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12 |
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35 |
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| USA |
10 |
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11 |
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24 |
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6 |
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| NED |
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U.S. Customs toiling to keep Salt Lake skies safe
Their checks at 'gateway' sites winning praise
By Amy Donaldson
Deseret News staff writer
When U.S. Customs inspectors finished searching Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw before they boarded their private plane, the couple thanked them.
"Actually, a lot of people have come up to me and thanked us for being here," said Tom O'Brien, director of field operations for U.S. Customs in San Francisco. "It's rewarding because we don't really get that recognition."
During the Games, O'Brien oversees U.S. Customs' efforts to search and secure private aircraft flying in and out of Salt Lake, Provo, Bountiful, Ogden and Heber City.
The airports are within the 45-mile radius of airspace restricted by the FAA during the Winter Olympics, and aircraft leaving or landing during the Games must make an appointment with Customs and get permission from the FAA to do so. Those flying into Utah must also stop at what officials refer to as a "gateway" airport where they are searched in a similar fashion.
Originally it was planned that customs inspectors would set up in Salt Lake during the Olympics to inspect cargo coming to teams and the venues. But after Sept. 11, officials decided to train about 100 inspectors to search every airplane and passenger coming into and going out of the airports in the restricted airspace.
"This is unique because we're examining domestic passengers on domestic flights," he said. "That's something we've never been involved in. We consider ourselves America's front line at the border."
The inspectors search each aircraft with several high-tech devices. They swab areas that may have been touched to test for the chemicals used in explosives or biological weapons. The inspections take five to 10 minutes, and so far have yielded nothing significant.
While the plane and its cargo are being searched, other Customs inspectors use a magnetic wand to search passengers and two types of X-ray machines to search their luggage. The inspectors searched most of the famous people who flew in on private airplanes for the opening ceremonies last Friday, as well as former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
So far none of the passengers or pilots of the 289 aircraft have complained about the unusual process. Linda and Corky Angelo came to Utah from Vancouver, Wash., for the Olympics and said they're actually grateful for the extra precaution.
"I was very appreciative knowing that safety is paramount here," Corky Angelo said. "I condone (the searches) 100 percent. I actually didn't ever expect private aircraft to have this kind of security."
Both say the inspectors are polite and efficient, and the inspection was as "smooth and easy" as the rest of their Olympic vacation has been.
What happens when a pilot doesn't make an appointment or get clearance to take off or land within that 45 miles? The plane is ordered to land and escorted to the ground by army helicopters or planes. It happened Monday about noon at the Provo Airport.
A plane took off from Spanish Fork and was flying to Provo without FAA authorization. Two Blackhawk helicopters escorted the plane down and then the plane and pilot were searched. The aircraft was impounded and the pilot's license suspended until the end of the Games.
"He was intending to go to Provo just like it was any other day," said Leo Morris, chief inspector for U.S. Customs.
The FAA won't release the name of the man, who was questioned and then released, but he may face a fine for the incident.
The customs inspectors spent four days training for the special duty. O'Brien said the inspectors are from all over the United States and volunteered for the assignment.
"It's been great," O'Brien said. "It's really exciting. . . . It's been hard work but fun."
E-MAIL: adonaldson@desnews.com
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February 15, 2002
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