by Bailey White
Staff Writer
When the Jacksonville Jaguars arrive at the airport this weekend for their charter flight to Tennessee, they’ll do an end run around the security gate, going directly to the plane.
While others will wait in long lines to clear airport security, submitting handbags and other personal belongings to rigorous inspection, passengers on charter flights often have direct transportation to the concourse and are able to board their flights without ever passing through a metal detector.
But, by the time the Jaguars travel to Cincinnati later this season, they too, will face the same scrutiny as other air travelers.
The Transportation Security Administration has released new guidelines requiring airlines to screen all passengers and luggage on private charters. The new regulations are scheduled to take effect in December.
Kirt Wade, the manager of team operations for the Jaguars, helps keep the players on a rigid schedule and oversees everything from ground transportation to hotels to meals for the team when they’re on the road. As of today, Wade isn’t sure what these new requirements will mean for the team.
“We know it will happen in December, but we don’t know what it will be. We know that whatever happens will happen everywhere and not just here,” said Wade, adding he is in constant communication with TSA.
For Wade, the biggest anticipation is the delays that will most likely be involved with the new requirements.
“Our biggest concern is keeping everything on schedule,” he said.
Another source of concern is the player’s privacy and keeping the public interaction, which could cause a hindrance for the team getting places on time, at a minimum.
“We try to keep it low key,” said Wade.
Combining two professional football teams with many high profile fans, the Super Bowl brings plenty of charter flights into its host city. Even though Tampa’s Super Bowl Task Force reported approximately 1,200 corporate aircraft at area airports, members of Jacksonville’s Super Bowl Host Committee are not concerned about the new rules impacting Jacksonville’s 2005 game.
“The new security regulations shouldn’t cause the Super Bowl Host Committee much heartburn,” said Heather Surface, director of communications for the committee. “Fortunately, we have plenty of time to develop a Super Bowl aviation master plan.”
At Jacksonville University, the new regulations won’t cause an overhaul of its travel plans.
“We mostly travel by bus,” said Tom Leonard, equipment manager for the school’s athletic department.
JU has already felt the restraint of tighter security when teams fly to away games.
“We used to carry several large trunks, but with new size standards for luggage, we had to divide our equipment among lots of smaller athletic bags,” said Leonard.
Leonard said the teams have reduced the amount of extra equipment they carry. “We’ll carry only one extra set of shoulder pads and helmet, and everyone is responsible for their own thing. We also have to be really careful where we put things like scissors,” he said.
Leonard once traveled aboard a Jaguars chartered flight as a guest.
“We went directly from the bus to the plane. There wasn’t a security check,” he said.
Currently, the TSA is addressing concerns that will most likely be felt around the country, and figuring out the best ways to implement new rules. In fact, an official from TSA was on board the Jaguars charter flight to Kansas City earlier this season.
“He wanted to see how we did our travel, from beginning to end, and to consider the possibility of using us as a model for the new guidelines,” said Wade.
TSA officials did not return phone calls seeking comment on the new regulations.
However, a National Business Aviation Association website reported that the new rules would require the use of metal detection devices, X-ray systems, law enforcement personnel and criminal history record checks.