. "There is a lot of talk about security.
I don't know how to blanket this area." He said if the FAA does impose
security measures, "we'll do whatever is necessary."

Sorbello said the airport is completely fenced in. Those with access use
electronic keys to open gates.

Although the airport caters to small craft, the runways are designed for
large aircraft. Large military planes have landed at the airport for events
such as airshows.

There are currently no sheriff deputies staffed at the county airport.
Sheriff Reuel Todd has depleted his payroll budget due to the deputies
required to guard the nuclear plants.

Sorbello said the county does have a solid emergency management plan in
place. Security and safety are top priorities, he said.

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