"New Security Cards for Canadian Airport Staff"

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Airport security cards expand nationwide  
The Canadian Broadcasting Company - CBC News 


High tech security cards that were first tested at Charlottetown's airport
are now the norm for workers across Canada.

The cards feature the worker's fingerprint and an iris scan. The Canadian
Air Transport Security Authority said the cards are impossible to duplicate.

They can also be disabled in a few seconds.

They are designed to combat smugglers and terrorists.

Officials said most Canadian airport workers have already been issued the
cards. And the machines to read the information are in use in Charlottetown,
Calgary, Montreal and Kelowna, B.C.

Canada's biggest airport, Toronto's Pearson International, is in the midst
of its test of the cards.

Pilots, flight attendants, grounds staff, caterers and other airport staff
will be required to use the cards. Different levels of security can require
the person to supply more than one of the security details such as a finger
print or placing their eye near a special reader.

Staff at 29 Canadian airports will have their cards by the start of 2006.

Attached Photo:

An employee in Charlottetown has his retina scanned.

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