TSA officers were in the thick of one of the biggest sporting events to come to Huntsville, Alabama, in the city’s history.
More than 300 athletes from all over the globe converged on Huntsville, which hosted the first-ever UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Para-Cycling World Cup on U.S. soil. Para-cycling is a sport adapted for cyclists who have various disabilities. Races took place in the second largest research park in America and the fourth largest in the world.
TSA supported the big event by teaming up with Huntsville International Airport (HSV) to develop a plan to screen all the participants, their bike cases and other property as they headed home after the World Cup.
“We were able to dedicate a large part of our operational screening area to the para-athletes to provide them with an efficient screening process and space for their wheelchairs,” said TSA Alabama Federal Security Director Tara Corse, who oversees security operations at HSV. “We worked closely with HSV. Both of us recognized how important it was to communicate projected passenger loads along with departure times that might conflict with other scheduled operations.”
TSA Huntsville partnered with airport officials well ahead of the event to make sure everyone was on the same page and security screening ran smoothly as participants, their families and supporters flew home.
“Several weeks prior to the games, TSA worked closely with HSV operations and the air carriers to develop a plan to best assist the athletes upon their departure,” Corse noted.
HSV TSA Manager Shane Simpson said his team made sure the checked baggage area was properly staffed due in large part to the challenge of screening all of the large bike cases that came through.
“The bike cases had to be checked by hand due to the size of the cases,” said Simpson. “We worked closely with our stakeholders to ensure the bikes were able to be transported to the checked baggage areas for hand checks and were properly placed for the (airline) baggage handlers to proceed with getting them on the airplanes.”
Simpson said this was the biggest event his TSA team had ever supported, but they were glad to be part of the World Cup event.
“It was a privilege for all of us here at HSV to accommodate these world-class cyclists to the best of our abilities,” said Simpson.
The airport’s chief operating officer took note of TSA Huntsville’s successful screening operations and passenger experience.
In a letter to Corse, Kevin Vandeberg wrote, “We would not have been able to accomplish the safe and efficient transport of the athletes and their staff support without your team’s local support of this community effort. Each TSA employee responded and provided a high level of service and did their best to actively assist each athlete. Thank you again for your partnership in making this world-class event a success.”
By Don Wagner, TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs