BASE BOOSTS SECURITY SCREENING IS PLANNED.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - In the wake of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, visitors will see tighter security for Saturday's air show and open house.

Security will include metal detectors to screen visitors and a prohibition against ice chests and coolers except for small ones used for medicine and baby formula.

``There will be a bit more security,'' said Lt. Col. Ross Roley, one of the event's coordinators.

One of the first changes visitors will see this year will in parking, which will keep vehicles farther from the base's aircraft, hangars and other facilities.

Instead of parking on Edwards' flight line - the expansive paved area where aircraft are normally parked - visitors will be directed onto one of the base's dry lake beds.

The visitors will ride buses from the parking area to the show and will pass through metal detectors before entering the flight line.

Another change this year is that the base's south gate on 120th Street East will only be open to persons with Defense Department-registered vehicles.

Military personnel, their family members and employees of Edwards, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center or the Defense Department will need to provide the same identification that they would on a normal duty day to enter the south gate.

The general public must enter the base either through the west gate on Rosamond Boulevard or the north gate off Highway 58.