By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
With millions of people expected to fly this Memorial Day weekend, the world’s busiest and most efficient airport is prepared for the start of the busy summer travel season.
“March 31 of this year saw a record 85,470 passengers screened, and we expect to break that single-day number in the next few days,” Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. said during a May 23 press conference at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. “We are able to facilitate such a large number of travelers thanks to the collaborative efforts between Hartsfield-Jackson and our many stakeholders, including TSA and our airline partners.”
To reduce passenger congestion, ATL recently completed the installation of 20 additional Automated Screening Lanes, or Smart Lanes, at Domestic security checkpoints. Finished April 26, nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, these Smart Lanes have increased passenger processing by up to 30 percent.
In 2016, Hartsfield-Jackson became the first U.S. airport to test these Smart Lanes as part of a pilot program with TSA and Delta Air Lines.
“By automating many of the functions previously conducted manually, travelers are able to move more swiftly and efficiently through the checkpoints, allowing for speedier travel,” said TSA Federal Security Director Mary Leftridge Byrd.
Byrd added that while more than 95 percent of passengers are screened in less than 20 minutes, it’s best to plan ahead.
“Preparedness can have a significant impact on efficiency at security checkpoints,” she said.
Over the past year, TSA has seen a staffing increase, and security remains a top priority. Local, state and federal law enforcement officials remain hyper-vigilant to any threats posed to the traveling community, and officers maintain a strong, visible presence at Hartsfield-Jackson.
Still, Council reminded everyone about the federal initiative “See Something, Say Something.”
“If you notice suspicious behavior or activity, don’t hesitate to report it to a law enforcement official,” he said.
During the holiday weekend, passengers should plan to arrive at least two hours before scheduled departure for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. Travelers should also monitor their airlines’ websites and social media feeds for immediate updates.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has officially become StormReady, earning the designation after demonstrating weather-related emergency preparedness.
Officials with the National Weather Service, on hand for a press conference Wednesday in the Domestic Terminal atrium, presented ATL leaders with a certificate.
“We are the first airport in Georgia and only the second commercial site in the state to achieve this distinction,” said Michael Smith, ATL’s senior deputy general manager. “With this certification, ATL has demonstrated that it has the necessary tools in place – through planning, education and awareness – to potentially save lives.”
The United States experiences, on average, about 10,000 thunderstorms and 1,000 tornadoes each year, and about 98 percent of all presidentially declared disasters are weather related. Given those statistics, the life-saving benefits of being StormReady are clear, Smith said.
“In the case of a tornado, for instance, this Airport may have just a matter of seconds to respond, notifying airlines, employees and, of course, the traveling public about what actions to take,” said Smith, who stood next to a “We Are StormReady” sign, one of nine that will be placed on roadways throughout the Airport campus.
David Nadler, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service-Peachtree City/Atlanta, said more than 2,500 locations across the U.S. are StormReady, but just a handful of StormReady sites are airports. They include Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports, Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Indianapolis International Airport.
“Because of the uniqueness of the various groups that come together to support and make up airport operations, it is a little more challenging to recognize airports as StormReady, which makes this recognition even more special,” Nadler said.
Eligibility guidelines are based on population. Given that ATL is the world’s busiest airport, having served more than 104 million passengers in 2016 alone, Hartsfield-Jackson had to meet the highest standards.
Eligibility requirements include maintaining a 24-hour Emergency Operations Center with redundant methods of receiving, monitoring and relaying National Weather Service information and warnings to the public. It also includes close collaboration between the Airport’s Centralized Command and Control Center, or C4, and meteorologists at the National Weather Service-Peachtree City/Atlanta.
“StormReady means we have made a step forward in improving our readiness levels to be able to respond to emergencies at the Airport and to be able to provide a safer environment for our passengers,” C4 Director Gus Hudson said.
The StormReady program requires renewal every three years.
David Nadler of the National Weather Service presents the StormReady certificate to ATL Senior Deputy General Manager Michael Smith.
Hartsfield-Jackson’s world-class safety culture was on display – literally – at the first-ever OneATL Safety Always Safety Fest on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
The daylong event – with its series of presentations, demonstrations and exhibits – drew up to 350 people from across the Airport community. It featured the annual FOD Walk, followed by the Safety Expo, Safety Conference and Safety Awards luncheon at the Georgia International Convention Center.
