In response to recent counterattacks against Afghanistan, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has called for law enforcement agencies, including those in Albemarle County and Charlottesville City, to be at the "highest level of vigilance."
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, local police, fire and rescue units have operated at a heightened level of alert in accordance with regional recommendations for dealing with potential terrorist threats, Albemarle County spokeswoman Lee Catlin said.
Extra security personnel are patrolling local facilities that are at greater risk for attack, including the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport and the National Ground Intelligence Center in Albemarle County, a newly relocated federal building that monitors international communication. Additional city police officers also reported to the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, which serves as a training facility for high-ranking federal executives.
"We aren't sure of how long these security measures will remain in effect," Catlin said. "We'll have to wait and see how things play out in the upcoming weeks."
Airport officials have enacted their own initiatives to increase security at the facility. Following the safety proposals of President Bush, which were carried out by directives from Gov. James S. Gilmore III, Virginia National Guard personnel are now on hand to boost airport security.
The Guard's overall mission is to assist in restoring the public's confidence in the safety of commercial air travel, augment airport security and law enforcement operations, and allow the federal government time to establish new security standards for airports, airport spokeswoman Barbara Hutchinson said.
Additional personnel will be on hand to inspect all vehicles that enter the airfield, including cargo vans and garbage trucks, in addition to private planes that enter the restricted area.
"There are many new elements that require training and armed guards," Hutchinson said. "We're trying to establish the most effective way to provide that security."
As of yesterday, drivers no longer are allowed to drop off passengers. Only rental car returns and delivery vehicles accompanied by airport escorts may circumvent parking lots and proceed past the main entrance.
Students opting for air travel over Fall Break should plan to arrive about an hour and a half before departure for non-peak hour flights, and up to two hours early for early morning flights.
Upon arriving at the airport, all passengers must proceed to check-in counters to present identification, check luggage and be issued boarding passes.
Only ticketed passengers will be allowed to pass through security and must show airport personnel proof of identification.
Security personnel will select passengers at random and conduct thorough hand searches through bags. Airlines also will be boarding flights about 10 minutes earlier than passengers would usually expect.
"Generally, most people are grateful that [increased security] provides a greater level of comfort, but people are getting stressed and frustrated because of the extra time required," Hutchinson said. "But we're a small airport, so we have less to deal with"
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