As much as cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages encourage people to fly, being assured of passenger safety is another key factor in many potential travelers decision whether to fly.
Full body screening machines equipped with software to enhance passenger privacy will be installed in 29 smaller U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Airports scheduled to receive these new scanners include Akron-Canton in Ohio, Hilo International in Hawaii, Norfolk International in Virginia, Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional in Florida, and Plattsburgh International in New York.
In July the TSA announced that it would replace the controversial software being used by airport scanners that reveals detailed images of naked bodies with software than will not show passenger specific images. With the new software screeners view a generic online of a body on a monitor attached to a scanner. The software auto detects metallic and potentially threatening non metallic concealed items.
The scanners being placed in 29 smaller airports will use millimeter wave technology which uses electromagnetic waves to create images of bodies. Backscatter scanners, which emit low lever X-Ray beams to create body images are in place at select larger U.S. airports.
TSA believes that full body scanners improve passenger experiences at checkpoints with the added advantage that advanced imaging technology gives it the greatest opportunity to detect and deter evolving threats to aviation.
Currently almost 500 full body scanners have been installed in 78 U.S. airports. Plans call for 225 more machines to be installed in 2012. www.cheapfares.com