DATE=8/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237605
TITLE= AIRPORT SECURITY (L-O)
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ATTACKS LAST WEEK AGAINST 
SUSPECTED TERRORIST TARGETS IN AFGHANISTAN AND SUDAN  HAVE BEEN 
FOLLOWED BY INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES AT U-S AIRPORTS AND OTHER
PUBLIC FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.  AMONG THE CITIES 
TAKING EXTRA SECURITY PRECAUTIONS IN THE MIDWEST CITY OF CHICAGO,
HOME TO THE WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT.  VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND TELLS 
US WHAT IS BEING DONE TO PROTECT PASSENGERS.

TEXT:                   // ROOM NOISE ACT (ESTABLISH, FADE UNDER 
TEXT) //  

CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY SECURITY AT O'HARE AIRPORT AND THE SMALLER 
MIDWAY AIRPORT WAS TIGHTENED EVEN BEFORE THE FEDERAL AVIATION 
ADMINISTRATION REQUESTED THE EXTRA MEASURES LATE LAST WEEK.   
CITY AVIATION COMMISSIONER MARY ROSE LONEY SAYS MOST OF THE 
CHANGES WILL  NOT  EVEN BE NOTICED BY THE THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS
HERE AT O'HARE EVERY DAY BUT SOME OF THE EXTRA MEASURES WILL BE.

                        // LONEY ACT // 

         MORE VISIBLE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT BOTH O'HARE AND
         MIDWAY (AIRPORTS), MORE VIGILANT USE OF CANINE UNITS AS 
         WELL AS A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT AT TOWING UNATTENDED 
         VEHICLES ON OUR ROADWAYS.

                          // END ACT //

AS IT HAPPENS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE OF THE 

AIRPORT COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET HERE IN 
CHICAGO THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT AIRPORT SECURITY.  THE FEDERAL 
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HEAD OF CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY, ADMIRAL 
CATHAL FLYNN, SAYS THE MEETING WILL GIVE AIRPORT SECURITY CHIEFS 
FROM THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE 
MEASURES THAT COULD BE ENACTED IF NEED BE.  ADMIRAL FLYNN SAYS 
OFFICIALS HAVE  NO INFORMATION OF ANY PLANNED ATTACKS ON U-S 
CIVIL AVIATION, BUT THAT RIGHT NOW AIRPORTS ARE ON A 
HIGHER-THAN-USUAL ALERT STATUS.

                        // FLYNN ACT //  

         WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS AND ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE SUCH AS 
         OSAMA BIN LADEN THERE IS A LEVEL OF DANGER THAT WE MUST 
         COUNTERACT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FLY 
         SECURELY.

                          // END ACT //

CHICAGO'S HEAD OF AVIATION SECURITY, RICHARD KUNICKI, SAYS 
TIGHTER SECURITY MEASURES MEAN IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER 
FOR A PASSENGER TO REACH HIS OR HER DEPARTURE GATE, BUT FEW 
PEOPLE SEEM TO MIND THE SLIGHT DELAYS.

                       // KUNICKI ACT //  

         (THERE ARE) A LOT MORE THINGS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED 
         BUT I DO  NOT  THINK THE PASSENGER WOULD SAY  NO  
         BECAUSE OF INCONVENIENCE.  I THINK THEIR PRIORITY WOULD 
         BE SAFE PASSAGE.

                          // END ACT //

THE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF THE SEARS TOWER AND CHICAGO'S OTHER 
DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE ALSO BECOMING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT 
SECURITY.   THEY HAVE REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE CITY'S POLICE 
CHIEF TO TALK ABOUT THE RISK OF TERRORIST ATTACKS.  (SIGNED)



NEB/MJL/PT

24-Aug-98 5:38 PM EDT (2138 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.