CHARLOTTE— Officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) today announced that automated screening lanes (ASLs) have been installed and are in use at security checkpoint E, located at the east end of the airport terminal.
This state-of-the-art technology enhances security efficiency while decreasing the amount of time travelers spend in the security screening process. Installation of the lanes was completed in December, and local officers have been training and certifying on the new technology over the last two months.
CLT paid for the testing, maintenance and installation of the five ASL lanes, which were then gifted to TSA for use inside the checkpoint.
“As part of the Airport’s capital improvement program, Destination CLT, we continue to incorporate innovative technology throughout the terminal to improve the passenger experience from beginning to end,” said Acting Aviation Director Haley Gentry. “We’re happy to partner with TSA to install the automated screening lanes at Checkpoint E, which will offer enhanced security for our local passengers as well as an expedited screening experience.”
“The installation of these automated screening lanes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport exemplifies the commitment by both TSA and airport officials to seek out and employ the most advanced security technologies to ensure the safety of our traveling public,” said Kevin Frederick, TSA Federal Security Director for CLT.
The ASLs include several new features designed to improve the screening process for travelers going through the security checkpoint including:
- Remote screening capability, which allows TSA officers to screen X-ray images of passenger’s belongings from a quiet area away from checkpoint;
- Bamboo countertops designed specifically to enable multiple passengers to place their items in bins simultaneously;
- Automated and powered rollers that move bins into the X-ray machine tunnel and return the bins to the front of the security checkpoint for passenger divestment;
- Automatic diversion of any carry-on bag that may contain a prohibited item; the diversion of a bag to a secure location allows other bins containing other travelers’ belongings to continue through the screening process uninterrupted;
- Bins that are 25 percent larger than a typical bin and are able to hold a carry-on suitcase;
- Unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that are attached to each bin, allowing for additional accountability of a traveler’s carry-on property as they move throughout the security screening process;
- Cameras that capture digital images of the contents of each bin and are linked side-by-side to the X-ray image of a carry-on bag’s contents.
TSA continues to collaborate with vendors, airlines, airports, and the counter-terrorism community to expand the number of automated screening lanes in use at airports across the country. To date, TSA has overseen installation of 231 automated screening lanes in security checkpoints at 18 airports nationwide.
Additional information on the new checkpoint technology can be found in the vendor’s press release.