Wed, Sep 19, 2012
'Naked' Scanners Will Be Phased Out In October In Favor Of More 'Privacy Friendly' Devices
Manchester Airport said Monday that its trial of “naked” body scanners will end in October when testing will also begin on a new generation of privacy friendly security scanners.
The current body scanners will initially be replaced by five next generation security scanners. In line with Government policy, these include a feature which automatically processes images of passengers using a system that eliminates the need for an airport security officer to view the ghost-like body outlines that made the airport’s body scanners famous.
The new machines, manufactured by L3, scan passengers using radio frequency-based millimeter wave technology rather than the low dose x-rays used by the current back scatter body scanners. A computer analyses the scans and tell airport staff where to look for hidden objects using a stick figure diagram. A similar technology is used in safety systems to identify humans or objects that have fallen onto subway rail tracks in the United States.
Despite a panel of independent European health experts unanimously concluding in March that there was no evidence that backscatter body scanners posed health risks, Airport bosses say its current trial will close in six weeks because legislation from Brussels excludes the technology. "We’re baffled by this situation because health experts say they are safe plus the overwhelming majority of our passengers and security staff prefer body scanners to frisking and it’s frustrating that Brussels has allowed this successful trial to end," said Andrew Harrison, Chief Operating Officer at MAG, Manchester Airport’s parent company.
“Our security surveys and those run by the Department for Transport show passengers regularly rate their experience at Manchester as one of the best security processes in the UK if not Europe," he said. “There’s no doubt that body scanners play a big part in these results. That’s why we are once again investing in new next generation scanner technology where the human examination of images is automated.”
Five new security scanners in total will start to be installed across all three terminals and transfer lounges at Manchester Airport from October 1, 2012 in a trial expected to last three months. Airport bosses are hopeful that the trial will be a success so that it can invest in more machines. In the meantime, an additional 55 full time security staff will ensure that the current high levels of security and customer service are maintained through a combination of frisking and security scanners.
More News
Aero Linx: International Business Aviation Council Ltd IBAC promotes the growth of business aviation, benefiting all sectors of the industry and all regions of the world. As a non->[...]
"During the annual inspection of the B-24 “Diamond Lil” this off-season, we made the determination that 'Lil' needs some new feathers. Due to weathering, the cloth-cove>[...]
Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offer>[...]
Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production a>[...]
Also: Martha King Scholarship, Montaer Grows, Textron Updates Pistons, FlySto The FAA is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for >[...]