Press Releases

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYTransportation Security Administration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   -  August 3, 2004TSA Press Office: (571) 227-2829

TAMPA, FL. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)announced today it has begun an operational test and evaluation of an explosivestrace detection portal at a passenger security checkpoint at Tampa InternationalAirport.

In June, TSA began testing at T.F. Green State Airport, Providence, R.I., andGreater Rochester (N.Y.) International Airport, and in July at San DiegoInternational Airport.  In the next few weeks, machines will be introducedto air travelers at Gulfport-Biloxi (Miss.) International Airport.

The portal, the GE EntryScan3, is designed to analyze air for traces ofexplosive material and will be evaluated for effectiveness in the airportenvironment.  The tests will be conducted for 30 to 45 days at eachairport.

"TSA, in keeping with its vision of exploiting technology to its maximumadvantage, is now deploying these Entry Scan Trace Portals to test theircapability and enhance our security process for passenger screening," saidDario Compain, TSA Federal Security Director at Tampa.  The testing ofthis technology here at Tampa is made possible through a continuing partnershipwith the airlines and officials at Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

At Tampa International, passengers who enter the checkpoint lane with thetrace portal machine will place their carry-on baggage on the conveyer belt tobe screened by X-ray, and then be asked to step into the trace portal.  There,passengers will stand still for a few seconds while several quick puffs ofair are released.  The portal will analyze the air for traces of explosivesand a computerized voice will tell passengers when to exit.  Passengerswill then go to the walk-through metal detector and collect their carry-onbaggage from the X-ray.