A new $72m in-line explosives detection baggage screening system is now in place and operational at Detroit Metro Airport’s (DTW) McNamara terminal.
The technology unveiled by Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), provides passengers, airlines and TSA with a fully automated, state-of-the art baggage handling and screening solution.
WCAA CEO Lester Robinson said that the new cutting edge technology would improve airport operations considerably.
“With the new McNamara in-line system fully-operational, all bags departing from Detroit or connecting here via an international flight will be screened quickly and efficiently,” Robinson said.
The new system is designed to quickly detect and address any potential threats. All checked bags are routed by approximately nine miles of conveyor belts through the first ever large scale install of 14 GE CTX 9400 explosives detection systems (EDS).
This automated technology allows TSA to separate harmless checked luggage from suspect bags. Bags that alarm are sent to a secondary screening area where they receive close scrutiny by TSA security officers before being cleared for transport.
The in-line system was designed with future airport growth data to ensure TSA’s baggage screening capabilities can expand to meet increased demand at Detroit. TSA partially funded the system by providing $36.5m for the EDS equipment, integration, workstations and airport facility modification.
The deployment of 14 GE CTX 9400s represents the only large-scale GE installation of this latest version.
By Daniel Garrun.
