McCarran to have new explosives testing devices installed next year

Jace Radke and Ben Grove

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 | 11:22 a.m.

New technologies designed to check air travelers for explosives without subjecting them to a pat-down will be installed at McCarran International Airport on a test basis early next year, officials say.

McCarran Federal Security Director Dennis Clark said that work will begin next week to tape off areas and start measurements for two new explosive trace portal machines that use small puffs of air to check passengers for explosives.

"It's a belated Christmas present," Clark said. "It allows us to get people through screening faster because we don't have to spend the time to pat them down.

"I've talked to the federal security director at JFK (International Airport where the machines are already in use) and they are working great."

The machines look like a walk-through metal detector, and passengers are asked to stand inside the portal while several quick puffs of air are released. The portal is then able to analyze the air for traces of explosives and a computerized voice tells passengers when to exit, Transportation Security Administration officials said.

The machines take roughly 30 seconds to scan a passenger, TSA spokeswoman Jennifer Peppin said.

Elaine Sanchez, a spokeswoman for McCarran, said that the airport is looking forward to having the new technology lessen wait times while still safely screening passengers.

More than 40 million passengers travel through the airport annually, but only a small percentage of those passengers will experience the new technology, at least initially, because there will be only two machines at the airport. It is not known yet whether or not McCarran will receive more machines if they prove successful.

Clark said that the two trace detection machines will be set up on security lanes at the D and C Gates.

The $731,000 machines will likely be delivered to McCarran early next year, Peppin said.

McCarran is one of 16 model airports selected for the technology out of 70 airports across the nation that applied.

Another new technology that Clark would like to see at McCarran is an X-ray scan known as a backscatter. Some of the 16 test airports also received the backscatter machine, that takes an X-ray of a traveler to reveal any weapons or metal objects on their person.

"Originally these (backscatter) machines were showing a little too much, but now they have them set to where they kind of just show a cloud where the person is and pick out any metal objects," Clark said."

Dennis Clark

MCCARRAN FEDERAL SECURITY DIRECTOR