Fri, Feb 25, 2005
International is First in Nation to Test Multiple Portals
The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) Thursday announced the installation of two
explosives detection trace portals at checkpoints C and D in
McCarran International Airport's Terminal 1.
The airport will be the ninth in the nation to receive the
portals and the first to receive more than one. The equipment is
part of Phase II of a pilot program to test and evaluate the
equipment for explosives screening of passengers.
The portals detect explosives by blowing several "puffs" of air
onto passengers. Air samples are then collected and analyzed for
explosives. If the portal alarms, passengers go through additional
screening. If the portal does not alarm, a computerized voice tells
the passenger to continue the screening process.
"We are excited to test this state-of-the-art equipment here in
Las Vegas and we are eager to further participate in testing new
technologies that enhance aviation security," said Dennis Clark,
Federal Security Director at McCarran International. "Thanks to our
airport and airline partners, I am confident this project will go
smoothly and provide valuable data to our research and development
teams."
By testing two trace portals at McCarran, TSA will be able to
evaluate electrical and other logistical requirements in an airport
setting while collecting data on security and customer service
impacts.
Last summer during Phase I of the pilot, TSA began field testing
trace portals at passenger security checkpoints at airports in
Providence, R.I., Rochester, N.Y., San Diego, Tampa, and
Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss. In the fall of 2004, TSA deployed a trace
portal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and in
recent weeks the agency installed equipment at Jacksonville
International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International
Airport. TSA will deploy the portals at five more airports by late
spring.
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