"TSA Turning To Tech For Enhanced Airport Security"

Friday, December 2, 2005

TSA Turning To Tech For Enhanced Airport Security 
By K.C. Jones
TechWeb.com  


Bomb detection portals will increase by nine times at the nation's airports
as part of the aviation security enhancements announced Friday by the
Transportation Security Administration.
 
Though most public attention focused on renewed permission for passengers to
carry small scissors and other tools onto airplanes, TSA Assistant Secretary
Kip Hawley told reporters at a Washington news conference that technology
accounts for a significant portion of the latest changes in airline
security. His speech is posted on the TSA Web site. 

Hawley said explosives detection training and technology improvements
include increasing the number of trace explosives portals from 43 to 340 by
the end of 2006. Sixteen of the new portals are scheduled to be installed by
the end of 2005. 

"Just as we have invested in our people to help reduce the risk that
explosives will be taken aboard a plane, we are also investing in technology
for this purpose," Hawley said. "This new technology uses puffs of air to
help detect the presence of explosives on individuals." 

The TSA also recently completed enhanced explosives detection training of
more than 18,000 officers. The training focused primarily on identifying
X-ray images of improvised explosive parts, rather than simply trying to
scan for assembled bombs. 

As well, the TSA has updated a database of images to include more improvised
explosive images, which are randomly projected onto X-ray screens at
checkpoints to help maintain and improve skills, Hawley said. 

The changes in airport security reflect principles and a risk-based strategy
set forth in a recent assessment by Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Michael Chertoff. 

"The changes reflect not only a new and evolving threat environment, but
also our determination to make good decisions based on data and metrics, a
practice that TSA will continue to employ going forward," Hawley said. 

Still, many experts say there's still a gap in scanning air cargo, posing a
potential security threat.


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