Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
CLOVIS — Airport Director James Harris provided an update on the Clovis Regional Airport’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) construction project to the Civil Aviation Board during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
Having the federal agency at the airport is a major step for Clovis, as it will not only make air travel more convenient for patrons, but will generate revenue for the airport by providing necessary infrastructure to service travelers going to and from Cannon Air Force Base.
The construction phase of the project is complete, Harris said, and currently the airport is preparing the facility for TSA’s arrival.
TSA is slated to arrive in Clovis to start moving in larger equipment to the airport the week of May 16, Harris said.
Harris said he anticipates the TSA being ready by June 1.
“This is a big step for Clovis,” Harrisa said. “This is the first time we’ve got TSA coming in. So, it’s a big step for the city. It opens up a whole different mode of travel.”
Currently those who fly out of Clovis must, upon arrival at Denver International Airport, go through a secure area of the terminal and then exit the secure area. Anybody with a connecting flight then must go through the TSA checkpoint at DIA, and possibly check baggages for a second time, and the entire process cuts into time that might be needed to make a connecting flight.
“This would allow shorter wait times through TSA, and you can get right on your next flight instead of going back through the terminal. So, it’s a huge step for Clovis,” Harris said.
Four TSA agents will be brought in initially from Albuquerque, but then the agency will train qualified local people who have applied for the positions, Harris said.
“So, if they are local, if they are outside of the city limits or the county limits, as long as they can get here, as far as I know, TSA will hire them if they are qualified,” Harris said.
Having TSA in place in Clovis will make it possible for most of the travel in and out of Cannon Air Force Base to move through the Clovis airport, Clovis Mayor Mike Morris said.
“So, that’s going to be a big deal,” Morris added.
City Manager Justin Howalt estimated that the new airport arrangement could generate an additional $1 million per year for Clovis’ airport, extra money that could be used for other projects.
The board was generally excited and enthusiastic about the direction of the airport, and members agreed that the new TSA arrangement is a major step for the city and the region.
“It has been a learning experience working with TSA and their requirements, and the equipment that they need and the security that they need, from the wiring systems to the specific controls, it’s been a learning curve. But we’re getting there,” Howalt added.