Dozens Of Airports Are Using Advanced Imaging Technology To Screen Passengers

If there are three things that are all but certain during the winter high-travel season, they are family gatherings, plenty of food, and strict security at the nation's airports. In an effort to improve the safety of passengers, the federal government has introduced advanced imaging technology at some of the country's airports. These are machines designed to screen people for weapons, explosives, or other items that might present a security risk.

With all of the media coverage recently concerning the body scanners and enhanced pat-downs, TSA in a news release Thursday offered some information it says will help travelers learn more about how this technology works, as well as tips to help them prepare for the busiest travel season of the year.

TSA has installed two types of body scanners with advanced imaging technology at dozens of airports across the country. These scanners are:

• Millimeter Wave Unit, a machine which uses electromagnetic waves to create a black-and-white, three-dimensional image of the passenger.
• Backscatter Unit, a machine which emits x-rays to create a reflection of the passenger's body

Advanced imaging technology is optional, although 99% of passengers prefer this type of screening, according to the TSA. Passengers who do not want to go through these machines can opt for a pat-down inspection by an official.

TSA says the officer in the screening area never sees the images produced by these machines. Instead, these images are sent to a separate room where they are evaluated. The screening officer receives the results of the scan via a wireless headset.

According to the agency, faces of passengers subjected to the Millimeter Wave Unit are blurred. The Backscatter Unit blurs or modifies the entire image to preserve the anonymity of the passenger. They still say that the machines cannot store, print, transmit or save images, and TSA officials are prohibited from entering the room where images are inspected with electronic devices such as cameras, camcorders, or cell phones.

The technology used by these machines is safe for all passengers, including children, pregnant women and people with medical implants. To compare it to other situations where individuals are exposed to radiation, TSA holds that:

• The energy generated by The Millimeter Wave Unit is thousands of times less than a cellular phone transmission.
• The Backscatter Unit emits a level of radiation equivalent of two minutes of flight on an airplane.

The agency says body scanners are designed to detect metallic and non-metallic items that a person might have hidden under his or her clothes. To move quickly through the airport security checkpoint and to avoid leaving items behind, TSA says passengers should remove accessories such as wallets, belts, jewelry, keys, and cellular phones from your pocket, and place these and other items in your carry-on bag before entering the security checkpoint

Airports with Advanced Imaging Technology offer more information on site. You can also visit TSA.gov for more information.

FMI: www.usa.gov/gobiernousa/