At the Safety Conference and Expo, representatives from the FAA, OSHA, Delta Air Lines, among other organizations, led sessions on everything from workplace hazards and food safety to inspections and ergonomics. During the session on unmanned aircraft systems, the FAA’s Peter K. Acevedo and Charles Phillips covered a broad range of topics, including regulations, emergency procedures and even the effects of weather on drones.
“We had a great lineup of presentations and speakers,” said Derrick Crawley, one of the Safety Fest chairs. “It was extremely gratifying to observe the look on our attendees’ faces.”
In addition to the sessions, the Atlanta Police Department and Southwest Airlines performed safety-related demonstrations. Southwest Technical Operations simulated a fuel tank rescue operation, pulling a mannequin out of small wooden structure and performing CPR.
The day kicked off with the Airport’s annual FOD Walk. Nearly 90 employees participated in the event, canvassing the airfield in search of foreign object debris such as rocks, luggage straps and plastics.
“FOD prevention not only helps us remain the world’s most efficient airport, but it also plays a major role in helping us remain one of the world’s safest airports,” interim Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council Jr. told the early-morning crowd.
At the OneATL Excellence in Safety Awards luncheon, an all-star lineup of speakers zeroed in on safety.
Andrea McLane, executive safety manager for the mayor’s office, reviewed the City of Atlanta’s initiatives to foster a world-class safety culture by focusing on the well-being of employees. Those efforts resulted in fewer than 1,000 workplace injury claims in 2015 — a first for the city.
“Employee safety is not only a value, but it is a necessity here in the city of Atlanta,” McLane said. “We promote safety from the very top down, and it starts with the mayor.”
McLane introduced the luncheon’s keynote speaker, Dr. Ken Wagner, who addressed behavioral safety.
Wagner, vice president of Aubrey Daniels International, said behavioral safety pushes to achieve more than “the absence of an incident.” In fact, he said, there are only four ways to achieve such a feat.
“Don’t’ do any work, don’t report anything, get lucky and work safely,” he said. “And only one of those is acceptable. Unfortunately, almost every organization has some balance between safe work and luck. So behavioral safety is that next piece that says, ‘What do we need people to do day in and day out to say, to talk about, to follow up on, to reinforce so people do the safe thing,’” he said.
The luncheon culminated with the OneATL Excellence in Safety Awards, given to those who exemplify the Airport’s safety focus.
Hartsfield-Jackson recognized Danny Boyd with the Foreign Object Debris Award; Samuel Priest with the General Safety Airside Award; Karina Albuna with the General Safety Landside Award; Department of Aviation maintenance with the Risk Management Safety Award; and Linda Hendrix with the Safety Leadership Award.
Also at the event, ATL leaders presented the construction safety awards. Hartsfield-Jackson recognized New South Construction with the General Contractor Safety Award; FS 360 with the Subcontractor Safety Award; BRTU Construction with the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Safety Award; and Kissberg Construction with the Female Business Enterprise (FBE) Safety Award.
Organizers are already planning for the next Safety Fest, set for August 2017. Exhibitors have already begun to commit to the 2017 event, and organizers have high hopes for even more participation.
As for this year’s fest, the Department of Aviation’s Catrina Gilbert said a number of senior leaders gave it “two thumbs up.”
“The overall goal of the event was to celebrate ATL’s safety culture and enhance the operational awareness and know-how of Airport employees,” said Gilbert, also a Safety Fest chair. “I have no doubt that we accomplished that goal.”
Stephanie Creech contributed to this article. Have a story idea for the Department of Aviation’s intranet? Contact Senior Public Relations Manager Shane Blatt at shane.blatt@atl.com.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hosted the inaugural Safety Fest on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. It drew some 350 people from across the Airport community. The four-part, daylong event featured demonstrations, exhibits and presentations designed to celebrate ATL’s safety culture and enhance the operational awareness of Airport employees. Employees even walked away with swanky swag bags. At the OneATL Excellence in Safety Awards luncheon (below left), keynote speaker Dr. Ken Wagner spoke about behavioral safety. Photos by Decisive Moment Photojournalism
