The Secure Terminal

Once they pass through the security portal, which will end at a PRT station, they board a PRT pod, and are then in a contained environment, he relates. During that transit period, people who are identified as non-threats, the vast majority, would be taken to the terminal; the others would be taken to a secondary screening facility.

The optimized terminal design would consist of a multi-layer facility with boarding lobbies that surround a large concessions and retail area. To get to the plane, passengers would go to a contact gate at the mid-level, or go down a level and board a PRT which takes the passenger to the aircraft.

“You’ve then created a shorter terminal with less walking, and an environment where people are going to be comfortable with spending time in the concessions area,” says Cornell.

A primary opposition to the concept, says Cornell, is: If you segregate or decentralize the facilities, it will require more people to manage the system.

“The response to that is yes, if you’re not willing to utilize technology for certain functions,” he says. “Separate the security functions from the terminal, automate what is possible, and ultimately optimize the use of the facilities.”