So it was the privacy concern that pushed the backscatter machines into the warehouse, not the radiation concern. But yet many TSOs are more than happy to inform passengers that the MMW machines are not the backscatter radiation ones, so no concerns.
$14 million worth of backscatter machines are now in storage, but the TSA spent $40 million for backscatters. Where is the delta? Still in the field or written off?
Also note, "Sanders couldn’t say how soon the software would be updated for the warehoused scanners." That means an intent still exists to use these machines in the field if the stick software can be made to work.
__________________ "The goal of terrorism, you see, is not to make a nation bleed but to make it fear." - Leonard Pitts, Jr.
I think the biggest joke is the claim of an "80-second patdown". I've never had a patdown waste less than three minutes of my life, including the time spent waiting for the one-striper to finish his donut and come grab your nuts. Typically, it's at least a five-minute deal for me. I can speed it up somewhat by intentionally blocking the line and refusing to put my belongings through until I'm able to join them on the other side, but not by much. Besides, doing that prompts an even harder nut-shot.
__________________ Every increment of radiation exposure produces an incremental increase in the risk of cancer.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ND Sol
So it was the privacy concern that pushed the backscatter machines into the warehouse, not the radiation concern. But yet many TSOs are more than happy to inform passengers that the MMW machines are not the backscatter radiation ones, so no concerns.
$14 million worth of backscatter machines are now in storage, but the TSA spent $40 million for backscatters. Where is the delta? Still in the field or written off?
Also note, "Sanders couldn’t say how soon the software would be updated for the warehoused scanners." That means an intent still exists to use these machines in the field if the stick software can be made to work.
There's still quite a few of the Blue Cancer Boxes in use out in the field - PHX still has them in use (and I don't see T4 at least getting MMW as I don't think it would fit).
__________________
The comments and opinions expressed here are my own, and are not an official representation of Delta Air Lines.
The backscatter machines were pulled three weeks ago from New York's LaGuardia and JFK, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles, Boston, Charlotte and Orlando airports. The move was designed to speed up security lines at checkpoints there.
Sanders said it's worked and that lines at those airports are now moving 180,000 more passengers each day.
I find this confusing. Were the TSA lines the gating factor in keeping 180,000 passengers from flying each day? According to A4A, 2.4 Million Passengers will fly on 11/25/2012. 180,000 passengers is 7.5% of that figure. An average travel day in the US looks to be roughly 1.8 million passengers. 180,000 is 10% of that figure.
What did those 180,000 people do? Wait in line until it closed/they missed their flight, then try again another day? Decide not to fly?
Maker of Airport Body Scanners Suspected of Falsifying Software Tests
Quote:
Rapiscan has a contract to produce 500 machines for the TSA at a cost of about $180,000 each. The company could be fined and barred from participating in government contracts, or employees could face prison terms if it is found to have defrauded the government.
It’s not the first time Rapiscan has been at the center of testing problems with the machines. The company previously had problems with a “calculation error” in safety tests that showed the machines were emitting radiation levels that were 10 times higher than expected.
The move was designed to speed up security lines at checkpoints there.
Nice spin.
They didn't remove them to speed up lines, but there is some truth to it.
Fewer full body gropes after the BSX and there are folks who opt-out of the BSX who do not opt-out of MMW (although there are so few who voluntarily opt-out that it isn't really a factor in overall time).
The business about 180k more people per day was hogwash. Maybe he was trying to say that they are capable, based on time saved, of processing that many more people a day, but as it stands, there's no way his statement makes any sense at all.
Except the 'full-body scanner' would NOT have found the underwear bomb, and it wasn't 'discovered', either.
Do they think we're that stupid?
Plenty of people shuffle into the NoS wearing socks, too...and the NoS won't catch anything attached to the soles of the feet, like those famous ceramic knives (that could take down a plane how?) or, for that matter, razor blades or molded nastiness...
