South America - Nude-o-scopes coming to SCL and EZE

Here we go! (http://en.mercopress.com/2011/01/18/controversial-body-scanner-to-be-used-shortly-at-ezeiza-and-santiago-airports)

Let the rant begin.

Before taking the scan, the passengers in question must sign a form giving their consent to voluntarily submit themselves for the examination. If a traveler refuses, the PDI must obtain judicial authorization before proceeding.

Santiago’s metropolitan health commission will soon review the machines to ensure they are functional and safe. Due to the machines’ use of radiation, the authorities must establish standards for the installation of the scanners for both the machine operators and the public.

If the machines pass the review, they will be ready for use in Santiago’s international airport in mid-February.

SOURCE: EL MERCURIO
By Amanda Reynoso-Palley santiagotimes.cl

(1) It is apparently more about drugs than terrorism.
(2) Apparently not a primary but a special circumstance device.
(3) Who knows how the special circumstance will be determined?
(4) Is judicial authorization just a phone call away or do you not fly that day?

No info if this is MMW or backscatter and this article like the MercoPress article mistakenly says it views "inside" the stomach when all it does is reveal something externally attached or disguised on someone's abodomen or other body area.

I recall reading about the Arica scanner about a year ago. I believe it was put into place and even donated to Chile shortly after a visit from the head of USA DEA.

Anyone flying out of SCL late February?

Anyone flying out of SCL late February?

I'm heading out on 25 Feb. I'll let y'all know.

Stupid freaking miserable so-and-so's getting all up in our biznis...

Here we go! (http://en.mercopress.com/2011/01/18/controversial-body-scanner-to-be-used-shortly-at-ezeiza-and-santiago-airports)

Let the rant begin.

:td:

Thanks however for the info...

I wish I could just take ocean liners and tell the aviation industry to go stuff it.

I think the machine is going to be used much like the one in Arica, as an alternative to the previous system of taking someone suspected of having swallowed little packages of drugs to the local hospital for an x-ray. I seriously doubt that it will be used on any sort of regular basis for random screening of passengers. If they do, I think there will be a division of perceived social classes in its use, making it doubly offensive. I would like to see them try putting an upper middle-class Santiaguina into the machine on the off chance of finding something. The aftershocks would hit Alaska.

The newspapers here did always attach the word controversial to the machine when reporting on it. But the drugs which come through the airport seem to use more sophisticated methods (a whole suitcase made out of compressed cocaine) than the swallowing of little packages, more common at the land borders in the north, so I don't really see that the machines would be much use at SCL.

I have two questions.....

a) where are similar machines being used in the USA ??

b) what do these babies cost and who is footing the bill(s)...????

I just started a thread over on the Argentina forums about this, should make for a couple of good laughs... :D

I just started a thread over on the Argentina forums about this, should make for a couple of good laughs... :D

Thanks for putting "porn" in the thread title...now I can't access it from work! :rolleyes:

I just started a thread over on the Argentina forums about this, should make for a couple of good laughs... :D

Slow day at the office?