Four More Arkansas Airports Go Federal

Passengers flying out of Arkansas` smaller airports can expect big changes the next time they check in. Monday, the four airports in Hot Springs, El Dorado, Jonesboro, and Harrison all received federal screeners from the Transportation Security Administration. When Congress federalized the other 429 airports at the beginning of the year, it left out about 14 category four airports. TSA director Jerry Henderson said that was to take care of the bigger airports first, and then go back and close the smaller gaps. "Then as the money becomes available we take care of the smaller airports. That`s where we are with this," Henderson said. "We were concerned, the safety issues of people boarding in Hot Springs because we didn`t have any passenger screening," said George Downie, the airport director in Hot Springs. With one airline, the Hot Springs Airport services 4,000 people a year, with six daily flights. Dallas passengers would have to deplane in Dallas, claim their luggage, then go through screening before checking it again for their connecting flight. Downie says he`s relieved to finally have federal screeners. The screeners at those four airports are part of a temporary team, just to get the airport started. TSA will be hiring permanent workers within the next month. The airport is also expecting equipment some time soon. They`ll be getting walk-through metal detectors, and x-ray machines for carry-on and checked baggage.