[ RadSafe ] Airport delays X-ray scanner testing

[Sandy Perle]

I find 2 of the TSA comments quite interesting. The first being, 
>>"The last thing we wanted to do was start this during one of the 
busiest travel times of the year," said Nico Melendez, an agency 
spokesman. <<

If the unit is effective, then one would presume that the best time 
to put the system into operation would be when there is the highest 
number of passengers, and, the potential for an incident to take 
place. An effective system would definitely preclude the smuggling of 
a weapon, at least a metal weapon.

The second comment would be have been an appropriate response for the 
baby through the X-ray unit. This was the comment (at least he got 
the low exposure of radiation correct in this situation): >>Others 
have said it could expose travelers to potentially harmful radiation, 
but the TSA said the scanner is designed to see only through fabric, 
not skin.<<

Airport delays X-ray scanner testing

PHOENIX - A test of an X-ray security scanner that can see through 
clothing, even taking clear pictures of the human body along with 
concealed weapons, has been delayed until early this coming year at 
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.  
 
The federal Transportation Security Administration initially said one 
machine would be operating at Sky Harbor's Terminal 4 by Christmas.

However, the agency said technical difficulties were creating 
problems in setting up the equipment so it work properly with the 
airport's wireless connections.

It also decided the holiday season was not a good time to start. "The 
last thing we wanted to do was start this during one of the busiest 
travel times of the year," said Nico Melendez, an agency spokesman.

He wouldn't be specific about when the machine will be ready, saying 
only that it should be installed within a few months.

Critics say the high-resolution images are too invasive, and the      
American Civil Liberties Union has called it a virtual strip search. 

The TSA says it has found a way to adjust the machine's images so the 
normally graphic pictures can be blurred in certain areas while still 
being effective at detecting threats.

Others have said it could expose travelers to potentially harmful 
radiation, but the TSA said the scanner is designed to see only 
through fabric, not skin.

Sky Harbor will still be the first airport in the country to test the 
equipment, and the TSA will later test the machines at a handful of 
the country's other airports during 2007.

The technology already is being used in prisons and by drug 
enforcement agents, and has been tested at London's Heathrow Airport.

During the pilot program, the X-ray machine will be used only as a 
secondary screening measure; passengers who fail the standard 
screening process will be able to choose between the new device or a 
typical pat-down search.

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Sandy Perle 
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations 
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc. 
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614

Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714 Extension 2306 
Fax:(949) 296-1144

Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/ 
Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/