Aviation securityDayton installs automated baggage screening system at airport
On 17 May Dayton International Airport in Ohio will begin using a sophisticated new automated baggage screening system that will save time and resources; using a series of machines, the new system will automatically screen luggage for explosives; any suspicious bags will be flagged and sent to security screeners for more careful examination; TSA officials hope that the new machines will help reduce check-in times for passengers, increase efficiency, and even minimize the number of screeners needed
A series of screening machines is expected to speed check-in // Source: wn.com
On 17 May Dayton International Airport in Ohio will begin using a sophisticated new automated baggage screening system that will save time and resources.
Using a series of machines, the new system will automatically screen luggage for explosives. Any suspicious bags will be flagged and sent to security screeners for more careful examination.
The new system was made possible thanks to a $10 million grant from DHS and Dayton contributed $8.5 million to extend the airport’s terminal to make additional space for the new machines. The system is set to debut on 17 May after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents conclude their training with the new equipment.
TSA officials hope that the new machines will help reduce check-in times for passengers, increase efficiency, and even minimize the number of screeners needed.
When passengers check in, they will hand their luggage to personnel behind airline counters who will place their bags on conveyor belts that carry them to automatic screening machines that are located behind a wall.
In the luggage inspection area, TSA officials will have vacuum lifts at their disposal to help conduct safety inspections. These lifts help avoid the need for employees to manually lift hundreds of bags each day.
If no suspicious items are detected and the bag is not diverted for manual inspection, luggage will arrive from the airport counter to baggage handlers in roughly five minutes.
By automating the process, city officials hope that they can eventually reduce the 120-person workforce of TSA screeners that currently must manually lift and inspect bags.
At this point TSA has no plans to reduce the size of its workforce and will instead reallocate any newly available resources to passenger screening or other security duties.
TSA and city officials have been testing the new process for the past two months to work out any glitches or problems.
The airport plans on keeping its five old screening machines as a backup in the event that the new system has any problems.
After a month of smooth operation, the machines will be removed to make room for further remodeling to the airport’s lobby.
