Trace Portal Machines Deployed to Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

Oct. 13, 2005
Prior to the start of the holiday travel season, TSA plans to deploy this technology to six more airports in Charlotte, N.C.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; NewYork (LaGuardia); San Juan, P.R., and Washington, D.C. (both Dulles and ReaganNational).

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Transportation SecurityAdministration (TSA) today announced that it has deployed an explosivesdetection trace portal to the passenger security checkpoint at the PittsburghInternational Airport (PIT).

"Trace portals allow TSA to expand its capability to detect explosives ina more traveler friendly manner," said Joseph P. Terrell TSA's FederalSecurity Director at PIT. "These innovative machines are an example of TSA'sefforts to utilize the latest technology to continue to raise the bar inaviation security."

Passengers identified as needing additional screening will pass through the trace portal 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, dislodging microscopic particles from passengers that are then collected and analyzed for traces of explosives. A computerizedvoice indicates when a passenger may exit the portal. Screeners will takenecessary and appropriate steps to resolve possible alarms.

"This significant security enhancement would not be possible without thecooperation and hard work of the Allegheny County Airport Authority and ourairline partners," Terrell added. "Working together we will continue toenhance security and the overall traveler experience."

TSA has already advanced its explosives detection capabilities at thepassenger security checkpoint by deploying trace portals at airports inBaltimore; Boston; Dallas (DFW); Gulfport, Miss.; Jacksonville, Fla.; LasVegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Newark; New York (JFK); Palm Beach, Phoenix;Providence, R.I.; Rochester, N.Y.; San Francisco; San Diego; and Tampa, Fla.

Prior to the start of the holiday travel season, TSA plans to deploy this technology to six more airports in Charlotte, N.C.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; NewYork (LaGuardia); San Juan, P.R., and Washington, D.C. (both Dulles and ReaganNational).

TSA will continue to increase its explosives detection capabilities andexpects to announce the next round of airports to receive these trace portalmachines by the end of the summer. TSA anticipates deploying 100 additionalmachines to the nation's largest airports by January 2006.

TSA purchased the trace portal equipment from two vendors: GEInfrastructure, Security and Smiths Detection. TSA is working on aprocurement strategy for the next round of equipment purchases, which costsmore than $160,000 per machine.

For more information regarding TSA, see the Web site athttp://www.tsa.gov.

CONTACT: Darrin Kayser of Transportation Security Administration,+1-202-329-8308.

SOURCE Transportation Security Administration

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