Aviation and Airport

New passport holder claims to beat RFID security risks
Paraben claims its metal mesh, velcro-closing passport holder reduces signals by an average of 85db
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Canadian government announces annual air security revenue, expenses
Deficits projected as security costs, number of travellers, mount; government plans to hold dwindling program surplus as check against future costs
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Scaled-down Analogic CT scanners to make debut in nation's airports
TSA optimistic about trial run, believes full deployment possible in 2007; technology developed under agency’s CAMBRIA development program
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Solution for tracing explosives in compact electronic items
What do laptops, medical devices, and cameras have in common? they are characterized by small size and sophisticated internal components; tracing explosives hidden in them is thus difficult; TraceGuard is developing a solution specifically aimed at sniffing explosives hidden in such devices
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London arrests should prompt interest in fluoroscopic detection system
In tests conducted in spring 2004, TSA found that, compared with X-ray machine systems, screeners using the fluoroscopic system from Golan Group were more likely to detect IEDs — especially those “artfully concealed”; it is time to consider to act on the study’s conclusions
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mPhase Technologies board of directors approves spinout of magnetometer business
New company will take advantage of strong prototype test results, ongoing relationship with Lucent Technology Bell Labs
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TSA fights back against charge that X-rays can not stop shoe-bombers
At a press conference yesterday, officials defended themselves with X-ray images of shoes with and without bombs; the difference was easy to see, they said
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Concerns mount about American visa waiver program, European privacy laws
Britain is one of twenty-seven countries whose citizens do not need a visa to visit the United States, a sobering thought considering that most of those arrested in last week’s liquid bomb plot were British citizens.
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Passenger cargo remains a glaring security problem
Experts say that resistence from airlines is to blame; a pilot program in San Francisco provides a model for others
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Liquid explosives a known problem for Chinese authorities
In two incidents, passengers doused airline cabins with gasoline; one died after the plane went up in flames, the other was subdued after demanding transit to Taiwan
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University researchers promote biometric screening, emphasize speed
Researchers at the University of Buffalo are working on (and desire further funding for) a chemical detection system that scans passengers’ hands for minute traces of explosives
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BAE Systems' commercial aircraft missile defense system enters Phase III at DHS
The JETEYE system, adapted from the US Army’s infrared countermeasures system, has entered Phase III of testing. The 18 month program will help the company refine the technology and meet the DHS mean time failure rate.
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Leaked DHS report says X-rays are ineffective at detecting explosives
According to a 2005 DHS study, images on X-ray machines do not provide enough information to allow the detection of explosives. Still, transportation officials press forward and insist on shoe removal, saying it allows screeners to see if footwear has been tampered with a la Richard Reid.
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QRSciences promotes MRI-like radio waves as answer to chemical detection problem
Sitting pretty after recent reports that X-rays are ineffective explosive detectors, the Australian company pushes forward with its patented Quadropole Resonance technology.
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