CAA: GA News, "Improved security at Scottsdale, Arizona airport is near"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Improved security at Scottsdale airport is near
$600,000 face lift almost completed
By Thomas Ropp
The Arizona Republic


SCOTTSDALE - Scottsdale Airport's $600,000 security upgrade is expected
to be completed this week.

The project, which began in July, has added 12 security cameras to more
adequately cover the airport's 13 access points. The cameras will
operate in real time so that security personnel can monitor live traffic
from a central control room. Under the old security system there were
only four cameras that had to be downloaded first to check on who was
coming and going. 

Scott Gray, director of Scottsdale Airports, said although the
improvements were not mandatory, the city wanted to stay ahead of
probable legislation.

"It's just a matter of time before the mandate comes out from the (U.S.)
Transportation Security Administration (to upgrade)," said Gray who is a
member of the national general aviation task force. 

John Little, Scottsdale's general manager of transportation, said plans
were in the works to bolster airport security long before Sept. 11,
2001. 

"Security has always been a high priority," Little said. "It's been part
of our operating imperative for many years to create a safe airport."

The security face lift has been widely praised by airplane owners and
operators concerned about protecting valuable aircraft kept at the
airport. Many airports the size of Scottsdale's are fortunate to even
have a perimeter fence. 

The money for the project came out of airport revenues, mainly user
fees, and the state's Aviation Enterprise Fund. The project, which had
been contracted to Corporate Security Integration, came in within budget
and on time.


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