US. Federal airport security workers have begun using hand-held scanners to inspect liquids for explosives at some of the country’s busiest airports, Dow Jones International News reported today.
Citing government officials, the report said that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had completed testing the device at Miami International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Testing is continuing in Los Angeles, Detroit and Las Vegas, it said, citing agency spokesman Nico Melendez. Testing begins in Boston on Wednesday, the report said.
TSA expects to deploy about 200 of the devices at airports around US by October, Melendez told the news agency.
The technology, which is claimed to detect explosive material in sealed bottles of liquid, is used on passengers selected for secondary inspections pre-boarding.
The scanning device is made by Washington-based ICx Technologies, a specialist in effective solutions for homeland and military security.
Such technology would be widely welcomed by the duty free industry. If it could be proved to detect explosives and be economically viable, it would provide vital long benefits to the industry.
Commenting on the story, Michael Payne, Executive Director of the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores (IAADFS), told The Moodie Report: “TSA has continually discussed the need to develop effective technology solutions for the detection of explosives for both passenger and cargo safety. This article appears to address one potential tool to help in this area and I know other technologies are being explored actively by TSA .
“The impact on the retailer will depend, in my view, on ultimately what technologies are eventually adopted. Any technology that makes for a safer flying environment and helps take away the angst of carrying liquids on airlines should benefit retailers. If an adopted technology helps move security lines faster then it should benefit the retailer.
“Certainly if technology can help prevent unwarranted confiscation of duty free purchases it will benefit the industry – retailer, supplier, airport and customer.”
