HICCUPS in the Tamworth Airport’s news security system are being worked through.
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Tamworth Airport manager Michael Dubois said the first few days of the checks had led to a few of the teething problems but most of them had been anticipated.
“By the end of the week people will better understand the ins and outs of the new system and those problems will disappear,” he said.
In the first three days of use – the new scanners came into effect on Sunday – there were a few things that set off the scanning system on hand luggage and passengers.
The biggest offenders were cigarette lighters and nail scissors.
Mr Dubois said passengers with the items had been reminded to put them in their checked bags from now on.
“The scissors were confiscated,” he said.
“Passengers are allowed to carry one cigarette lighter on their person but any more than one will be
confiscated.”
One passenger on the weekend arrived with four of the fire sticks.
“Three were confiscated and the passenger was allowed to board with the aircraft with one,” Mr Dubois said.
Mr Dubois said the biggest triggers for the system over the first two days were small things that passengers who weren’t familiar with the
screening process might overlook.
“Steel-capped boots will trigger the passenger scanner, as will some high-heeled shoes and belts because of the metal in them,” Mr Dubois said.
“The process will speed up a lot when people have that familiarity.”
A man who registered for gunpowder on the weekend was understood to have been in possession of his son’s jacket.
Mr Dubois said the jacket had accompanied the young man to paintball the day before and the powder had been picked up there.
“That just acts as a reminder to people to keep track of where they have been,” he said.
The response from passengers to date has been good too.
“Most people have responded well,” he said.
Some people were so keen to put the machines to the test that when checks were run through and passengers asked to volunteer on Saturday – before the system came into full effect – security staff were inundated.
“There wasn’t a person who didn’t offer to line up, they all jumped in the queue,” Mr Dubois said.
Flights have been on time too.
“People have been arriving that hour early, which is pleasing,” Mr Dubois said.
“It really helps things to run smoothly.”
