Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) in the US has deployed a credential authentication technology (CAT) unit.

This technology will authenticate in almost real-time the validity of traveller identifications (IDs) and their flight information.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Upstate New York federal security director Bart R Johnson said: “The new CAT that we are now using at Buffalo enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent IDs such as driver’s licenses and passports at checkpoints and increases efficiency by automatically verifying passenger identification.”

At the travel document checking station, passengers will be required to hand over their ID to the security officer, who will confirm the authenticity of the document by inserting it in the scanner.

This will reduce the touchpoint as passengers will have to hold up their boarding passes to the security officer for visual inspection instead of handing them over.

The CAT unit will validate that the traveller is prescreened to board the flight that day.

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Passengers under the age of 18 and/or those with ID issues may be asked for their boarding pass.

However, passengers will still have to check in with their airline in advance and bring their boarding pass to their gate agent before boarding.

CAT units are capable of authenticating several thousand ID types, including passports, permanent resident cards, US visas, driver’s licenses and photo IDs issued by state motor vehicle departments.

The units can also authenticate military common access cards, uniformed services ID cards, retired military ID cards and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler ID cards.

The unit includes a passport reader, ID card reader, federal personal identity verification ID card reader, monitor, UV light and stand.

Furthermore, passengers will have to submit their REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable forms of credentials by 1 October 2021.

After the deadline, the units will not accept a driver’s license if it is not REAL ID-compliant.

On another note, JFI Medical has supplied Covid-19 testing kits to the Indianapolis Airport (IND) Authority.

JFI Medical provides real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen (RAT) coronavirus diagnostic kits.