From The Runway Up: An Airport and Aviation Podcast

Ensuring Public Safety, One Passenger at a Time

From The Runway Up: An Airport and Aviation Podcast

Show Notes

Episode Description

Whether it’s assisting travelers in medical emergencies, training for an aircraft rescue and firefighting simulation, or assisting in Presidential visits, the Department of Public Safety at McGhee Tyson Airport is critical to passenger safety and the continuous operations of the airport. In this episode, hear from Chief Tom Aiken as he shares the training and experience it takes to be a police, fire, and medically-trained airport officer.

Guest in this Episode

Tom Aiken is the Director of the Department of Public Safety at the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA). He has been with the MKAA for 40 years.

Mentioned in this Episode

MKAA Public Safety Officers are certified in three disciplines: police, fire, and medical response

Looking at the airport through the perspective of ‘before and after 9/11’

MKAA is a signatory to the State Mutual Aid Assistance Act

Previous Podcast Episode Referenced: Special Edition: Airport Emergency Response Exercise

Chief Aiken’s favorite memories over the past 40 years:

Planning and implementing six (6!) air shows

Hosting elected dignitaries; He remembers having both Air Force One and Air Force Two on property at the same time during a campaign visit

Fire trucks: Rosenbauer Panthers

used trucks for assistance during the 2012 mulch fires in Knoxville

Music in this Episode

Birdy by KV https://soundcloud.com/kvmusicprod

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/dSCbsObNJo0

The post Ensuring Public Safety, One Passenger at a Time appeared first on From the Runway Up.

More from From The Runway Up: An Airport and Aviation Podcast

Aug 31, 2026

Drones are changing the way industries work—and airports are no exception. In this episode of From the Runway Up, Becky and Caitlin talk with Katie Ryan, an airside operations specialist at the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, about the rapidly evolving world of unmanned aircraft.

Jul 20, 2026

In this episode of From the Runway Up, Becky and Caitlin sit down with Matt Bergwall, Executive Director of the Vision Jet product line at Cirrus Aircraft, to explore why Cirrus has become one of the biggest innovators in personal aviation. The conversation highlights the company's focus on safety, technology, pilot training, and why Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport serves as the headquarters for Cirrus' customer delivery, training, and service operations.

Jun 15, 2026

Join us in this episode as we explore the beauty, history, and community importance of the most visited national park in America—the Great Smoky Mountains. Dana Soehn, president and CEO of Friends of the Smokies, shares insights on the park’s history, visitor experience, and how support from individuals makes a difference.

May 12, 2026

What happens when a major ultra-low-cost airline shuts down? In this episode of The Runway Up, the team sits down with aviation industry analyst Bill Swelbar and Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Vice President of Air Service & Marketing Jim Evans to unpack the closure of Spirit Airlines and what it means for travelers, airports, and the future of affordable air travel.

Mar 23, 2026

In this heartwarming episode of From the Runway Up, Becky and Caitlin explore the powerful intersection of aviation and animal rescue with Michael Schneider, founder of Pilots to the Rescue.

See all episodes →