Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Fortunately a local user by the handle of arenn was able to get through the field inspection station and take photos before the area was closed. I was honestly extremely disappointed that the airport authority didn't make sure this area was open for the full tour. 99.9% of the people will never have the opportunity to see this.

I think this is part of it.




http://www.flickr.com/photos/8...706170@N00/2935888852/sizes/l/




http://www.flickr.com/photos/8...706170@N00/2935885584/sizes/l/




http://www.flickr.com/photos/8...706170@N00/2935882646/sizes/l/




http://www.flickr.com/photos/8...706170@N00/2935879514/sizes/l/




http://www.flickr.com/photos/8...706170@N00/2935876258/sizes/l/




http://www.flickr.com/photos/8...706170@N00/2935873092/sizes/l/

View the photographer's full photo set...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85706170@N00/

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Wow. That's really interesting for many reasons.

1. I'm not surprised they closed it off. In fact, I AM surprised they opened it at all. There isn't a customs inspection station anywhere in the U.S. that allows photography. I don't think they want the layout of the facility to be photographed for security reasons.

2. It's a nice facility. 12 passport control lanes (they're stacked 2 deep). That's enough to handle a single widebody in a reasonable amount of time, in my opinion. We may never get a widebody here (at least not in scheduled service), but 12 lanes should be enough to process 250 to 300 or so pax in well under an hour.

3. Some of the signage is fairly stern. I've been through customs inbound into IAH, EWR, ATL, ORD, LAX, IAD, and LAS, and I haven't seen signs stating the penalties for failing to declare all items purchased abroad and their correct amount. That's understood from the customs form, but I've not seen signs saying that.

4. Wow. It seems like we have a real international airport now.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

BTW it is only 6 lanes not 12. The agents are two deep but the front agent serves the right lane and the back agent serves the left lane. It is still good. Now we are a real international airport as you said.

Member

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 142
Location: IND

I do not like the baggage claim. Bags going back around back is too time consuming.

The facility really doesn't look any bigger than the current facility...and processing more than 400 an hour without a security checkpoint back into the concourse means they will rarely have to process more than 400 and hour.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Indy wrote:

BTW it is only 6 lanes not 12. The agents are two deep but the front agent serves the right lane and the back agent serves the left lane. It is still good. Now we are a real international airport as you said.

Semantics. There are 12 stations for 6 lanes. Potayto-Potahto.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

No I think there are 6 stations and 6 lanes. The agent is positioned towards the back in the left lane and the front in the right lane. Take a close look at the counters. There is no counter space towards the front of a left facing space.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I'd like to thank arenn for allowing me to display the photos he took directly.

Visit his transportation blog. He has a good article on the new airport.

http://theurbanophile.blogspot.com/

I've kept up on his posts for a few years now including his other website http://www.urbanophile.com/