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I was working construction at DFW airport in the '80's just after all airports went to unprecedented security levels after Pres. Reagan bombed KaDaffy. No one allowed inside the airport without a ticket, no parking within 200 yards of the terminal, etc.
I and two others, were working on a dock at the UPS warehouse which was connected to the main runways just a few hundred feet away. We were told to cease work and apply for security clearance which could take 4-6 weeks. We had to work, so we turned up for work the next day as though nothing had changed.

The UPS planes would taxi and park so close we could literally touch them. The pilots would get out and do whatever inside while waiting to be loaded and we would be left alone with with an idling 727. No one else in sight, no security cameras, nuthin' for as much as half an hour at a time.

How did we get through security to get back there? opened a gate held shut with a length of twisted wire. We did that for 3 weeks without ever being questioned or even seeing any security people. My coworkers and I were amazed and several times commented that we could fly one of those planes into downtown Dallas which was within site of were we sat. Two weeks after we finished the job we got notice that our background checks had been completed and received our security badges which we were required to have to be within the secured areas of the airport.

I noticed a couple of months ago that the gate we used to go through now has a lock which would require that one would have to jump the 6 ft fence instead. Or walk through the open dock doors on the outside to the open dock doors on the back side 100 ft away. Security really is a joke.

FWIW, was diverted to Albany, NY airport for an eight hour stay last week. Noticed that the gate to the tarmac was locked at all times and anyone entering had to enter a code AND either press a finger or the sleeve of their uniform onto a touch pad of some kind.

Seems the smaller airports are doing a good job and the big cities are, as usual, filled with nincompoops.