Explosives Trace Detection Portal Machines Deployed to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airporttitle
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) today announced that it has deployed three explosives
detection trace portals to passenger security checkpoints at Detroit Metro
Airport (DTW). TSA continues to deploy state-of-the-art technology to our
nations airports in an ongoing effort to prevent weapons and explosives from
getting on aircraft.
"TSA and the Metropolitan Airport Authority together made the installation
and operation of this latest technology possible," said Federal Security
Director Robert Ball. "The trace portals provide an effective addition to the
layered security system aimed at focusing our resources on the threat of
explosives."
Passengers identified for additional screening will pass through the trace
portals for explosives detection screening. As passengers enter the trace
portal, they are asked to stand still for a few seconds while several "bursts"
of air are released. That air is then analyzed for traces of explosives and a
computerized voice indicates when a passenger may exit the portal.
Transportation security officers will take the appropriate steps to resolve
any alarms.
TSA has already advanced its explosives detection capabilities at the
passenger security checkpoint by deploying trace portals at airports in
Baltimore; Boston; Dallas (DFW); Gulfport, Miss.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Las
Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Newark; New York (JFK); Palm Beach; Phoenix;
Providence, R.I.; Rochester, N.Y.; San Francisco; San Diego; Tampa, Fla.; San
Juan, P.R.; Pittsburgh; Ft. Lauderdale; Indianapolis, Ind. and Washington,
D.C. (Reagan National and Dulles).
In the coming weeks, TSA plans to deploy this technology to two more
airports in Charlotte, N.C. and Sacramento, C.A., bringing the total to
approximately 26 airports across the country.
TSA purchased the trace portal equipment from two vendors: GE
Infrastructure, Security and Smiths Detection. Each machine costs
approximately $160,000.
For more information regarding TSA, see the Web site at
http://www.tsa.gov.
Media Contact: Lara Uselding
(773) 573-8168
