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UNIONTOWN - It has become the norm for travelers flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport and the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity Township to say good-bye to loved ones outside of the checkpoints and no longer browse the Air Mall shops as part of increased security measures in place since Sept. 11.

Increased security measures at national commercial airports have increased to federally employed screeners, X-ray machines and explosive trace detection machines being located at entrance check points. Travelers who feel inconvenienced by the long lines at security checkpoints should understand that "security as it is now will not go away," according to Anthony F. Buyny, Deputy Federal Security Director at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

At the commercial airport near Latrobe, Buyny is in charge of security including 20 federal security screeners and two mobile screeners deployed in mid-August as part of the Transportation Safety Administration's move to replace private, contracted screeners with federal employees, a move initiated by Congress in light of the Sept. 11 attacks.

But, officials with Westmoreland and Fayette counties and local municipalities say security hasn't been increased. Rather, security plans were in place before Sept. 11 and communications channels exist between Fayette, Westmoreland and its neighboring counties in preparation for a terrorist attack.

Since Sept. 11, there have been new rules and guidelines and the Arnold Palmer airport is following these in its daily operations, said Gabe Monzo, manager of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

Monzo said airport traffic has stabilized in the year since Sept. 11. "We're back to a new normal," said Monzo, noting that U.S. Airways Express cut two flights before Sept. 11 and cut an additional flight since that day.

Monzo cannot detail the security measures implemented but said the new building at the airport lent itself to some of the Federal Aviation Administration regulations. One requirement of the administration was to modify parking arrangements which is still in effect today. "We've had very complaints, if any, of things being done," said Monzo, noting that the same regulations were placed on the large-hub airports like Pittsburgh International and Los Angeles International.

"It's important that people know we're meeting the requirements of the FAA and Transportation Safety Administration," said Monzo. "Whether we're in the lead or where we are, it's a matter of doing things that need to be done."

The TSA has a Nov. 19 deadline to employ screeners in the nation's 429 commercial airports and a Dec. 31 deadline to begin screening all checked baggage for bombs.

Travelers and their luggage go through a check point at the airport. Passing through a gate after the check point, travelers can be randomly selected for a further screening. Buyny said it a random selection, not based on gender or race. The screeners wave a hand-held detector over the person and physically search their bags.

If prohibited items, such as a knife or weapon, are found the civil penalties range from $100 to $11,000 and an investigation ensues. He said common oversights such as a forgetting to take out a pocket knife or nail clippers will not launch an investigation, but willful concealment does result in penalties.

Buyny said the federal screeners are persons living in the community. The position starts at $25,000 per year. Screeners have gone through extensive training; background and credit checks have been run.

Buyny believes the screeners are not motivated by paychecks but by the events of Sept. 11.

He stressed, "If someone breaches security here they breached security nationwide."

"Customer service is paramount but security is even more paramount," said Buyny. He said that 90 percent of passenger shake hands and say thank you to screeners for the job they are doing, but a small percentage do attempt to go through, asking screeners "What do you think, I have a bomb in my bag."

Buyny said that security measures at airports will not go away. He said the TSA "is building this from the ground up" and first had to deploy its federal screeners and meet the demand for advanced technology at the nation's airports.

Daniel Stevens, public information officer for Westmoreland County's Department of Public Safety, said the department has held trainings for fire departments and municipal officials when these are requested. The department, just 2 1/2 months before the terrorist attacks, held a training drill simulating a terrorist attack. "When the terrorists struck the World Trade Center, Flight 93 was above Westmoreland County and actually wound up in Shanksville," stated Stevens.

Stevens said that Westmoreland County is one of 13 southwestern Pennsylvania counties and the City of Pittsburgh that make up a regional task force on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Also included is Fayette County, according to Roy Shipley, director of Fayette County's Emergency Management agency.

Shipley said his department has worked with the majority of businesses, industries, hospitals and schools in Fayette County on increasing their security. "We've had a lot of activity from the last year," said Shipley. "Yes, everybody has stepped up their security measures."

"It's been a very cooperative effort on everybody's parts, between federal, state, county and local," Shipley stated.

Also included under security measures is training for emergency responders.

Shipley said training sessions have increased since last September. He said the events of Sept. 11 have brought to the forefront the training needed for such an event including what someone should look for. It is no longer firemen and policemen responding to incidents and responders need to think like a terrorist would and look for specific details. "Awareness is a big thing," he stated.

Shipley believes that the state's budget includes funding for counties to bring on board a person for one year to help with training.

Stevens said security has not increased at the public safety building, itself, because the building was recently constructed and is secure. He said employees go through 20 weeks of training. To gain entrance, a person steps through four different security locks. Security measures were in place prior to last Sept. 11.

Both Shipley and Stevens are directed with security throughout the county, but security measures in county-owned buildings falls to the sheriff of Fayette County and in Westmoreland County, the chief of security.

