Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority officials report that the FAA security rule that has dictated all airports maintain a 300 foot security buffer around their terminals since the 9/11 attacks has been lifted as of noon today. Therefore, the vehicular searches that have been conducted at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport since the spring ended at noon today.
“All of our lots are open for parking without having to have the vehicles searched as of noon today,” said Mark VanLoh, Airport Authority President.
The new security measure for maintaining the front of airport terminals is now a part of the Homeland Security color-coding system. Since the country is at a Yellow level of security right now, airports can open their parking that falls within 300 feet of their terminals without restrictions.
“If and when the country goes to an Orange security code level, we will have to go back to searching vehicles in order to keep all of the lots open,” added VanLoh.
However, passengers and people picking up or dropping off passengers at the airport are reminded that they cannot leave their vehicles unattended at the curb of the terminal. They can load or unload and then move their vehicles into the parking lot, but they must stay with the vehicle at all times.