Boca Raton Airport Media Policy

Media Inquiries

The Boca Raton Airport (BCT) media guide is intended to give local and national media organizations information that will facilitate coverage at the Boca Raton Airport. It outlines the procedures the media are requested to follow during an emergency or other news event. It is the BCT’s mission to both respond to media inquiries and to disseminate pertinent public advisories as promptly as possible.

The Airport’s Executive Director requests that news organizations alert the Boca Raton Airport Authority (BRAA) prior to coming to the airport in order to assist you with parking and logistics, and answer any questions you may have.

Media inquiries, requests for interviews, and requests to film at the Airport should be directed to:

  • The Executive Director, Clara Bennett
  • In the Director’s absence, please contact the Deputy Director, Scott Kohut

Note: In cases of weather emergencies, all Airport information will be disseminated by the Executive Director.

Media Parking

Media personnel must park all vehicles in the public parking areas. Tenant leaseholds are considered private property and tenants reserve the right to refuse access in their parking areas.

Emergencies

It is the policy of the BCT and BRAA to cooperate with the news media to the greatest extent possible. However, our primary priorities are to safeguard lives and property and to maintain Airport operations.

When there is an emergency situation at the Airport that is expected to generate extensive media attention, these procedures will serve as the guidelines.

The media, in reporting news of an aircraft emergency, accident or other incident at the Airport are requested to release incident details with prudence until information can be confirmed by the BRAA Executive Director or Deputy Director. As information becomes available, initial reports will be confirmed.

Preliminary Briefings

When necessary, the Executive Director or Deputy Director will conduct a preliminary briefing at the designated media center. The spokesperson will make every effort to provide the following information:

  • Date and time of incident
  • Name of aircraft owner and/or operator
  • Type of aircraft and flight number
  • Number of persons on board (if confirmed)
  • Runway affected
  • General description of incident
  • Conditions at scene of incident
  • Impact on Airport operations

Access

BRAA will provide escort access to the emergency or incident site when appropriate and necessary on an impartial basis. While rescue operations are in progress, an escort may not be available. Media will be permitted access to the scene as soon as practical and after the scene has been declared secure. The assembly point will be designated in coordination with Law Enforcement, or other authorized agency. Media representatives at the scene of an incident must comply with all instructions. Under no circumstances are media personnel allowed to proceed to the Airport Operations Area (AOA) or security area without an authorized escort.

Media will not be allowed to interfere with the pedestrian or vehicle flow of the general public or with Airport and tenant operations.

While the BRAA recognizes the importance of interviewing potential witnesses or employees of involved tenants, we also believe our first responsibility is to the tenants. If any individual(s) is reluctant to be interviewed or photographed, the BCT will support his or her decision.

In addition, during an aircraft incident, access to passengers may be subject to approval by local Law Enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the National Transportation Safety Board.

Questions regarding a specific aircraft emergency, including aircraft type, number of passengers, nature of emergency, and flight information should be made to the:

  • Aircraft owner
  • Fixed based operator for general aviation aircraft
  • Military for military aircraft

As a rule, during an emergency, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) releases the cause of an aircraft incident after an investigation has been completed. Until then, no agency will speculate on a possible cause.

The Federal Aviation Administration — not the BCT — releases information on air traffic control communication with the pilot of an aircraft involved in an incident.

In a non-aircraft emergency situation, the Executive Director or Deputy Director will coordinate the release of information.

The Boca Raton Police Department or Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of investigating traffic accidents and criminal activities on BCT property.

Boca Raton Fire Rescue handles fire, rescue, and ambulance operations.

Law Enforcement  

Local Law Enforcement will establish and maintain a security perimeter at the incident site and ingress/egress points. Law Enforcement will also maintain patrol of the airfield area.

Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting

The Boca Raton Fire Rescue is responsible for firefighting and emergency medical rescue operations at the Airport.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are the federal agencies that investigate aircraft accidents. They also take custody of the aircraft and its contents from the time fire/rescue activities are concluded until a full investigation is completed, or a release is given.

News media representatives should request “B-Roll” film from the NTSB lab before an emergency situation occurs.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Various branches of the FAA have responsibilities in an aircraft emergency. The Boca Raton Airport BCT has an Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower. Air Traffic Control is responsible for controlling the air traffic during an emergency to permit rescue equipment to proceed to the incident site.

To obtain information about the FAA, an incident or an airport alert, the news media is requested to contact the FAA’s Public Affairs Office (see important contact information). The FAA also becomes involved in investigations of some Airport incidents that do not involve aircraft accidents.

Tenant

The Airport tenant is responsible for providing information regarding any activities, equipment, or operations relative to the incident on their property for incident reporting. However, the tenant’s statement does not represent the official BRAA release of information.

Types of Airfield Emergencies

Aircraft alerts are conditions that present either a danger or threat to the safe continued operation of an aircraft and/or airport. There are three alert conditions. In all conditions, the ATC personnel will normally advise Boca Raton Fire Rescue that a potential emergency exists that may require dispatch of emergency equipment.

The BCT and BRAA has standard responses to each alert condition. These responses may include mutual aid support from the city of Boca Raton and surrounding municipal fire and rescue units. These responses may include pre-determined locations adjacent to runways and/or aircraft locations.

Alert 1 (precautionary landing/take off)

Indicates an aircraft is approaching the Airport and is experiencing a minor difficulty, such as an oil leak, propeller, or turbine failure.

Alert 2 (potential emergency)

Indicates aircraft is approaching the Airport and is experiencing a major difficulty, such as engine fire, faulty landing gear, and lack hydraulic pressure.

Alert 3 (accident)

Indicates an aircraft crash or emergency has occurred on or immediately adjacent to the Airport property.

Off-Airport Emergencies

In the event that an aircraft incident occurs outside the Airport boundaries, Airport officials will assist and cooperate as much as possible. However, the municipality in charge will have jurisdiction over the incident area. The FAA and NTSB will also have a role in off-airport emergencies. In this case, the primary media contact is the aircraft owner and the information officer with jurisdiction over the incident area.

Important Contact Information  

  • FAA Public Relations Office
    • National (202) 267-3883
    • Southern Region (404) 305-5100
  • National Transportation Safety Board
    • National (202) 314-6100
    • Southern Region (305) 597-4610
  • FBI (904) 721-1211

BCT Tenant Contact Information

  • Atlantic Aviation
    • John Gerety, General Manager (561) 368-1110
  • Signature Flight Support
    • Robert Murphy, General Manager (561) 955-9556
Airplanes at the Boca Raton Airport.