Airport Screening for Explosives
 As
a result of the terrorist hijackings on September 11, Congress ordered
increased security measures at all U.S. airports. The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) was formed to handle this task and their deadline
for screening all checked bags for explosives was January 1.
Initially, the TSA thought they would need 2,000 big explosives-detection
machines to equip all 429 U.S. commercial airports. But the agency then
realized that only half that number of the machines could be produced
by the year-end deadline. Consequently, those machines will be supplemented
by smaller explosive residue detectors until the larger machines can be
produced, by the end of March.
The TSA, met the January 1 deadline and is now screening more than 90%
of the checked bags electronically. The remainder will be checked by hand
or with bomb-sniffing dogs. Suspicious bags — and bags selected
at random — will be inspected by hand.
Travelers may question what the new screening systems will mean in terms
of long lines and delays at airports. The TSA is confident that the stepped-up
baggage screening should not inconvenience travelers. Others worry about
theft, but TSA screeners will be constantly supervised and work in teams
under video surveillance.
The TSA advises travelers not to lock their checked bags. Otherwise,
security workers who need to look inside them may have to break the locks.
TSA screeners will leave a note inside bags they
Travelers are being instructed to forgo packing dense foods (such as
cheese, chocolate and peanut butter) in checked bags. Bomb screening machines
may mistakenly flag them as explosives. The machines use the same technology
as a hospital CT scan to sense the density of explosives, and some foods
and explosives are similar in density.
Additionally, books should be spread throughout bags so they don’t
block images of objects packed behind them. Film should not be packed
in checked baggage, as screening equipment will damage it. Also, remember
that other items which are forbidden in carry-on bags (such as knives
and scissors) can be placed in checked bags.
For more information including a list of prohibited carry-on items, visit
the TSA, web site at www.tsa.dot.gov.
|
