Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Nov. 5, 2003

Airport security no longer a minor issue

"No single layer of security is ever going to be 100 percent effective," said Transportation Security Administration spokesman Brian Turnmail last month. He was responding to a question about a report yet to be released on the effectiveness of federal screeners versus private screeners at the nation's 429 airports TSA oversees.

The average traveler using the airport focuses on the security they go through but there are many more workers whose jobs at the airport, whether full or part time, means they are subjected to a much more rigorous security check. After talking with an electrical contractor who has been updating a fast food establishment in a busy midwest airport, I learned just how tight security is behind the scenes.

To gain access to the airport's security areas requires time and money. The first step is a background check on the one applying for a security badge. Once that is passed there was a fee of $135 to go through the initial training to be eligible for that badge. A movie of about an hour was shown and questions answered. Then the viewers signed a paper indicating they understood what was expected of them. They were fingerprinted and photographed for the picture on their badge.

When they received their badge, they displayed it at chest level. It has a magnetic strip that carries the five number pin identification. It is swiped to open locked doors. The newly approved badge holders were also given two handbooks, one 24 pages, the other 14 pages, which reiterated all the rules and regulations.

An electrical worker needs many tools and a truck to transport them. Another layer of security comes into play. The truck is be marked with the company name. The first stop for the truck is at the guard's shack where the badge is swiped and then an intensive search of the truck and all the equipment is done. Only after that is completed is the gate to the fenced-in waiting area unlocked and opened. After the truck enters the gate is closed and locked.

This fence-enclosed area holds about six vehicles and only one car at a time may leave. Absolutely no tailgating! The gate is unlocked and opened for each car but closed and locked again before the second vehicle leaves the area for their restricted work area.

There are hefty fines if rules are broken. My informant saw one such incident. A badge wearer may escort a passenger without a badge but must supervise that person closely at all times. In this case the truck driver wore the identity badge and he had a passenger without a badge. The truck stopped momentarily and the two were just gawking around. In seconds the truck and two men were surrounded by security people and escorted out of the secure area. Yes, there are security cameras everywhere. This breech cost the company involved a $10,000 fine.

Airport security is serious business.

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Saturday night, Nov. 8, be sure to look to the heavens. If the weather is good we are promised a total eclipse of the moon. It should begin about 5:30 p.m. as the shadow of the Earth crosses the path of the full moon. The shadow will continue until the moon is fully eclipsed at about 7 p.m. and it will remain that way for about 30 minutes. You do not need to travel anywhere or have special equipment. Just go out in your own backyard and look up. Until then hope for a cloudless, dry evening.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.