Iowans are adjusting to new regulations required for flying after the announcement of the terrorist plot in England to blow up planes using liquid explosives. Almost all liquids from bottled water to mouth wash can no longer be carried into the passenger compartment of airplanes. The new rules did cause a few problems for
Colleen Frese who was flying out of the eastern Iowa airport in Cedar Rapids.
She says they had everything liquid in their our carry on bags because they weren’t going to check any luggage.
Airport director Dan Mann says there are signs up all over the airport and they’ll continue working with everyone. He says over the next couple of days they’ll have to do a lot to educate the travelers. Mann says it’s going to take some time for people to adjust their habits. Mann says it will be a major difference from what people expected in the past. Even with the changes, the wait for passengers at the Eastern Iowa Airport was only about 90 minutes.
Pam Osgood, manager of the Mason City Airport, says travelers will notice the new restrictions but they have an important safety reason. She says passengers at that airport seem to understand that and are willing to undergo the new procedures for the next week or so, or as long as Homeland Security keeps them in effect. She says travelers leaving Mason City have been cooperative as they learned of the new procedures. She hasn’t been told anything about how long the measures will be in effect or whether any further security rules may be on the way.
Jay Brainard is Federal Security Director for the Transportation Security Administration for all the airports in Iowa that offer ticketed service.
The changes in Iowa, as nationwide, include a complete ban on carrying on any liquids, gels, lotions and also food items like yogurt, sauces and things like that. He says while you can’t bring them into the cabin for your trip, they’re allowed in checked baggage.
And despite conflicting word about other restrictions, Brainard says you’re not banned from bringing a carry-on. He says in Britain right now they’re banning all carry-ons and all electronics. Here in the U.S., where they’ve suggested we remove shoes, we’ll now all have to take our shoes at the checkpoint. But you can bring a carry-on, you can bring your i-Pod and your laptop computer.
Brainard says if you want to expedite your trip through the checkpoint you could put them in your checked baggage, but they’re still allowed as carry-on items if you board a plane in the United States. He says on Thursday a lot of people who arrived at the airport hadn’t yet heard the news and were not prepared for the new restrictions, but for the most part they’re cooperative and appreciate what the TSA’s doing.
For the agency’s new rules surf to TSA-dot-gov or see the link from the Des Moines airport’s website, DSM-airport-dot-org.
Related web sites:
TSA’s list of Frequently Asked Questions