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SeaTac Security: An Anecdote

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SeaTac Security: An Anecdote

Old 05-18-2008, 09:44 AM
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Default SeaTac Security: An Anecdote

Hmmm, didn't know this is happening right in my backyard!

From Seattle Times:
Greg Alderete has more than a passing interest in homeland security. A retired lieutenant colonel in the Army, he has devoted most of his life to it.

So when he realized he had driven a van onto a runway tarmac at Sea-Tac airport — and that no one had asked his name, checked his ID or searched his vehicle — well, he just about lost it."I was appalled," Alderete says. "If you go in the airport's front door, they take away your tube of toothpaste. But the back door? That's the weakest security of any critical facility I've ever seen."

He's talking about the corporate jet area, on the airport's south tip. Business and government bigwigs fly in and out of there.

Alderete and Chris Clodfelter, a former senior master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, arrived there Thursday, May 8, to pick up a two-star general flying in from Portland.

What happened floored them. When they said they were picking up an Army official, the gate opened and they were invited to drive onto the airfield.

"We were sitting there, the engine idling, nobody around, when all of a sudden I realized: We're out on the ******* runway," Alderete recalled. "We're in a gassed-up, seven-passenger van, and no one really knows who we are. We have an unobstructed path to the main runways, the commercial gates, the whole place. It was unbelievable."

No one asked their names or screened them or the van. Both were in civilian clothes.

"Within 30 seconds we could have been flooring it down the runway," Clodfelter says. "They couldn't have stopped us."

"With a van full of weapons we could have shut down the entire aviation system," Alderete said.

Now when I first heard this story, I figured they were exaggerating. Or maybe there was a lot more security than they realized.

Nope. Not really. It all happened pretty much as they say.

Both the Port of Seattle and the federal Transportation Safety Administration reviewed the incident, including videotapes, and concluded their security system is sound.

"We are satisfied with how procedures were followed that day," said Perry Cooper, airport spokesman. "We have never had a security lapse in that part of the airport."

It turns out there's no requirement, local or federal, to check IDs or screen drivers and cars when they go into that part of the airfield.

Drivers must be meeting known flights and are supposed to be escorted. But Alderete and Clodfelter say they were left on their own.

Cooper says it was a "visual escort" — someone could look out and see them. They were allowed on the tarmac for 33 minutes.

Clodfelter worked in Air Force operations for 21 years and says nothing so lax would cut it there.

"Take McChord," he said. "Nobody gets anywhere near the active runway without a badge. I don't think they're serious at Sea-Tac."

"You get checked more going into a Mariners game than you do on the back side of Sea-Tac," Alderete said.

This would all be one thing coming from me. I've been known to harp on and on about how our homeland security makes no sense. But I'm a newspaper columnist.

Alderete, on the other hand, was director of security for Army bases in battle zones such as Mogadishu. Maybe someone will listen to him?
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Old 05-18-2008, 11:44 AM
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He drove through the FBO's gate onto the ramp.
So what?
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Old 05-18-2008, 03:10 PM
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So What?
I hope that you are kidding!
As stated in the story, he drives to the taxiway w/o any questions,
Joe ramper barely has a background check before getting an airport badge and access to the ramp and aircraft,
said Joe ramper does not go thru security before access to ramp/aircraft,
Joe pilot with access to aircraft controls, ax pick, fire extigushers, knives, and many other possible weapons has to go thru TSA insecurity!
Where is the F##%$ sense in this procedure?
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Old 05-18-2008, 03:13 PM
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Originally Posted by hgroberts View Post
He drove through the FBO's gate onto the ramp.
So what?
Sooooooo....

1. They weren't screened properly to include having the van itself checked for contraband i.e weapons, explosives, etc.

2. Seeing as the van itself could be a weapon and even IDed individuals do bad things...they weren't escorted as per regulations.

Just think....how many people in the history of terrorist events on U.S. soil didn't speak up when they saw something strange? Or overlooked a regulation for "the nice gentleman with the smile?"

We are due again for another "eye opening" event. This article is just the tip of the iceberg.

The saddest part of the article is Perry Cooper's response.

"We have never had a security lapse in that part of the airport."

"We are satisfied...

This typical, "never going to happen to me" response is the recipe for the next 9-11 type event.

IMHO, hgroberts.....That's What...
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Old 05-18-2008, 03:32 PM
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Soo, LTC Alderete did not get saluted when he passed the gate? Guess we should search all the women and children. More money for TSA!

After I get furlogughed I can only hope to get a coveted TSA position with a gov't retirment/pension, 401K with match and medical!
...
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Old 05-18-2008, 03:37 PM
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Yep...the guy is a drama queen. And so is the press. A match made in heaven
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Old 05-18-2008, 08:00 PM
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There are so many holes in the TSA system, this is scary, but doesn't suprise me much.
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Old 05-18-2008, 08:25 PM
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The problem here is that the retired Lt Col fails to realize that the whole TSA clown show is a "feel good" system in the first place.
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Old 05-19-2008, 04:08 AM
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Granted at some GA ramps security can seem lax or non-existent. But we've always been a low-key operation. Where I work if you don't know the tail number of the aircraft and are not expected. Then you're not getting on. Also we don't let people onto the ramp until their aircraft is there.
Besides I don't want TSA at my side of the airport. Those FBO's that do are a joke and just make my job that much harder.
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Old 05-19-2008, 04:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Hacker15e View Post
the whole TSA clown show is a "feel good" system in the first place.
Those clowns sure don't make me "feel good" as I wait 15 minutes for them to confirm my suitcase does not contain bomb residue, while five TSA clowns lounge around doing absolutely nothing.

What a boondoggle. Maybe the TSA and ALPA National should merge. The both appear to be quite adept at getting top-notch perks without doing what they're supposed to.
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