ONT Upgrades Emergency Phone Systems to Keep Passengers and Employees Safe

LA/Ontario International Airport’s (ONT) Information Technology (IT) Section completed upgrades to its emergency call-down notification telephone system this summer.  The upgrades allow accurate and timely notification when an airport incident occurs.  The new system also notifies more airport offices than the previous system.

“IT installed the $70,000 system over a two month period under schedule,” said Tom Hoffman, a communications electrician at ONT.  “We continue to play a large role in ensuring the system works efficiently.”

This system features a graphic display of the phones lines at ONT and the City of Ontario so that the Federal Aviation Administration and the airport’s fire station can confirm receipt of the notifications.  The system is tested twice daily.

“IT personnel are confident in the system and have done an exceptional job making sure everyone is comfortable using it,” said Jess Romo, Airport Manager.

ONT is a medium-hub, full-service airport with commercial jet service to major U.S. cities and through service to many international destinations.  ONT is located in the Inland Empire, approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California.  The airport is the centerpiece of one of the fastest-growing transportation regions in the United States.  ONT's service area includes a population of six million people living in San Bernardino and RiversideCounties and portions of north OrangeCounty and east Los AngelesCounty.

ONT is one of four airports owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a Los AngelesCity department that oversees an airport system in the nation’s second largest metropolitan area.  The other airports owned and operated by LAWA are Los Angeles International, LA/Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys General Aviation.