In November 2001, the Port of Oakland requested that Leigh Fisher Associates determine how the Port could best comply with the 100% screening of checked baggage provisions of the new Aviation and Transportation Security Act. Our study addressed both the 60-day and December 31, 2002, deadlines for Terminals 1 and 2 at Oakland International Airport.

The Port also engaged the assistance of (1) new Transportation Security Administration (TSA)/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) security representatives to address the checked baggage requirements and (2) airline representatives to address existing baggage system condition and capacity, baggage demand, and processing rates. Coordination with other consultant teams was required to maintain consistent use of planning assumptions and data for parallel planning efforts at the Airport.

A work session was conducted at the outset of the engagement with Port, TSA/FAA, and airline representatives to establish the Port's goals and objectives. As detailed guidelines and procedures had not yet been established by the TSA, it was important to establish coordination between the project team and stakeholders throughout the course of the project to share updated information and assess implications of new findings. Workshops were held at regular intervals to review technical material and receive input from stakeholders.

This approach was intended to provide as many options as possible for the Port to consider, solicit involvement and gain consensus from as many stakeholders as possible, and provide a solution that would be mutually supported, technically practical, and timely.

Peak-period demand analyses were based on airline flight schedules, earliness distribution, percent of originating passengers, party size, number of checked bags per passenger/party, ticket counter processing rate, and other data. The analyses were conducted to address a range of possibilities, including (a) pre- and post-9/11 passenger behavior and (b) reliability and processing rates of the explosives detection system (EDS) equipment.

Scenario-based conceptual plans were prepared to provide a range of alternatives for providing 100% checked baggage screening given the uncertainty of TSA's specific requirements at the time. Concepts were developed to address a (a) single-level EDS screening process where a potential of about 28% of bags would be manually searched and (b) multilevel EDS screening process where a potential of about 1% of bags would be manually searched. Concepts were also developed to address "5-year temporary" options within the existing terminal structures, which are to be abandoned when the new terminal opens.

Client
Port of Oakland

Services
-Airport Security Planning and Implementation