With safety and security always priority one, John Wayne Airport (JWA) continues its steadfast commitment to meet or exceed all federally mandated security regulations. Our goal is simple: to maintain a safe environment for our guests, aviation partners, tenants, employees and volunteers. During 2015, our unwavering dedication continued through close partnerships with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Airport Police Services (Orange County Sheriff’s Department) and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (Orange County Fire Authority).
To meet stringent FAA safety requirements, JWA undergoes annual Part 139 inspections. In January, JWA once again passed this comprehensive inspection, which included a timed-response drill, live-fire drill, and thorough inspection of equipment, fueling facilities, runways/taxiways and more.
In May, JWA conducted its annual Aviation Security (AVSEC) Plan Review and Tabletop Exercise. During this TSA-mandated event, JWA air carriers, major tenants and law enforcement partners gathered to review the current Airport Security Plan, the newest regulations and requirements, and to test specific aspects of the plan through a tabletop exercise.
Over the course of many training sessions, we completed Active Shooter, Critical Casualty Care and Force Protection training with Orange County Fire Authority partners for all Deputy Sheriffs and Sheriff’s Special Officers. This culminated in an Active Shooter Incident Exercise to practice delivering critical casualty care more rapidly within the Riley Terminal.
Fulfilling one aspect of the FAA Part 139 requirement, JWA conducted its annual Emergency Plan Review and Tabletop Exercise with all air carriers and other key stakeholders. Participants reviewed recent aviation incidents from around the world, reviewed JWA’s current Airport Emergency Plan and tested the plan through a tabletop exercise.
To comply with new liability rules, and ensure greater protection against data breaches and escalating credit card fraud, JWA initiated a project to convert all Airport provided credit card processing equipment to be Chip and PIN compatible.
As part of JWA’s newly contracted Terminals A and B Improvements Project, the Airport plans a major seismic retrofit to make both terminal structures more resistant to seismic activity, ground motion or soil failure due to earthquakes.