Academy reopens to public Published Sept. 16, 2002 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- The U.S. Air Force Academy reopened its gates to the public Sept. 13.Visitors will be allowed to visit the academy from 6:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., but could be subject to routine photo identification card checks and random vehicle searches.Events, such as concerts and athletic events, will be open to the public, but attendees will be subject to metal detector screenings and random searches at the facility entrances.Access to the academy had been limited to personnel holding a Department of Defense ID card because of heightened security generated by the anniversary of Sept. 11.