TSA Expands Testing Of Personnel Screening System
American Science and Engineering Inc. recently announced that its privacy-enhanced SmartCheck Personnel Screening System will be used by the Transportation Security Administration in its next pilot test of passenger screening systems at Los Angeles International Airport.
AS&E’s SmartCheck provides optimum security by safely screening for a wide variety of threats concealed on a passenger, while ensuring their privacy. The SmartCheck system creates an image that looks like a chalk outline of the passenger with threats and contraband outlined, but does not reveal facial features. Additionally, the SmartCheck systems installed in LAX and Phoenix cannot store, export, print, or transmit images.
“We are pleased to begin another phase of testing with TSA and to assist in their mission to safeguard air travel,” said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E’s president and CEO. “SmartCheck provides TSA with a comprehensive, safe, non-intrusive, easy and highly effective way to detect plastic and liquid explosives, weapons, and other contraband while ensuring travelers’ privacy.”
TSA began piloting the SmartCheck system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in February 2007 for secondary screening, on a voluntary basis, and as an alternative to traditional pat-down searches. To date, approximately 90 percent of passengers have opted for screening using SmartCheck rather than undergoing a pat-down.
SmartCheck is a safe, non-intrusive personnel screening system that allows operators to detect threats hidden on a person. The system displays both organic and inorganic materials, revealing objects such as guns and knives, explosives, composite weapons, and other hidden threats. Its Z Backscatter technology gives the operator easy-to-interpret information about where threats are hidden, thus eliminating the need for intrusive and time-consuming pat-down searches.