Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Portland Jetport and Bangor International airports in the US have deployed credential authentication technology (CAT) units.
This technology will authenticate the validity of travellers’ identifications (IDs), along with their flight information, in near real time.
Portland has installed two credential authentication technology (CAT) units, whereas Bangor has installed one.
This technology will increase capabilities for detecting fraudulent documents at security checkpoints.
At the TSA travel document checking podium, passengers will be required to hand over their ID to the security officer, who will confirm the validity of the document by inserting it in the CAT unit.
Passengers will not be required to present their boarding pass.
TSA Maine federal security director Bob Allison said: “We’re looking forward to using this technology. It’s going to enhance our detection capability for identifying fraudulent passenger identification at Portland and Bangor security checkpoints.
“The system makes document checking more efficient and effective by confirming the passenger’s flight status in near real time.”
CAT units are capable of authenticating several thousand types of IDs, including passports, permanent resident cards and US visas, driver’s licenses and photo IDs issued by state motor vehicle departments.
They can also validate military common access cards, uniformed services ID cards, retired military ID cards and Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID cards.
Furthermore, it is mandatory for passengers to carry upon them their REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable forms of identification before the 1 October 2021 deadline. After this deadline, the CAT units will not accept a driver’s license if it is not REAL ID-compliant.
The unit comprises a passport reader, ID card reader, Federal personal identity verification ID card reader, monitor, stand and UV light.
The cost of an individual CAT unit is approximately $27,000.
Recently, TSA at Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) started using advanced computed tomography (CT) checkpoint scanners at its security checkpoints.
