Mid Continent And John Wayne Airports Receive Grants For Advanced Screening Devices

TSA last week announced an award of nearly $6.9 million to Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) and approximately $8.8 million for John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, for the construction of inline baggage screening systems designed to enhance TSA's efforts to strengthen security at airports.

"The addition of a state-of-the-art inline baggage system in the new terminal will significantly improve the speed and efficiency of our screening operations at Wichita," said ICT Federal Security Director Keith Osborn. "The new system will also eliminate the need for passengers to carry their bags to the screening area."

"We are very pleased TSA has selected John Wayne Airport to receive funding for the inline baggage handling system to be installed in our new Terminal C," said Alan L. Murphy, Airport Director. "We look forward to working with TSA to implement this important project."

All monies will be derived from fiscal 2009 funds. The upgrade to the stand alone system that is currently used at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport is due to be completed in mid-2013.

TSA Federal Security Director BC Bell said "The baggage handling system we've seen in Terminals A and B (at John Wayne) is an efficient way to detect possible explosives and other threats while allowing for a more streamlined check-in process for passengers. This equipment allows our security officers to use the latest technology to screen checked baggage as the airport moves forward with its improvement program in Terminal C." No projected completion date has been finalized at John Wayne.

Inline screening systems allow TSA to screen baggage for explosives more efficiently, while reducing the number of re-scans and physical bag searches. When completed, ICT will feature 100 percent inline screening. It eliminates the need for passengers to walk checked baggage to a screening location before proceeding to the security checkpoint. Additionally, the systems provide on-screen resolution capabilities for security officers screening baggage which reduces the number of re-scans and physical bag searches.

FMI: www.tsa.gov