News
Article
KaiserAir
Battens Down Security Hatches

Reprinted
from Aviation International News
September, 2002
On
the subject of security procedures. Sandy Waters, v-p of KaiserAir
at Oakland (Calif.) International Airport, said. "There has
never been a successful hijacking of a charter or air taxi aircraft
in history, and there is no reason to impose the same requirements
[as those for aircraft over 95,000 lb] on smaller aircraft."
Still, Waters has voluntarily developed scrupulous security measures
specifically for KaiserAir-measures the company hopes will
serve as a model for federal regulations for FBOs and the charter
industry. Founded in 1946 by industrialist Henry Kaiser, KaiserAir
is a full-service aircraft management company and FBO specializing
in operation and maintenance of Gulfstream, Raytheon Hawker and
Cessna business aircraft.
Employees
are now subject to pre-hire fingerprint checks and thorough background
investigations. Flight crews, line personnel and maintenance technicians
are subject to random drug and alcohol tests. Before every flight
on a KaiserAir charter aircraft, each passenger and his baggage
is identified and verified. Boarding is conducted at the private
terminal only. The area is secured by a 12-ft-high fence with security
guards protecting private gates. Since September 11, KaiserAir requires
flight crews and passengers to check in at the customer service
counter so that staff members can escort them to and from their
aircraft on the ramp. Flight crewmembers are also required to identify
all of their passengers and verify the owner of each piece of baggage
before the airplane is loaded.
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