Texas-Sized Guitars Are New Challenge
News & Happenings
February 22, 2007
Supervisory transportation security officer Lazaro Tolentino and TSO Reynaldo Gonzalez were astonished to see two 10-foot tall guitars arrive at the Austin-Bergstrom checkpoint recently.
"When I saw them I said 'wow'!" said Tolentino. "Then I focused on how to carefully screen them."
While screening the massive guitars, the security officers realized they had unique aspects, including suspicious-looking hollow cavities not found on other guitars.
The brightly-painted guitars turned out to be a marketing tool of the Gibson guitar company’s charity drive in which 35 guitars were decorated by artists and placed around the city, including two at the airport. The guitars, which will remain at the airport through September, will eventually be auctioned, with proceeds going to charities.
“I felt pretty good to have helped clear the suspicious item so it could go on display,” said Gonzalez.
Federal Security Director Mike Scott said the airport TSOs "have proven to be flexible in adjusting from screening passengers to screening musical instruments, even Texas-sized guitars."
