Doug Myers

AIRPORT & TSA UPGRADE EXPLOSIVE DETECTORS

2/6/08

The Albany County Airport Authority and the Transportation Security Administration have completed the installation of a new Reveal Explosive Detection System (EDS) for baggage screening at Albany International Airport.

            The new Reveal CT-80 EDS machines utilize sophisticated electronics with high image resolution to examine each checked bag and quickly determine if a bag contains a potential threat or not. The Reveal CT-80s are smaller in size and are less than half the price of other EDS machines currently in use at many commercial airports nationwide.

            Previously, Albany International Airport utilized Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) equipment to meet the congressional requirement to screen 100% of checked luggage. Though ETD and EDS meet the same high security standard, EDS does not require physical inspection – it scans the bag and analyzes the density of the contents to determine if any explosive threats are present.

The new system will speed the Airport’s checked baggage processing procedure and reduce the number of checked passenger bags that would otherwise be subject to hands on inspections by TSA Security Officers.

“Technological advances have enabled manufactures to reduce the size of the EDS machines and increase their efficiency,” said David E. Langdon, Chairman of the Albany County Airport Authority.  “This smaller footprint allowed for the installation of the new equipment without costly structural changes to the Airport.”

Brian Johansson, TSA Federal Security Director at Albany International Airport said, “This new equipment will help us more quickly and efficiently screen baggage here at Albany, which will benefit passengers, the airport and TSA.”