Soon, you needn’t take out gadgets from hand baggage for scanning at airports

Aviation security watchdog, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), has recommended the installation of scanners based on computed tomography technology at airports that would not require passengers to remove electronic devices from their carry-on luggage before going through the scanner.

Currently, the scanners used at airports provide a two-dimensional view of the objects inside a hand luggage. Jaideep Prasad, Joint Director General of the BCAS, said on Wednesday that the regulator has proposed to install scanners based on computed tomography technology at airports that will provide a three-dimensional view of the objects in hand luggage.

“With such scanners, passengers will not be required to remove their electronic devices from hand luggage before going through the scanner,” he told PTI. The installation of such scanners is also expected to help speed up the security check process at airports.

Also read: 2 liters of liquid in hand luggage? UK shows the way to do it safely

Advertisement

Specific details about the recommendation could not be immediately determined.
In recent weeks, there have been complaints about congestion and long waiting times at various airports, especially at the airport in the national capital. Authorities introduced various measures and the congestion eased. BCAS falls under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Technology deployed at sensitive airports

Earlier this month, the ministry told Lok Sabha that strengthening safety and security at airports is an ongoing process and is periodically reviewed by safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and security regulator BCAS, in consultation with the other concerned agencies and stakeholders including Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airport operators depending on threat perceptions.

According to the civil aviation ministry, some of the technologies being deployed and proposed for deployment at sensitive airports include Computed Tomography Explosive Detection Systems (CT-EDS) machines and Dual Generator X-BIS machines.

Also read: 14 airports in India have Ambulift facility for aircraft with reduced mobility

“Directions have been issued for the minimum technical specification for perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS). It has been installed at airports in Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore… The full body scanner at all airports is planned in a phased manner with all hypersensitive and sensitive airports on priority basis,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh said on 8 December told Lok Sabha. .

The deployment of radiological detection equipment (RDE) at airports is also planned in phases. India is one of the fastest growing civil aviation markets globally and the country’s domestic air traffic has been over 4 lakh passengers in recent days, and is now above the pre-pandemic level.

(With agency input)