My first experience with the blower device that I suppose is meant to detect explosive material on an individual. It was at EWR A-2 flying CO. They had 2 lanes set up - one with the blower, one without. It was kinda funky: 4 successive blows from top to bottom - one sent my tie flying up into my face.

It was very badly organized in that the blow-machine was placed well ahead of the metal detector and therefore ahead of the entrance of the x-ray, so you had to push your things down the track and a TSA bloke had to actually put your things into the x-ray, since you couldn't actually get there.

Funniest thing: The TSA was getting miffed because the people at the entrance were sending all of the elites to the non-blower lane, and all non-elites to the blower lane. (I am CO elite, but went in the non-elite line because it was shorter.) Anyway, since the blower process takes 3x as long as the non-blower, the lane was getting unnecessarily clogged. It was still not that long a wait, but I found the confrontation between TSA and local security to be kinda funny.

Did they make you take off your shoes?

Just out of curiousity, what did this machine look like? I encountered a new machine in Terminal C of DFW that was after the WTMD that looked like a booth with feet prints inside. Was wondering what that was as everybody didnt have to enter it.

--DD73

Does it happen to look like this?
http://www.geindustrial.com/ge-inter...entryscan.html

That looks like it, except the ones at DFW had glass doors on the exit side that I would think opened up to let you out when you were done.

I didn't see anybody having to go through it, so I'm assuming it is part of secondary screening if you get pulled aside for some reason.

--DD73

I was "randomly selected" to go through it at SFO (no SSSS, just someone asking me to step aside at random), and I declined. In retaliation, they gave me a full-blown secondary going through all my stuff.

Between the people patting me down and going through my things, x-raying my shoes, etc., at least it cost them a good half dozen pairs of gloves and a complaint form.

Yes, the one in DFW-C is a GE Entryscan. My guess is that it is used for secondary, like in San Diego, since there is only one of them at the checkpoint.

I can't help look at the photo without thinking of it as a crude 1st iteration of what is to come in the way of "non-intrusive" searches.

Kind of like the 1st phonographs compared to an iPod.

The future will be interesting both in the devices that are built and in the creep of what privacy people will give up inch by inch.

"the blower" -- that's a funny name.

It's been called "the puffer" in a couple of other threads. I'm not sure which is best.

Encountered this machine in Puerto Rico last week. Three TSA lines but only one was open -- everyone was sent through the "blower".

This model was different from the other model I have been through. No doors just an arch with yellow feet painted on the floor.

Shoes had to be removed -- TSA was monitoring the luggage area and moving bags and trays through the x-ray machine. So I lost control and sight of my luggage and my laptop.

Very lucky the line was short as machine seems to have a long recycle time.

Had to wait for TSA to give permission to enter, then "blown", then watch the red countdown clock (just lights moving in a circle), then swinging arm opened and I could walk on. Took at least 45 secs per person.

I asked TSA about it and they said it was installed just this week. They acted like kids with a new toy at Christmas.

Seems there are a number of versions of these machines cropping up.
On arrival at the new DFW D ( International Terminal ) last week, after I refused to take my Eccos off (the soles are about 1/2 inch) I was told by the supervisor that I was selected for exactly that refusal.

Sent over to the machine which consisted of glass sides and entrance and exit doors which closed automatically a short time after I entered and opened again after the puffing. The entire process seemed to be automatic.

As much as I hate to say it I would much rather deal with that than the pat-down, at least I dont have to listen to any BS from the machine.
mike

P.S. they didnt require me to remove my shoes

so if you're getting "puffed" or "blown", do you also have to go through the metal detectors? The new machines just check for explosives right, so then metal is still an issue?

I haven't had to pass through the one in PHX yet, but it does seem to be a bit of a pain for everyone to go through unless they play on increasing the number of lanes to 2x the number of metal detector lanes.

I was at EWR A concourse a couple weekends back...the way the line was setup, it appeared everyone had to go through the 'blower' - and the line backed up quite abit. What most people didn't notice, was the almost empty line without a blower that could be found way down at the end, near the entrance to the concourse - only a few other people found it, so it moved quickly. At least this avoided the non-english speaking ID 'checker' who would start yelping loudly if he directed you to the blower line and you 'took another direction' instead

For some reason, I can't get through EWR without some altercation with those nasty numnuts, so I was accused of "snatching" my boarding pass out of the hand of the screener after I cleared the WTMD. Next time I will be sure to gently caress her hand and make flirty eyes before I ask for my boarding pass back

30-45 seconds per pax is way too long for this process...in order to get acceptance for these machines, the scan time must be reduced.

yes you still have to be "metaled" but as long as you don't alarm, that's it. no worries about having to take your shoes off and the tsa rep who guards your bags while you are getting puffed, put's them at the front of the line after you exit and you get to go thru the wtmd as soon as you exit as well-at least that's how it works at the ua terminal at sfo and it is generally quicker to get puffed (even in the elite line).