Faster Screening May be Coming to U.S. Airports

In the near future, airline passengers may be screened for weapons without having to stop walking or remove their coats and shoes.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is pushing for private contractors to create a screening machine with “screen and walk” capability for use at the nation’s 160 international airports and thousands of federal facilities.

The agency recently requested information from high-tech companies and other firms about any new technology that can help speed up the security checkpoints managed by the TSA and the Federal Protective Services.

The Department of Homeland Security asked for technology that can screen a minimum of 250 people per hour, which is slightly faster than the current pace of about 200 per hour for the full-body scanners. The new technology would not replace but would add to the screening technology now used at airports.

“The system will detect an explosive or assembled IED (improvised explosive device) with and without divestiture of outer garments, shoes and through clutter depending on the deployment,” according to the government request. “In addition, detection should occur through a minimum of two layers of clothing concealment where those layers are composed of cotton, cotton-polyester, wool, silk and leather materials among others.”

This article appeared in print on page 3 of the February 25th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.