TSA considers stricter electronic screening
With the dreaded laptop ban still on the cards for travel into and out of the US, the country is now also mulling the possibility to require air travellers to unpack carry-on bags for TSA inspections.
This is according to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly who told Fox News over the past weekend that the US “might” ban laptops from the cabin on all international flights into and out of the US.
Kelly added that the US is going to raise the bar for aviation security much higher than it currently is. He explained that despite carry-ons going through x-ray and other screening machines, the TSA can’t tell what packed items are a threat and which ones are not. Therefore, the TSA “might and likely will” roll out increased security screenings for carry-on bags.
The TSA is currently testing tighter screening of carry-on bags at 10 airports in the United States, with the possibility of expanding the new procedures to other airports around the country.
Passengers travelling to these airports will be asked to place electronics larger than a cellphone in a bin separately for X-ray screening. TSA officers may also advise passengers to place other carry-on items separately in a bin.
In a statement the TSA said it believes this could be a more effective way to detect potential problems, by placing these items in separate bins for screening. These devices include tablets like iPads and e-readers.
The new procedures are being tested at the following airports:
Boise Airport (BOI)
Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)
McCarran International Airport (LAS)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
(Excerpt from the ASATA News)
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