JWA set to make midnight deadline

Deirdre Newman

Midnight tonight is as laden with significance for airport

officials as it is for New Year’s Eve revelers.

When the clock strikes 12, officials expect a $29-million

explosive detection system to be completely installed, meeting a

federal deadline.

The Transportation Security Administration set the Dec. 31

deadline for all 429 U.S. commercial airports in response to the 2001

terrorist attacks. The system will scan 100% of checked baggage, up

from 10 to 15%.

JWA is ahead of the curve. Some airports have asked for more time.

In those airports, all of the checked luggage will still have to be

screened for explosives, either via temporary equipment, dogs or

hands.

The airport was able to meet the deadline because of the county’s

expedient handling of the installation, said Ann McCarley, airport

spokeswoman.

“The Board Of Supervisors approved construction in August, and the

[construction] company has been working around the clock ever since,”

McCarley said.

The security administration handed down the mandate in May.

Supervisors unanimously awarded an “emergency” contract to Hensel

Phelps Construction to set up the infrastructure to handle the

devices in late August. Work began the next day.

Public safety has always been the county’s top priority,

Supervisor Jim Silva said Monday.

“It makes me feel very safe knowing that Orange County passengers

that will be using [JWA] will be traveling as safe as humanly

possible,” Silva said. “The baggage screening is something that a lot

of passengers don’t realize, but the federal government feels we need

it in place and I think it will [bring] peace of mind for the

passengers of Orange County.”

The explosive detection systems have not been installed in the

lobby, as in many other airports, so passengers won’t have to lug

their bags from the check-in counter to the machines. Instead,

airport officials used a section of the parking structure to install

a network of conveyor belts that will move the bags from the terminal

to the scanning area.

The system’s costs will be shared by the federal government and

the county, which owns the airport.

On Aug. 20, the county approved $18 million for installation that

ask the government to reimburse. Federal officials have already

agreed to pay the remaining $11 million of the $29-million system.