State Guard units assigned to airports

Missouri National Guard troops will boost security at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and six others in response to President Bush's request for heightened security at the nation's airports.

Gov. Bob Holden on Thursday ordered the deployment of at least 150 National Guardsmen. Besides Cape Girardeau, Guardsmen will be stationed at the commercial airports in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Joplin and Fort Leonard Wood, where the Army also has a post.

The deployments could occur as soon as next week and may last for several months with the federal government picking up the bill. The Federal Aviation Administration will train the Guardsmen in passenger and baggage screening, conflict management and handling of deadly materials. The training is expected to last three to four days, meaning Guardsmen will not be stationed in airports before next week.

Holden's order followed Bush's visit Thursday to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in which he called upon the nation's governors to order out the National Guard to protect airports while he implements a long-term airline security plan in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The airport deployment in Missouri would be the fifth largest in the nation behind California, Florida, New York and Texas, said Holden spokesman Jerry Nachtigal.

It was not announced which units in Missouri would be activated.

Bush has asked governors to call up about 4,000 National Guardsmen nationwide to provide security at 720 checkpoints in 420 commercial airports.

Holden said he believes Missouri's airports are safe. But he said, "I think the president is acting in a prudent fashion, in a responsible way. We've got to be prepared for the future, and I think that's what this is all about."

Bruce Loy, manager of the Cape Girardeau airport, welcomed the call-up. Loy said the addition of National Guardsmen would beef up security at the airport terminal and reduce the number of Cape Girardeau police officers needed there.

At least two Cape Girardeau police offices patrol inside and outside the terminal when passengers are arriving or departing on commuter airline Trans World Express, which offers flights to and from St. Louis.

Police Chief Steve Strong expects his officers will continue to patrol the airport even with Guard troops there but perhaps at a reduced level. "It may allow us to back off a little," said Strong.

Local airport security

Loy already had taken steps to boost security, hiring a man to help patrol the front of the terminal to make sure that passengers don't leave luggage or vehicles parked there. Unlike police officers, he doesn't carry a weapon.

After the terrorist attacks, Cape Girardeau airport officials initially closed only half of the parking lot near the terminal. But on Friday, the FAA ordered the whole parking lot off limits. The empty parking lot is fenced off by concrete barriers.

The FAA won't allow any unattended, parked car within 300 feet of any airport terminal in the country, Loy said. As a result, all cars, including those of National and Hertz car rental agencies, are being parked in the small long-term parking lot and a surrounding grassy area beyond the airport entrance road.

"It's been an inconvenience for everyone, but it is all in the interest of safety," said Loy. "People have seemed pretty understanding."

Loy said the city is looking at moving the rental cars into a gated area at the airport, which would free up spaces in the area now used for public parking. Loy said the city may gravel the area to improve the makeshift parking lot and it is considering providing a shuttle service to get passengers from the parking lot to the terminal.

"The FAA is telling us there may be funds available to construct additional parking lots," he said.

Fewer flying

The terrorist attacks involving hijacked airplanes has frightened the flying public, resulting in fewer people taking flights. Delta has reported only 35 percent of its seats are filled on most flights.

Loy said nearly half of the seats were filled on TWE flights prior to the terrorist attacks. Few people flew out of the Cape Girardeau airport in the days following the attacks.

But the numbers have increased in recent days, Loy said. On Wednesday, the commuter airline's three flights from Cape Girardeau carried a combined 20 passengers, an average of more than six passengers per flight.

Seven people flew out of Cape Girardeau Thursday afternoon on a TWE flight. Security was tight with employees of the airline using a hand metal detector to scan passengers boarding the plane.

Passenger Jennifer Gwin of Jackson had to remove her belt as she went through the security check as a Cape Girardeau police officer looked on.

Gwin said it looks strange to see the empty, paved parking lot in front of the terminal. "I thought it was eerie," she said prior to boarding her flight.

Gwin was among three nurse practitioners who departed for a conference. She and fellow nurse practitioners Bobbi Morris and Debbie Sutherland, both of Cape Girardeau, said they weren't afraid to fly.

"We figure we are safer now than we ever have been," said Morris, pointing to the added security.

Rich McLaughlin, who was returning home to Chicago from a business trip, said he didn't mind the extra security.

With fewer people flying these days, it takes less time to get through a major airport even with the added security checks, he said.

"I think it would be better to be overly cautious at this point," McLaughlin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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