Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority Media Guide
INTRODUCTION The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority s (FWACAA) Marketing and Administration office is committed to serving the needs of the traveling public and the news media. FWACAA owns and operates the Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) and Smith Field Airport (SMD) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The purpose of the FWACAA s Media Guide is to provide news media with the means to obtain information and assistance from FWACAA and the airport s tenants. CONTACT INFORMATION You can reach FWACAA s Marketing and Administration office by calling 260.747.4146, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After business hours, weekends and on holidays, please call our Public Safety Department at 260.747.2624. Media should not call Airport Operations, as the Operations staff is busy with the safe management of airport facilities. Page 2
GENERAL GUIDELINES MEDIA ACCESS TO PUBLIC AREAS As a general policy, the news media enjoy the same access to public areas of the airport (ticketing, lobbies, baggage claim areas, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.,) as does the general public. In order to film and report in secure areas of the terminal, news media personnel will have to pass through screening at the security checkpoints and be accompanied by an airport authority escort while in the secure areas. When filming at the airport, taking still photos, or conducting interviews, all media should contact FWACAA Marketing and Administration office for assistance prior to arriving at the airport. Media representatives are required to display press identification and identify themselves to anyone they interview, photograph, or film on airport property. The media should not block or restrict movement anywhere in the terminal and entrances and exits should not be obstructed. When conducting interviews, the media must not interfere with airport or airline operations at any time. FWACAA reserves the right to restrict media activity at any location on airport premises if public security, safety, or operational concerns so warrant. MEDIA INQUIRIES All requests for interviews with FWACAA representatives should be directed to Kim Fuhrmann, Marketing and Administration Manager, who will provide the appropriate spokesperson to address the particular topic of the interview. The telephone number is 260.446.3435. E-mail address is: Fuhrmann@fwairport.com Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, call 260.747.2624 (our Public Safety Department). The first available communications representative on-scene or the airport representative best able to provide information about the incident, accident or event will answer calls as a result of ongoing incidents, events, and/or accidents. (See also WEATHER AND DELAYS). General information about the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority and its airports can be found at www.fwairport.com. PARKING AND LIVE SHOTS Media personnel in marked vehicles may park curbside before the stop sign prior to the terminal building. If news media is on assignment attending a media event at FWACAA, parking validation will be provided by Airport Authority s office. Page 3
If there is a serious incident or emergency, FWACAA will designate a staging area for media parking. Media will be notified via e-mail, telephone, and/or Internet website of the location of the staging area. WEATHER AND DELAYS Airlines, FAA air traffic controllers, and pilots determine the delay, cancellation or re-routing of flights. Inquiries about the number of impacted flights and passengers should be directed to individual airlines, as they are the parties responsible for the information. Adverse weather conditions could affect airport operations due to airfield conditions, visibility or other reasons. The airport does not close during most inclement weather conditions. At times, there may be an interruption in operations in order to clear snow and/or ice from the runways or ramps. Atmospheric conditions, navigational equipment, aircraft equipment, pilot qualifications, aircraft de-icing, ground movement and terminal gate availability all impact decisions to have flights delayed, canceled or re-routed to other airports. Only during severe weather would the runways close for any extended period of time. Flights may be delayed or canceled due to weather at the flight destination or in other cities. The terminal would remain open unless damaged or other safety concerns warrant closing all or part of the terminal. Some airlines or the FAA may delay arrivals or departures until visibility and conditions improve. COMMERCIAL FILMING The Properties Office primarily responds to requests by news media to film at the airport. Requests to film television commercials, documentaries, and other non-news subjects must be submitted to Rebecca Ross, Properties Manager, at (260) 446-3436 or via e-mail to: ross@fwairport.com. Requests and supporting documentation should be submitted to FWACAA a minimum of five days before the requested date of filming. All filming requests are subject to prior approval by FWACAA. FWACAA s website www.fwairport.com can be used as a source for current and historical information, including press releases, flight information updated by the airlines, ground transportation services, area hotels and more. New information and statements will be posted to the website as quickly as information is available. LEASED AREAS The areas that are leased by the airlines and other tenants, including ticket counters, gate areas/waiting areas, private offices, stores and restaurants are under the control of those parties. Media access to those areas must be approved by the appropriate business. AIRFIELD ACCESS Airfield access is strictly controlled. Requests for filming in the aircraft operations areas and near the aprons will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Prior notification is essential to ensure adequate staffing exists to perform escort duties. Requests for access will be accommodated to the extent of manpower, operational considerations and safety permit. In the event of an Page 4
