Calgary Airport Getting Iris Scanner

February 17, 2004

Airport Getting Iris Scanner
CBC Calgary, Canada

 
Calgary - An iris scanner, which takes a picture of
the eye, will be used at the Calgary airport to speed
frequent travellers through customs.
 
Gordon Luchia, with Canada Customs, says it's part of
the Canpass program, intended for people who are low
security risks.

"Stand in front of a camera and let it take a picture
of the iris of your eye and we would compare that to
the information we got when you made your initial
application," he said. "And if everything agrees, in
most cases you would be able to proceed on into Canada
without any further interaction with customs, subject,
of course, to random checks at any time."

Luchia says allowing low security risks to pass
through more quickly allows customs officers to
concentrate on potential dangers.

Canpass, which pre-screens travellers, costs $50 a
year. The scanner, which is already in place in
Vancouver and Halifax airports, is expected to be
installed at the airport by late summer or fall.
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