This book addresses new technologies being considered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for screening airport passengers for concealed weapons and explosives. The FAA is supporting the development of promising new technologies that can reveal the presence not only of metal-based weapons as with current screening technologies, but also detect plastic explosives and other non-metallic threat materials and objects, and is concerned that these new technologies may not be appropriate for use in airports for other than technical reasons. This book presents discussion of the health, legal, and public acceptance issues that are likely to be raised regarding implementation of improvements in the current electromagnetic screening technologies, implementation of screening systems that detect traces of explosive materials on passengers, and implementation of systems that generate images of passengers beneath their clothes for analysis by human screeners.

This report assesses the operational performance of explosives-detection equipment and hardened unit-loading devices (HULDs) in airports and compares their operational performance to their laboratory performance, with a focus on improving aviation security.

Handbook of Checked Baggage Screening – Advanced Airport Security Operation is a practical guide for project managers and designers embarking on hold-baggage screening developments within the airport environment for the first time. The book clearly explains away any uncertainty about the processes and procedures to be used by the various parties involved within the industry and sets out ‘best practice’ with respect to checked baggage screening design. Valuable lessons can be learned from actual case studies contributed by leading equipment manufacturers on recent 100% hold baggage screening projects. In addition to the all-important security screening of baggage and passengers the book also looks at the following areas associated with airport security, through the use of a detailed structured security check-list evaluation questionnaire. The questionnaire allows airports to assess the state of readiness of their airports and then, using the other chapters, gain an insight regarding which technology will best solve any security gaps. The authors offer a unique perspective through their background and experience. Many of the checked baggage screening procedures and equipment discussed in the book have already been implemented in the UK, with the authors responsible for leading this effort. The combined experience they can offer to the industry world wide is invaluable.

Responding to the need to reliably detect explosives, bomb-making components, and other potential security threats concealed by airline passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has focused on the deployment of whole body scanners and checked-baggage-screening as core elements of its strategy for airport checkpoint screening. This book examines the new technology elements and considerations relating to airport baggage and passenger screening with a focus on advanced imaging technology and explosives detection requirements.

Responding to the need to reliably detect explosives, bomb-making components, and other potential security threats concealed by airline passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has focused on the deployment of whole body scanners and checked-baggage-screening as core elements of its strategy for airport checkpoint screening. This book examines the new technology elements and considerations relating to airport baggage and passenger screening with a focus on advanced imaging technology and explosives detection requirements.

The screening of airport passengers & their checked baggage is a critical component in securing our nation's commercial aviation system. This report incorporates results from a survey of 155 Federal Security Directors -- the ranking Transportation Security Admin. (TSA) authority responsible for the leadership & coordination of TSA security activities at the nation's commercial airports. This report addresses: (1) actions TSA has taken to enhance training for passenger & checked baggage screeners & screening supervisors, (2) how TSA ensures that screeners complete required training, & (3) actions TSA has taken to measure & enhance screener performance in detecting threat objects. Charts & tables.