Regional Airports and Security
 

Having flown a time or two out of CLL (College Station Airport - 1 Gate - No Waiting), it concerns me that these airports can't possibly do as good a job at security screening as the major airports can simply due to a lack of resources and equipment.

In the not so olden days these airports had no security whatsoever, and commuter airline gates were not considered airside at the major airports (meaning you had to clear security at the major to make your connection).

I wonder if they'll reinstitute something like this where you are rescreened to connect from a small airport. I even wonder if they'll put something in place that requires you to rescreen after any connection (logistically really difficult, but possible). If local law authorities take over airport security, they'll not necessarily trust that the other airport/line did a good job.

The worst they can do IMHO is treat baggage coming off regional flights like it was
coming off an Int'l flight. You go claim
your bags off a carousel and then go through security again once you go to proceed to your mainline flight.Yeah, it'd be a REAL pain in the butt, but it's an idea

JD

Some regional airports still did not have security (at least for prop flights) a few weeks ago. I was shocked that I just walked on the plane without going through a metal detector.

I'm sure that loophole is closed now.

Seemed pretty silly because the airport in question (Duluth, MN) has security set up for the jet flights.

One of the most thorough carry on checks I have experienced was a few years ago in HYA on a short commuter flight to BOS. Much more comprehensive than at BOS on the way over (hmmm, I guess that's not surprising in light of recent events). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

As they say, your mileage may vary...

This is interesting. Prior to flying into GON (Groton-New London, CT) I would have thought this as well. However, the level of security that I witnessed for the 12 pax boarding the Beechcraft1600 was amazing. A pax had a model submarine gift wrapped and he was made to unwrap it.

Also going through the metal detector, everyone set it off requiring a Groton Town (maybe Groton City) Police Officer to wave you with a handheld wand.

I fly weekly out of CGI on a TW Express flight. The employees at this station are some of the most concientous and safety concious personnel I've ever seen. They follow the procedures to the letter and do a much better job than the mainline personnel at STL, or many other airports.

I've flown CO from CLL to IAH before. Unfortunately for the Aggies, I think CLL's CO days will end soon. Given that CO operates only a handful of B-1900 flights and that CLL is only about 75 to 90 minutes from IAH, CO doesn't have much to gain from keeping their operations open.

I was impressed with security in Hagerstown, Maryland, last Friday. It's a quaint country airport, so the same Chautauqua employee(s) who check you in run the X-ray machine (and in light of recent events, also check you with the wand and rifle through your bag and whatnot). Just IMO, I think they were doing an excellent job--probably better than the overworked, underpaid people working security at large airports.