DHS Lobbies for Aviation Security

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano met with airport industry leaders Feb. 22 to enlist their support for key aviation security initiatives proposed by President Obama in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.

She outlined three main aviation security budget points: funding for Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) at airports; expanded use of explosives trace detection (ETD) technology; and, increased use of canine teams to detect explosives.

Napolitano described AIT as a dramatically improved technology that would be deployed at security checkpoints. AAAE representatives raised several questions about this planned deployment, including the possible need for checkpoint reconfiguration at some airports, processing times, checkpoint footprint issues, and whether airports would be liable for any of the costs associated with the deployment. She proposed formation of an AIT implementation working group to address these issues that would be comprised of DHS officials and industry representatives.

Regarding expanded use of ETD technology, Napolitano emphasized that this would result in a "randomized additional layer of security." The secretary also noted that the administration is requesting more funding for canine teams. In addition, Napolitano updated the airport representatives on her efforts to harmonize international aviation security standards and protocols.

Airport to Inspect Vehicles

The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that people driving into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport will be subject to random vehicle inspection and search. Airport Director Mark Brewer said the security measures were made in light of recent aviation security incidents. The random inspections of vehicles approaching the airline terminal are designed to be brief and "minimally intrusive" so as not to disrupt passenger travel schedules, according to Brewer. The stops will be conducted in cooperation with airport security, police and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. The inspection area is along the airport entrance road, located after an advisory sign that alerts motorists, "All vehicles are subject to search." "This is both a proactive and cooperative effort aimed at augmenting the airport's security posture," Brewer said in a statement. "In addition to a number of layered security measures which are already in place, the random inspections will help to further enhance the safety of our customers, tenants and employees." Manchester-Boston Regional Airport has conducted occasional random vehicle inspections since 9/11.

Body Falls from Plane

The Associated Press reports that the body of a young man fell from a cargo plane Feb. 18as it was starting to take off for Miami International. An air traffic controller saw something fall from an Amerijet cargo plane just after it took off and workers found a body, prompting a 45-minute shutdown of a runway at the Las Americas International Airport in the Dominican capital. Officials said the pilot was not immediately aware of what had happened and continued flying. The plane landed without incident at Miami International and was taken to a remote spot for an inspection. The man had not been identified and was not carrying any personal documents,

On Feb. 7, A body was found in a landing gear wheel well of a jetliner that flew to Tokyo's Narita Airport from New York. Lack of oxygen or hypothermia is believed to have killed the stowaway aboard the Delta Boeing 777. Flight 59 originated at Kennedy International. At least seven incidents of wheel-well stowaways have occurred in the past decade, all but one ending in death. International flights typically cruise at altitudes at or above 30,000 feet. Temperatures at that altitude can plummet to 50 degrees below zero or colder.

Ruggedized Handheld Trace Detector

Morpho Detection has announced the release of its Hardened MobileTrace handheld trace detection system. In addition to the explosives and narcotics detection capabilities of the standard MobileTrace, the Hardened MobileTrace can detect and identify chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals that can be weaponized. The Hardened MobileTrace is designed for quick, accurate detection in the most challenging environments. MobileTrace incorporates Morpho Detection's patented ITMS (Ion Trap Mobility Spectrometer), or trace, technology into a highly portable device. ITMS explosives and narcotics detection sensitivity and reliability has already been proven in other Morpho Detection trace-based products used at military bases, border crossings, airports and other facilities and critical security checkpoints around the world.

Morpho Detection Selected by IAA

Morpho Detection has won a $50 million contract to supply the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) with its "System of Systems," the most advanced checked baggage explosives detection system (EDS) available. The Morpho Detection System of Systems consists of an X-ray Diffraction-based XRD 3500 EDS fully integrated with one or more CTX 9000 DSi Computed Tomography-based EDS. Shmuel Kandel, managing director, Ben Gurion International, said "Morpho Detection's System of Systems will allow us to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of checked baggage screening, enhancing both safety and the passenger experience. The use of orthogonal CT and XRD technologies delivers unparalleled levels of detection and allows airport security operators to enhance security, reduce cost and improve the passenger experience by dramatically reducing false alarms and resultant manual inspections of bags, the firm said in a statement.