CAA: GA News, "Los Angeles Councilwoman Calls for More Security at Van Nuys, Calif., Airport"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wednesday, September 25, 2002

Los Angeles Councilwoman Calls for More Security at Van Nuys, Calif.,
Airport
The Daily News, Los Angeles (CA)


VAN NUYS, Calif.--Calling Van Nuys Airport a potential blind spot in the
nation's defense against terrorism, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth
Galanter called Tuesday for new lighting and gate controls and other
security measures. 

But officials at the airport -- the world's busiest general-aviation
facility -- insisted they already have implemented many of Galanter's
suggestions and are considering others. 

Galanter said that while security was beefed up at passenger airports
after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, little has changed at
general-aviation facilities such as Van Nuys. 

"General aviation has not been at the forefront of the (federal)
Transportation Security Agency's agenda," said Galanter, whose new
council district includes the Van Nuys Airport. "If someone wanted to
create havoc, it wouldn't be that hard to do it."

Van Nuys is one of four airports operated by the city's Los Angeles
World Airports and averages 500,000 takeoffs and landings a year. 

In addition to new lights and gate controls, Galanter suggests
unspecified measures to prevent unauthorized access to airplanes, a
system for airport businesses to share information about possible
threats and a review of radio compatibility between LAWA officials and
airport police. 

A study of Van Nuys Airport security before the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks resulted in many of the measures that Galanter now is
suggesting, said airport spokeswoman Stacy Geere. Airport officials are
replacing perimeter fences, installing monitors to catch intruders,
upgrading lights and installing closed-circuit television cameras. 

"Los Angeles World Airports is taking very seriously the councilwoman's
recommendations," Geere said. "Security and safety are the airport's No.
1 concerns, always."

Aviation-security experts said the country's more than 3,000
general-aviation airports -- from tiny landing strips on private ranches
to bustling facilities like Van Nuys -- remain potential terrorist
targets. Federal efforts to strengthen security have focused on
passenger airports, while security at general-aviation facilities
remains in the hands of local authorities. 

"As we make commercial aviation a harder target, it's going to push
potential acts of terrorism over to softer targets such as corporate
aviation,"said Charlie LeBlanc, managing director of Air Security
International, a Houston-based consulting firm. 

Some airport tenants said they already have upgraded security, such as
more rigid screening of passengers. They cautioned against requiring
additional security measures of small aviation firms without helping to
pay for them. 

"If something happens, everybody here has a lot to lose," said Mark
Sullivan, owner of Sky Trails Aviation. "A lot of us are making sure,
keeping vigilant about who comes in and who goes out."

Galanter said she isn't sure how to pay for all of her suggestions,
noting that some might already be in progress. Other federally mandated
measures could be paid for by the federal government, she said. 

Galanter said her City Council colleagues will consider her proposal to
study Van Nuys Airport security at the Oct. 1 council meeting.


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