DATE=8/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237605
TITLE= AIRPORT SECURITY (L-O)
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ATTACKS LAST WEEK AGAINST
SUSPECTED TERRORIST TARGETS IN AFGHANISTAN AND SUDAN HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWED BY INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES AT U-S AIRPORTS AND OTHER
PUBLIC FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AMONG THE CITIES
TAKING EXTRA SECURITY PRECAUTIONS IN THE MIDWEST CITY OF CHICAGO,
HOME TO THE WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT. VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND TELLS
US WHAT IS BEING DONE TO PROTECT PASSENGERS.
TEXT: // ROOM NOISE ACT (ESTABLISH, FADE UNDER
TEXT) //
CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY SECURITY AT O'HARE AIRPORT AND THE SMALLER
MIDWAY AIRPORT WAS TIGHTENED EVEN BEFORE THE FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION REQUESTED THE EXTRA MEASURES LATE LAST WEEK.
CITY AVIATION COMMISSIONER MARY ROSE LONEY SAYS MOST OF THE
CHANGES WILL NOT EVEN BE NOTICED BY THE THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS
HERE AT O'HARE EVERY DAY BUT SOME OF THE EXTRA MEASURES WILL BE.
// LONEY ACT //
MORE VISIBLE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT BOTH O'HARE AND
MIDWAY (AIRPORTS), MORE VIGILANT USE OF CANINE UNITS AS
WELL AS A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT AT TOWING UNATTENDED
VEHICLES ON OUR ROADWAYS.
// END ACT //
AS IT HAPPENS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE OF THE
AIRPORT COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET HERE IN
CHICAGO THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT AIRPORT SECURITY. THE FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HEAD OF CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY, ADMIRAL
CATHAL FLYNN, SAYS THE MEETING WILL GIVE AIRPORT SECURITY CHIEFS
FROM THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE
MEASURES THAT COULD BE ENACTED IF NEED BE. ADMIRAL FLYNN SAYS
OFFICIALS HAVE NO INFORMATION OF ANY PLANNED ATTACKS ON U-S
CIVIL AVIATION, BUT THAT RIGHT NOW AIRPORTS ARE ON A
HIGHER-THAN-USUAL ALERT STATUS.
// FLYNN ACT //
WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS AND ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE SUCH AS
OSAMA BIN LADEN THERE IS A LEVEL OF DANGER THAT WE MUST
COUNTERACT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FLY
SECURELY.
// END ACT //
CHICAGO'S HEAD OF AVIATION SECURITY, RICHARD KUNICKI, SAYS
TIGHTER SECURITY MEASURES MEAN IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER
FOR A PASSENGER TO REACH HIS OR HER DEPARTURE GATE, BUT FEW
PEOPLE SEEM TO MIND THE SLIGHT DELAYS.
// KUNICKI ACT //
(THERE ARE) A LOT MORE THINGS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED
BUT I DO NOT THINK THE PASSENGER WOULD SAY NO
BECAUSE OF INCONVENIENCE. I THINK THEIR PRIORITY WOULD
BE SAFE PASSAGE.
// END ACT //
THE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF THE SEARS TOWER AND CHICAGO'S OTHER
DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE ALSO BECOMING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
SECURITY. THEY HAVE REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE CITY'S POLICE
CHIEF TO TALK ABOUT THE RISK OF TERRORIST ATTACKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/PT
24-Aug-98 5:38 PM EDT (2138 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