Fayette County Sheriff Gary Brownfield noted that the county commissioners purchased X-ray machines that were installed in the courthouse and public safety building. Prior to the purchase of the machines, sheriff's deputies manually searched purses, bags and briefcases that were carried into the courthouse.

Brownfield said the machines are capable of examining both organic and inorganic materials.

Brownfield said the machine was needed at the public safety building which houses the county's 911 center and emergency management office. Brownfield said this building is the county's communication center.

In addition to the X-ray machines, persons entering the courthouse and public safety building must empty pockets and walk through a metal detector. If the machine sounds off, deputies wave a hand-held detector over the person.

Dennis Genard, Westmoreland County Chief of Security, said security measures including metal detectors and X-ray machines had been in place since 1994 at the courthouse and juvenile probation office. Genard said county police under his direction were made more aware since Sept. 11 and know to be aware.

Neither Genard nor Brownfield have increased the number of persons on their staffs.

"In light of everything that happened, things were in place prior to Sept. 11," said Genard.

Mount Pleasant Mayor Gerald Lucia said the borough's emergency disaster plan is in line with Westmoreland County's plan, and is updated accordingly.

Lucia is chief of the borough's volunteer fire department which participated in a training exercise at Arnold Palmer Airport, the closest airport with commercial flights. "We are aware of what to do in that emergency situation," stated Lucia this week.

Also a concern for Lucia's department is the Pennsylvania Turnpike, two miles away from the borough. The turnpike section running through Mount Pleasant Township has been under construction for about two years, and Route 31, Mount Pleasant's Main Street, has become an alternate route for tractor trailers and large trucks to reach the Donegal turnpike interchange.

"Is Route 31 vulnerable," asked Lucia. "Yes." He said is quite possible for a truck, unknown to be carrying hazardous materials and explosives, to park on Main Street and create a disaster. As a result, the borough's police department, while not increased in the number of officers and hours worked, is more cognizant of strange-looking traffic making its way on Main Street. "Patrols have changed to maintain a better look out of Route 31. We get a lot of traffic coming through town."

Security has been increased at the nation's commercial airports, and this is evident at the two commercial airports in the region, Arnold Palmer and Pittsburgh International.

Security has increased at the Connellsville Airport in Dunbar Township, but not to the extent of security at the Latrobe airport.

Robert Schiffbauer, vice chairman of the Fayette County Airport Authority which oversees the Connellsville Airport, said security has not been upgraded significantly, but the authority has made arrangements "to invite a state police presence to come onto the grounds" and patrol around the airport property.

Schiffbauer said that airport personnel are on the grounds during daytime hours and one maintenance person lives on the grounds.

Schiffbauer, of South Union Township, said the authority is waiting to determine if additional guidelines will be directed by the state and federal transportation administrations for airports the size of Connellsville.

"We are really limited in what we can do because of our finances. If there is a requirement by state and federal governments, money will hopefully come with it," he said, adding that an unfunded mandate will drastically limit what the authority can implement.

"If we grow, we'll be able to step up the amount and type of security," said Schiffbauer.

He said it would be difficult for an airport the size of Connellsville's to stop a person or persons intent of wreaking disaster. He said the country remains vulnerable and hopefully, the federal government and the Director of Homeland Security, former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge, are creating a game plan that encompasses security for the largest to smallest airports.

Schiffbauer said usage at the airport remained the same following the Sept. 11 attacks because Connellsville does not have commercial aircraft.

As time goes on, Schiffbauer said the authority will improve security but the amount and degree of security is governed by "how the authority does in the future as far as growth."

Schiffbauer said that this summer's airshow was not canceled because of security restraints but due to the number of projects being undertaken by the authority. Schiffbauer said the show will return in the future.

Security constraints did play a part in the cancellation of the airshow at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Monzo said the show was not canceled because of security, but security did play a part in the authority's decision. The board's decision was also based on the fact that a flight team could not be booked. Monzo said that if the airport were offered a spot on a team's tour then "we'd look at it again."

"In order to meet the requirements of the FAA it would have taken more security," stated Monzo.

Concluded Monzo, "We went through the same guidelines as every other airport in the country. We're happy to have the people (screeners) here."

Speaking about the regional terrorism task force, Stevens said it has been established for numerous years and the membership is pro-active. Stevens said residents in this area should feel assured that the task force is more prepared than other areas and counties in the commonwealth. "We have constant communication between the counties' directors (of emergency management)."

"I feel very comforted living in southwestern Pennsylvania. A lot of good, educated people are in charge of emergency management," said Stevens. "We all know how to talk to each other."

But communicating with one's neighbor is needed, said Stevens. He said residents need to become aware of their surroundings and get to know their neighbors. "In this time and age, we should bend a little bit. We need to know who are neighbors are. Everyone is in the same boat."

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