West Virginia International Yeager Airport has deployed the latest generation of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2), which confirms the validity of a traveller’s identification and their flight information in real time.
This system is now operational at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint of the airport.
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The new CAT-2 units are an upgrade from first-generation technology, with added capabilities such as capturing a real-time photo of the traveller to compare with the photo on their ID.
Equipped with cameras on tablets, the unit matches the face of passenger checkpoint with the face that appears on the ID such as the person’s driver’s license or passport.
This innovative feature allows TSA officers to confirm identity matches without the need for a boarding pass, as the system also verifies flight details.
The photos taken by CAT-2 are not stored, ensuring privacy for passengers.
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By GlobalDataWest Virginia TSA federal security director John C. Allen said: “Identity verification of every traveller prior to flying is a key step in the security screening process.
“This technology enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent IDs such as driver’s licences and passports at a checkpoint and it increases efficiency by automatically verifying a passenger’s identification.”
The CAT-2 system has also been implemented at Huntington Tri-State Airport.
Travellers have to hand their ID to a TSA officer and look at the camera. If validated, they can proceed through the checkpoint.
In addition to its checkpoint screening capabilities, the system confirms the passenger’s flight status.
John C. Allen added: “This latest technology helps ensure that we know who is boarding flights. Credential authentication plays an important role in passenger identity verification. It improves a TSA officer’s ability to validate a traveller’s photo identification while also identifying any inconsistencies associated with fraudulent travel documents.”
Recently, TSA introduced CAT-2 units at five airports in Montana, US.
