Sat, Feb 05, 2011
Portable Unit Could Inspect Any Airplane On Any Ramp
The Department of Homeland Security
has awarded a contract that should make every GA pilot sit up and
take notice. Following a study of the general aviation "screening
problem," American Science and Engineering has been awarded a
research and development contract under the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T)
Directorate’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
program to design and build a prototype device to screen
general aviation aircraft.
This is a Phase II follow-on award. The prototype will combine
AS&E’s advanced Z Backscatter technology with a portable
platform to provide complete aircraft coverage in an efficient
one-man operation.
GA accounts for a majority of all flights in the United States,
other than military and scheduled airline and cargo flights, and
encompass a wide-range of on-demand flights (not routinely
scheduled) such as emergency medical flights and corporate
flights.
“Our ... system will provide DHS with a portable
inspection solution that can be customized to screen general
aviation aircraft for threats and contraband," said Anthony
Fabiano, AS&E’s President and CEO. "This prototype builds
on work already in progress at AS&E to miniaturize Z
Backscatter screening systems and is transferable for use in nearly
every X-ray scanning or inspection mission.”
Aero-Analysis: Is this a solution in search of a
"problem?" We are all in favor of security around our airports,
even when it comes to GA. But consider how much longer a John and
Martha King might have sat in handcuffs at gunpoint, or maybe in
jail, while one of these portable devices was located and brought
to scan their airplane. What level of probable cause will be
required before a flight is delayed or denied because the airplane
can't be scanned? We see this as a "slippery slope" to further
erosions of our ability to exercise our privileges as airmen (and
women) . And while realizing they are just that, privileges,
we hope that the government will exercise some prudence and
restraint. Unfortunately, when it comes to "security", that may be
a bit like wishing the tide wouldn't come in.
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