Security and Safety

Transportation Security Administration

Picture of plane flying against clouded sky background.

The Greater Rochester International Airport, along with airports throughout the country, are experiencing great changes in the way you, the traveling public, will be using the United States Air Transportation Network. The added requirements of safety and security will impose some new constraints on how we use the aviation system. With that in mind, we are offering the following tips on how start your trip and get to your destination, with as little inconvenience as possible.

Most importantly, give yourself extra time and please be patient. Every procedure we are undertaking is in an effort to ensure that your travel is safe, secure, and efficient.

Before Arriving at the Airport

Call your airline’s 1-800 number before arriving at the airport to determine if your flight is operating that day and at the time designated on your ticket.
If you are traveling with small children, parents should discuss the entire process with their children so they will not be frightened or surprised when they arrive at the airport. Visit the TSA website for more information on traveling with children.
Allow extra time. The airlines require that you arrive at least 90 minutes before your flight departure time. This will allow you to park, check-in and go through the screening process. The Rochester Airport is open 24 hours a day, and the ticket counters open as early as 4:00 a.m. and screening checkpoints open at 4:30 a.m. Visit the TSA website for estimated wait times at security checkpoints across the nation.
Minimize the number of pieces and size of baggage you will be carrying, most Air carriers limit to one carry-on and one personal item(such as: purse, lap top, etc.). Wrapped packages will be opened to verify their contents. If possible, it would be preferable to mail packages. Due to new positive baggage-match requirements, the airlines have established cut-off times of up to 30 minutes prior to scheduled flight departures for accepting baggage for loading into the cargo hold of the aircraft. To verify your airline’s specific requirements, we recommend you call them or visit their website.
Limit the number and type of electronic equipment you carry with you. This includes cellular phones, paging devices, laptop computers, personal listening devices (CD players), electronic toys and games, etc. If you must carry these items, whenever possible, place them in your checked baggage to reduce the possibility of delays during the screening process.
Visit the TSA website for a detailed list of permitted/prohibited items.
Make sure you have government issued photo ID with you at all times (examples: Driver’s License, Passport) and readily available to show upon request at check-in, boarding, or other stages of the airport process. Passengers 18 and older must show government issued photo ID.
Make sure you have your boarding pass. Passengers will not be permitted beyond the security checkpoint without a boarding pass. Boarding passes are no longer issued at the gate. Boarding passes can be obtained at all ticket counters upon check-in. Boarding passes may also be obtained online or at a self-serve kiosk. However, this varies by airline. Please call your airline 800 number for further information.

GRIA Security Concerns/Customer Support: 585 328-1216

Arriving at the Airport

All unattended vehicles on the terminal roadways will be ticketed and towed without warning according to federal guidelines. The first half hour in our short term lot is free, and is in short walking distance of the terminal.
Keep and watch your belongings at all times and never agree to watch a stranger’s belongings for them.

At the Security Screening

Only ticketed passengers will be allowed beyond the screening checkpoint. If you have a medical, parental or other specific, verifiable need to accompany a ticketed passenger, please check with your a airline to determine how they would like you to proceed.
If you have a medical condition that requires you to carry a needle and/or syringe in your carry on baggage you must also have the medication that requires such injection. The medication must be packaged with a pharmaceutical label or professionally printed label identifying the medication.
Please avoid carrying bottles of liquid through the screening checkpoint. The necessity of screening of the items will increase your check-in processing time. All liquids and foods that are allowed through the checkpoints must be in either an unopened factory sealed container or a sealable/spill-proof container, each container must be subject to x-ray. Plan to purchase any drink items you may wish to carry on board the aircraft once you have completed the screening process. Drinks, gifts, and other services are generally available in the concourses beyond screening. If you have special dietary needs, please contact your airline to confirm the services provided on your flight.

At All Times

Control all carry-on bags. Never leave anything unattended as it could be subject to tampering.
Report any unattended packages or baggage or suspicious behavior anywhere in the airport or on the airplane to Airport Police or airline personnel.
It is a federal offense punishable by fine and/or imprisonment to joke or give false information about aviation security threats or possession of weapons, firearms, explosives, etc.

Please keep these tips in mind as you plan your trips and when you arrive at the airport. Please be patient with the service agents who are there to assist you. They, too, are experiencing changes to the way they conduct their business each day. If we work together, we can make the system safer and more effective for everyone.

Online Travel Tip Information

Monroe County Sheriff’s Department

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department assists the Greater Rochester International Airport in providing security to all passengers, airport tenants and its users.

In addition, the Sheriff’s Department enforces parking and traffic regulations on airport roadways. To summon a MC Sheriff’s Officer in the event of an emergency dial 9-1-1 on any payphone or “0” on a white courtesy phone located throughout the airport.

If you need to contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for any other matter they can be reached daily at 585 753-7041.

U.S. Customs Service

1200 Brooks Avenue
Lower Level Main Terminal West End
Phone: 585 263-6294
Fax: 585 263-5828

Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

The U.S. Customs Service is America’s frontline against the smuggling of drugs and other prohibited goods. As the premier U.S. border enforcement agency, the Customs Service enforces over 400 laws and international agreements designed to protect the American public. Enforcing these laws with an approach that provides a deterrent to criminal activity without creating undue delays to the vast majority of the law-abiding traveling public.

Transportation of Firearms and Inspection of Checked Luggage

Federal Aviation Administration regulations requires that firearms in checked baggage must be declared and unloaded, passengers failing to declare firearms or transporting loaded firearms are subjected to a civil penalty of $10,000 fine.

Unattended Luggage

All patrons are advised to keep within their possession, all pieces of luggage and carry-on baggage. Any piece of luggage found to be unattended will be confiscated and subject to search by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and/or the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department . Any patron who observes unattended luggage is urged to contact the Police Department, any airline or GRIA employee.

Airport Fire Rescue Department

Medical Emergencies and Fire Fighting

The Airport Fire Rescue Department handles medical emergencies. For immediate assistance, dial 9-1-1 on any payphone or “6060” on any white courtesy phone, located throughout the airport terminal. Operations will arrange for paramedics or whatever assistance is needed.

The Greater Rochester International Airport (GRIA) is equipped with two Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) units near each of the security checkpoints. Any trained individual can utilize the public access AED units at GRIA in the event that an emergency occurs.

All Airport Firefighters are EMTD (Emergency Medical Technician Defibrillator) qualified.

Monroe County Public Safety Training Facility (PSTF)

Fuel Spill Fire Trainer

This is a mockup of a Boeing 737 to meet FAA Part 139 training design standards. The mock aircraft is surrounded with propane fuel valves to simulate an actual aircraft fire. The structure is placed upon a 125 foot diameter working surface with a fuel spill burn area surrounding the entire prop. The valves can be fully ignited to surround the entire prop or divided to allow for a partial grid area burn.