Non-Subscriber Extract
Airport authorities strive for improvements in checkpoint security
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| 14 August 2006 |
By Jenny Beechener Editor, Jane’s Airport Review
The US Department for Transport and Homeland Security says improvements in checkpoint security are "a key objective for the future”. Breaches of checkpoint security go back as far as 1995, yet aviation security focus has centred on attaining the 100 per cent screening of checked bags required by ICAO in the aftermath of 9/11. The checkpoint still relies on basic metal detection and x-ray as the primary defence against improvised explosive devices. Supplementary technology is used to screen selected passengers and represents a gradual adoption of alternative technology albeit at a slow pace.
BAA purchased three Rapiscan Systems Secure 1000 body scanners at the end of 2005 to screen selected passengers using backscatter x-ray technology at London Heathrow. BAA Director of Security Ian Hutcheson stated: "We are very pleased with the substantial improvement that the Secure has made to our security processes, and we look forward to further deployments at our airports." The Rapiscan Secure 1000 is a non-intrusive personnel screening system designed to detect metallic and non-metallic threat objects utilising Rapiscan's proprietary backscatter x-ray technology. It is designed to detect ceramic, plastic, metallic, organic, and other contraband or security threats
At the end of 2004 the TSA expanded its trial of walkthrough trace detection portals, against a backdrop of heightened concern that checkpoint screening of both passengers and their hand luggage is still far from ideal. The new passenger screening measures, which include expanded passenger searches, are in line with recommendations by the 9/11 Commission Report that passengers selected for secondary screening be checked for explosives.
In 2005 the TSA allocated USD28.3 million to purchase and install close to 150 trace portals at US airports. Purchases include nine EntryScan 3 walk-through explosive detection portals from General Electric for use in US airports. Deployment includes Boston Logan International and Los Angeles airports. The puffer-machine detects microscopic traces of explosives by analysing air samples from screened passengers. The TSA has also purchased Ionscan Sentinel Portal manufactured by Smiths Detection. The device operates in similar fashion to EntryScan 3 in so much as it uses air to dislodge particles of contraband on the person and positively identifies specific compounds in a matter of seconds. Smith Industries' Ionscan Sentinel Portal has undergone extensive testing at airports in the UK and USA as well as elsewhere. Meanwhile, UK company QinetiQ has chosen to focus on millimetre-wave detection as a means to positively identify contraband on the person.
© 2006 Jane's Information Group
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