Airport on track with security deadline
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
Honolulu International Airport security forces should be under federal administration by Oct. 1, the Honolulu Transportation Safety Administration office said yesterday.
Sidney Hayakawa, head of the office, said the changeover is on schedule to occur long before the Nov. 19 deadline set by Congress in the wake of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. A Honolulu job center is being used to assess qualified applicants and give them a quick report on employment, Hayakawa said.
Federal officials need to fill about 600 federal positions in Honolulu by the Nov. 19 deadline. The positions replace the ones currently filled by private security firms on O'ahu. Similar positions are being filled at other airports throughout the state.
The Wackenhut Corporation, which currently employs security workers at the airports, last week notified the state Department of Labor it was preparing to lay off an estimated 200 workers at interisland terminal checkpoints.
Wackenhut officials could not be reached yesterday.
State labor officials said they are preparing to assist laid off workers with unemployment claims, retraining, and application for new employment.
Hayakawa said existing security workers are being invited to apply for the federalized jobs. Candidates still must make an initial application for the job either online or by telephone at (877) 631-5627.
Those who meet the initial qualifications will be scheduled for local assessments, which include a six-hour examination, officials said. Walk-in candidates are not accepted at the Honolulu center.
Upon completion of the assessment process, successful candidates will receive tentative offers of employment, be scheduled for orientation and, within 48 hours of that, begin to receive 44 hours of paid training, then 60 hours of on-the-job training.
The hiring process is being conducted under a nationwide contract awarded to NCS Pearson to ensure consistency in the process.
The base salary for federal screeners ranges from $23,600 to $35,000 plus a 25 percent cost of living allowance. Supervisors could receive from $31,100 to $56,400 plus a cost of living allowance.
Minimum requirements for the job include being a U.S. citizen, having a high school diploma or its equivalent or having at least one year of full-time experience in aviation screening, security, or X-ray technician work.
Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.
