New Explosive Detection Technologies

I. Introduction

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, airport security has become an increasing important issue within the department of homeland security. Over the past five years, many improvements have been made to increase security at all U.S. airports. These improvements include the addition of more TSA passenger and baggage screeners, new and improved screening methods, an increased number of federal Air Marshals on domestic and international flights, increased identity verification of passengers and airport workers, and tighter restrictions upon which items may be contained within passenger's carry on luggage. However, many improvements still need to be made in order to provide the most secure environment possible at every U.S. airport. The deployment of new airport security technologies, specifically new explosive detection devices, will serve to better protect America against further acts of terrorism. However, this increased security may come at great sociological, economic, political, ethical, and psychological costs to everyone who passes through one of our nation's more than 400 airports.

II. History

Explosive detection has been used in airport for years. Canines have always been the first line of defense against explosives in airports. In 1973, the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, Explosives Detection Canine Team Program began with 40 canine teams placed at twenty different airports across the nation (TSA: Program History & Description). These canines were used to check luggage and goods loaded onto passenger aircraft but, due to time and money constraints, were not used to check all luggage loaded onto U.S. planes. Later, in 1997, explosive detection in airports became more technologically advanced. The FAA purchased fifty-four CTX-5000 SP explosives detection systems, or EDS, designed to scan checked baggage (Anderson, Teresa). The airports that did use this technology were able to check baggage for contraband in a much more efficient manner. However, all luggage taken onto an aircraft was not required to be inspected for explosives until 2002. In 2002, Congress directed the Federal government to screen all checked baggage for explosives prior to being loaded on to a commercial passenger aircraft by December 31, 2003 (Young, Don). As a result of this mandate, today every bag that goes through a U.S. airport is scanned for explosives, making our airports much more secure.

But even though explosive detection systems for luggage have been deployed and implemented at all U.S. airports, passengers have not been placed under as much scrutiny. In December 2001, Richard Reed attempted to destroy an airline flight from Paris to Miami by concealing explosives within his shoes (Levin, p.03A). By concealing the explosives on his person, the "shoe bomber" bypassed all detection points at the airport. Were it not for other passengers who saw him trying to light the fuse, his attack would have been successful. New technologies, such as the Smith's Ionscan® Sentinel II and the GE Ion Track Entry Scan®, allow Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, screeners at airports to detection even minute traces of explosives on all passengers who pass through security checkpoints. For the purposes of this analysis, the Smith's Ionscan ® Sentinel II will serve as the primary technology discussed.

The Sentinel II screens passengers for explosives from head to toe. First, the passenger enters the portal for examination. The portal resembles a door frame style metal detector, but has a gate which prevents the passenger from exiting the portal before the sequence has been completed. Second, the Sentinel II uses gentle puffs of air to dislodge any particles trapped on the body, hair, clothing and shoes. After dislodging them, the Sentinel collects the particles through a vacuum. After collection of the particles, analysis begins. The system is programmed to recognize more than 40 different substances contained within all explosive material. Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry, after only a few seconds, the system notifies the screener of any detection made, and the passenger walks through the exit gate.

III. Current and Potential Uses

Since its introduction in May 2002, the Smith's Ionscan Sentinel II detection portal has been installed at several high threat and high profile facilities in the United States, Canada, Greece, and Mexico. It can be used at airports, high-profile government buildings, customs checkpoints, nuclear facilities, prisons, and court houses. Current deployments including the CN Tower in Toronto, also known as the world's tallest building, three major Washington D.C. metro-area airports, Newark Liberty International, JFK International airport, and Sacramento International airport (Smiths Detection Upgrades Sentinel II Detection Portal). According to a May 2006 press release, twenty eight airports in the United States are now using air portal detection technologies (Brown, p. 542).

Potentially, the Sentinel II could be deployed in all U.S. airports to screen every passenger who boards a plane. As stated earlier, all airports screen baggage for explosives, but only 28 airports use this type of technology on passengers. Letting passengers go unscreened before boarding a flight dramatically increases the risk of explosives being brought onto a commercial passenger aircraft. At the present time, most U.S. airports only require passengers to walk through a metal detector. Over the years, terrorists have improvised their means of destruction. Metal detectors no longer serve to prevent explosives from being detected on a passenger. Metal detectors are useful in detecting weapons, such as knives or firearms. However, explosives can be made out of items that do not contain metal, thus bypassing screeners all together. The implementation of portal detection systems, such as the Sentinel II, will serve to close the gap which exists in explosive detection today.

IV. Positives

The use of new portal detection technologies will positively influence airport security in many ways. Since the Sentinel II is a fully automated system, its implementation will reduce the number of TSA screeners needed to perform searches. Presently, screeners are used to operate x-ray machines, operate metal detectors, and perform random searches of passengers and baggage that appear suspicious. The use of portal screening will rule out the use of random searches of passengers, since everyone will be searched by the portal detector. Presently at airports, passengers are required to remove their shoes before walking through