As US First Lady Jill Biden arrived in Kenya, the tight security protocol for Very Very Important Persons (VVIP) was followed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Biden arrived on Friday, February, 24 from Namibia and was received by First Lady Rachel Ruto among other leaders including US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.
Before alighting her Airforce Two plane, however, Jill stayed inside the plane for several minutes as the security team surveyed the area for any potential threats.
This is one of the routine security guidelines conducted by the Secret Service that accompanied the first lady.
An advance survey group comprised of representatives of the Office of the Military Assistant to the First Lady must visit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility the Presidential aircraft will transit through before its arrival.
They include US Secret Service (USSS), the White House Staff, and a Presidential Advance Agent.
This visit is normally made several days in advance of the trip to determine security aspects and the availability of supporting services. On this visit, the group may meet with the airport operator, the air traffic manager (ATM), and other parties.
Additionally, they must meet with the same airport elements to complete security measures and supporting services and determine the necessary restrictions to air traffic operations before the arrival and departure of the Presidential aircraft while the Presidential entourage is at the airport.
Due to the exercise, two JKIA terminals were closed on Friday, February 24, and are expected to be shut down on Sunday, February 26, when she is expected to fly out
Furthermore, all meetings and coordination must be documented with special attention given to routes, radio frequencies, and assigned transponder codes.
"The time will normally be 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after the arrival and the departure time. Advising airport management to ask aircraft operators to consider pre-positioning to other airports outside of the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area while the TFR is in effect in order to reduce the economic or other adverse impacts to those operators," read part of the protocols.
Additionally, to ensure radio communications and radar service, all aircraft in transit should be assigned a discrete transponder code. Also, normal frequencies are preferred over discrete frequencies.
All Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel are strictly not allowed to release information concerning Presidential flights to anyone outside the FAA except properly identified White House staff members, Secret Service personnel, or appropriate military authorities.
"Honour any request of the pilot concerning the movement of the Presidential aircraft if it can be fulfilled in accordance with existing control procedures," the protocols read on.
