Down to Earth
Airports move on from post-9/11 panic
- By Barry Willingham
- Mar 03, 2008
One of the first reactionary
attempts to bolster security
after 9/11 occurred at airports.
Immediately after air service
was reinstated, the public saw uniformed
Marines armed with M-16s at every security
checkpoint, concrete barriers at each
entry point, security guards ransacking
passengers’ luggage and, of course, taller
fences going up around airfield perimeters.
As with most things in life, an unexpected
event usually generates an unexpected—
and sometimes irrational—
response. Such was the case with the
nation’s aviation facilities.
A federal mandate specifically related
to the airport property perimeter ensured
all perimeter fencing was at least 8 feet
high. Millions of dollars were poured into
raising existing chain-link fences from 6
or 7 feet high to the new requirement of 8
feet. Although chain-link fences deter
intruders slightly, they can be penetrated
in seconds with a pair of pliers, so adding
a foot of height was a complete waste of
money. If anything, the new height
requirements took pressure off the bottom
of the fence, making it easier to climb
under or cut through.
This, among other reactionary moves,
bled much of the available resources away
from the more pragmatic, functional and
performance-driven security measures that
are surfacing today. Leading the way in a
move toward upgrading both the aesthetic
and functional performance of its property
is the Ontario, Calif., International Airport.
A Strong Investment
As a part of Los Angeles World Airports
(LAWA), Ontario airport used an in-house
support team to develop the design basis and
contract administration for its new perimeter
fencing. Collectively, the team decided to
use an ornamental palisade design in all
public access areas to improve the appearance
while increasing deterrence against
intruders. Because the project was federally
funded, the products had to meet Buy
America Act guidelines and pass a stringent
inspection of the manufacturing process.
The site was a focus for the LAWA network
because it took volume pressure off
Los Angeles International Airport. To
accommodate the increase in traffic at the
facility, LAWA decided to invest in the
property instead of taking the traditional
route, which would mean budgeting for the
expense of meeting minimal requirements
for the proposed security upgrades.
The airport’s team chose the Ameristar
Impasse ornamental fence product for public
spaces. Around the balance of the
perimeter, 10-foot chain link was used on
top of a concrete knee wall to impede vehicle
entry, combined in a layered approach
with surveillance technology to develop a
“deter, detect, delay, deny” system for the
airfield. Adding the 10-foot-high Impasse
ornamental fence to the public areas
increased the budget of the project by 4.2
percent but yielded a significant benefit in
creating a beautiful campus for the airport’s
customers and employees to enjoy.
The fence also maintains a barrier that
clearly deters anyone intending to breach
the perimeter.
“It’s like beauty and the beast,” one of
the ramp managers said. “It really dresses
the place up, but at the same time makes
me feel more secure. Everybody knows
you can get through a chain-link fence
pretty easily. This new fence is going to
make it a lot harder to get through.”
The fence’s 15-year warranty against
deterioration of the coating or corrosion
played a large part in supporting an extended
life cycle, which minimized the exposure
for future maintenance expenditures. The
open architecture design allowed for future
electrical conduit runs, which otherwise
would have to be trenched and buried, costing
up to $25 per foot and limiting accessibility
for maintenance. The same open rails
also could accommodate concealed intrusion
detection sensor systems for which
Impasse has been designed and tested.
Achieving Balance
Other airports around the country have
demonstrated a similar strategy with
regard to their air traffic control towers. At
most facilities, the tower is visible to the
public and is the most critical asset.
Impasse has been chosen numerous times
to demonstrate an appealing look for airport
visitors, yet provide delay and deterrence
factors against intruders in an effective
way. There is not a fence system
made that will completely prevent someone
getting through, but the Impasse product
has proved to be a dramatic improvement
over previous products used—like
chain link with barbed tape and wire—
which are not much more than ugly
boundary markers.
The culture of the United States
demands airports maintain welcoming
public spaces, a free and open environment
and, above all, a safe and secure atmosphere.
Balancing increased security measures
and wide open spaces is difficult, but
can be accomplished with means demonstrated
at the Ontario airport and other aviation
facilities around the country.
The Marine with the M-16 who stood
at the security checkpoint has been
replaced with less obvious, reasonable
measures that deliver more effective security
for airline passengers. Ugly fences
providing little more than perceived security,
demonstrating an environment at the
nation’s airports that closely resembles a
prison, are fading into the past. It is key to
make the right investments on any property,
balanced with a proven enhancement
to the security platform. How to do it
has been defined by others. When to do
it can only be determined by a security
professional.
This article originally appeared in the issue of .