Airport

Record Number Of Guns Seized At BWI Airport And 2022 Isnt Over

The most weapons were seized this year at this airport.

With two more months left in the year, TSA officers at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) have already found 28 firearms at the airport’s security checkpoints, breaking the previous record of 27 firearms discovered in 2019. Of the 28 firearms seized, 23 were loaded, including 7 that were seized between October 14 and October 23, over a 10-day period.

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The most frequent justification offered by travellers is that they “forgot” to bring their loaded firearms with them.
Individuals who bring weapons to a checkpoint may be subject to a civil penalty from the TSA of up to $13,900. Depending on mitigating or aggravating factors, civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can reach thousands of dollars.

Even though a person may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an aeroplane, so this applies to travellers with concealed gun carry permits or without them. Travelers who have a gun and are TSA PreCheck® members will not be allowed to use TSA PreCheck.

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If properly packed and declared at the airline ticket counter to be transported in the plane’s belly, travellers are permitted to check their firearms as checked baggage. Firearms that have been checked must be unloaded, secured with a lock in a hard-sided case, and packed apart from ammunition. On its website, TSA has instructions on how to safely travel with a firearm. Before deciding to travel with their firearms, travellers should research local and state firearm possession laws. Additionally, travellers should get in touch with their airline as they might have additional guidelines for bringing weapons and ammunition on flights.

Last year, TSA agents found 5,972 firearms on travellers or in their carryon luggage at checkpoints across the country. In 2021, the TSA confiscated about 86 percent loaded guns.

Airport

Western Sydney Airport Welcomes Its First Plane After 6 Years of construction

In a historic milestone for Australia’s aviation sector, the first plane has officially taken off and landed at Western Sydney Airport after six years of construction, much to the delight of a small but enthusiastic group of dedicated planespotters.

A test pilot made the inaugural landing using a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, successfully completing a series of take-off and landing runs on the newly built tarmac. This crucial test paves the way for larger passenger aircraft, which are expected to start using the runway in two years.

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The Piper PA-30 was employed to assess the airport’s approximately 3,000 Aeronautical Ground Lights (AGLs) by executing operations in various conditions, including daylight, dusk, and evening. This testing ensures that the lighting system is fit for purpose and ready to welcome aircraft when the airport opens to commercial flights in late 2026.

The pilot also highlighted that the rapid exit taxiways have been designed at a 45-degree angle, allowing for quicker transitions on and off the runway. Once operational, the airport will feature a single runway capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually right from day one.

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As the construction phase nears completion, the airport’s main terminal, apron, and supporting infrastructure will be ready to accommodate around 81,000 flights each year. This milestone marks a significant moment for Western Sydney Airport, the first new airport to open in Australia since Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport more than two decades ago.

Major airlines, including Qantas and Jetstar, have already committed to operating from the 24/7 facility, signaling strong support for this new hub. By 2033, the airport aims to handle up to 10 million passengers and facilitate extensive air traffic movements annually.