emergency situation or other events that require the full attention of the Airport Operations staff, a prearranged escort may be cancelled. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN Aircraft incidents/accidents are classified as follows: Alert I Fire and Rescue units are notified that a potential emergency exists and are standing by to be dispatched if necessary. Alert II Fire and Rescue unites are dispatched to stand-by near the appropriate runway as a precaution. Alert III Fire and Rescue units respond to the scene of an accident or emergency incident. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES It is the policy of FWACAA to cooperate with the news media to the greatest extent possible. Our primary responsibilities are safe, orderly and secure airport operations. When there is an emergency situation at Fort Wayne International Airport or the general aviation airport, Smith Field, that is expected to generate extensive media attention, these procedures will serve as our guidelines: The media, in reporting news of an aircraft emergency, accident or other incident at Fort Wayne International Airport or Smith Field Airport is requested to release incident details with prudence until information can be confirmed by Airport Authority staff or other appropriate authority. As information becomes available, initial reports will be confirmed. Media briefings may be scheduled and announced for specified briefing areas. During an emergency situation, the FWACAA representative will be prepared to: o Inform the media of any confirmed information. o Provide media personnel with contact information for outside agencies involved in the incident. o Stay in contact with the mobile command center to obtain and provide information relating to the incident. o Coordinate the approval of and assembly of the media to the scene of the incident. Media will be permitted access to the scene of the emergency or incident as soon as practicable after the scene has been declared secure. The assembly point will be designated by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority Public Safety Department, and media representatives at the scene of an incident must comply with directions given by the Public Safety Department. No representative of the media will enter aircraft movement areas or security areas without an Airport Authority escort. Page 5
The media will not be allowed to interfere with the pedestrian or vehicle flow of the general public or with airline, airport, tenant and concessionaire operations. While the Airport Authority recognizes the importance of interviewing passengers, we also believe out first responsibility is to the passengers and their families and their right to privacy. If any individuals are reluctant to be interviewed or photographed, the Airport Authority will support their decision. In addition, during an aircraft accident, access to passengers will be subject to approval by the involved airline, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Transportation Safety Board, Transportation Security Administration, and/or the Department of Homeland Security. In the event of an emergency, the Airport Authority s representative will provide the following information: o Date and time of incident o Name of airline o Type of aircraft and flight number (if available) o Arrival/departure and destination o Number of persons on board (if confirmed) o General description of the incident o Special security conditions at the scene of the accident o Operations at the airport, any closures of runways, etc. o Information regarding escort service to scene Note: All other information must be provided by the airline representative or the appropriate federal agency. As a rule, during an emergency, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) releases the cause of an aircraft crash or incident after an investigation has been completed. Until then, no agency will speculate on a possible cause. The passenger manifest is released by the airline and the Airport Authority. The Federal Aviation Administration not the Airport Authority releases information on air traffic control communication with the pilot of an aircraft involved in an accident or incident. In a non-aviation emergency situation, the Director of Operations & Facilities will coordinate the release of information. The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority s Public Safety Department is in charge of investigating traffic accidents and criminal activities on Airport Authority property. The Public Safety Department of the Airport Authority handles fire, rescue, and ambulance operations. Page 6
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for the security of all modes of transportation including aircraft. AGENCIES INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS FWACAA Operations The Airport Operations Office retains operational control of the airport during aircraft emergency situations. FWACAA Public Safety Department The Airport Public Safety Department is responsible for initial emergency/rescue efforts following an aircraft incident or airport emergency involving victim(s) as well as responsible for establishing and maintaining a security line at the incident site and ingress/egress points. Airlines The involved airline is responsible for providing information regarding passengers aboard the aircraft and any detailed information about the flight, crew and the aircraft. The airline is also responsible for ensuring families/friends of victims of an aircraft emergency are notified before identifications of the victims are released to the public. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) The NTSB is the federal agency that investigates aircraft incidences. The NTSB will take custody of the aircraft and its contents from the time fire/rescue efforts are conducted until all factual information is gathered from the aircraft. Once investigation is completed or a release is given, the aircraft will be released to the owner (either the airline or their insurance company). Upon the arrival of the NTSB investigating team, FWACAA Marketing and Communications staff may assume a support role to the NTSB. The NTSB also operates a Family Assistance program, Joint Family Support Operations Center, intended to provide for the family members of those involved in an aircraft incident. Please contact the NTSB s Office of Public Affairs at 202-314-6100. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Various branches of the FAA have responsibilities in an aircraft emergency. The FAA operates the air traffic control tower. The air traffic controllers are responsible for the aircraft in flight, as Page 7
well as aircraft movement on the airfield. The air traffic controllers are responsible for initiating an aircraft emergency alert. To acquire information about the FAA, an incident or an airport alert, the news media is requested to contact the FAA s Public Affairs Office (see Important Contact Information). The FAA also becomes involved in investigations of some airport incidents that do not involve aircraft accidents. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) The FBI has jurisdiction if a hijacking, hostage-taking, or terrorism-related incident occurs aboard an aircraft that is still on the ground. (The FAA has jurisdiction if a hijacking or hostagetaking incident occurs while the aircraft is in flight.) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) TSA is the federal agency responsible for Airport security screening. This agency responds to all security-related inquiries. Important Contact Information FAA Public Relations Office National 202.267.3883 Great Lakes Region 847.294.8400 Transportation Security Administration Local 260.478.0902 Federal Security Dir. South Bend 574.520.2012 National 202.385.1800 National Transportation Safety Board National 202.314.6100 Central Region 630.377.8177 FBI 260.426.5331 Page 8