Klamath Falls, Ore. – Commercial passenger air service is coming back to the Crater Lake / Klamath Regional Airport Wednesday.
It will also mark the homecoming of a T.S.A. screener who’s been working on the road for more than 2 years. Jason Defillipo has been with the Transportation Security Administration for 10 years.
Defillipo has been commuting to work at the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport since United/SkyWest flew out of Klamath Falls in June of 2014. “It was awkward coming back in here,” said Defillipo. “And a lot of the stuff we took out of here when we closed, I brought back.”
Getting the T.S.A. back took an act of Congress. Airport Director John Barsalou said it also took some unexpected work at the terminal, “Having to take out one of the windows in order to get the x-ray equipment in, because the doors weren’t wide enough.”
While he got his start with the agency 10 years ago, Defillipo’s glad to be home. “I enjoyed working in Medford,” He said. “But to be back in my hometown where I can support our people here in Klamath Falls, and do the same job is great for me.”
PenAir will make their inaugural flight out of Klamath Falls to Portland early Wednesday morning – and they wouldn’t be able to do it without the T.S.A.
The T.S.A. will have about 8 people at the Crater Lake/Klamath Regional Airport.
10 people have been hired by PenAir in Klamath Falls.
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