TSA Kicks Off New Security Scanner At DIA
Aug 4, 07, 10:14 pm
#1
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TSA Kicks Off New Security Scanner At DIA
Fido PaxPoint Expected To Help Keep Skies Safer
P-o-r-k..b-a-r-r-e-l. 
POSTED: 4:42 pm MDT August 4, 2007
UPDATED: 4:56 pm MDT August 4, 2007
DENVER -- Transportation Security Administration agents deployed hand-held scanners at DIA Saturday. Agents said Fido PaxPoint scanners can detect liquid explosives in sealed bottles. This means passengers can bring items such as breast milk and medication in containers larger than 3 ounces through security. For parents like Nicholas Olson, this extra security will be more of a convenience than a hassle.
"She gets hungry, she gets hungry. So I think it's a good idea and keeps from having to dump out the formula while you're waiting," said Olson.
TSA officials said Fido scanners analyze the vapors around bottles to see if there are traces of explosives. The process only takes a few seconds, so it shouldn't cause extra delays.
The $25,000 devices are new to DIA, but they've been tested at other airports around the country since May. TSA plans to put about 200 Fidos at other busy airports by the end of this year.
UPDATED: 4:56 pm MDT August 4, 2007
DENVER -- Transportation Security Administration agents deployed hand-held scanners at DIA Saturday. Agents said Fido PaxPoint scanners can detect liquid explosives in sealed bottles. This means passengers can bring items such as breast milk and medication in containers larger than 3 ounces through security. For parents like Nicholas Olson, this extra security will be more of a convenience than a hassle.
"She gets hungry, she gets hungry. So I think it's a good idea and keeps from having to dump out the formula while you're waiting," said Olson.
TSA officials said Fido scanners analyze the vapors around bottles to see if there are traces of explosives. The process only takes a few seconds, so it shouldn't cause extra delays.
The $25,000 devices are new to DIA, but they've been tested at other airports around the country since May. TSA plans to put about 200 Fidos at other busy airports by the end of this year.
Aug 4, 07, 10:38 pm
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Originally Posted by gj83
...I thought we already could have breast milk and medications in containers over 3 oz...
Aug 4, 07, 10:47 pm
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Originally Posted by N830MH
Yeah, it's still 3oz for breast milks. It is enough for that beyond checkpoint. If higher more than 3oz must placed into checked bags before you fly out.
Aug 5, 07, 12:02 am
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Originally Posted by essxjay
Lifted officially as of today, actually ...
Aug 5, 07, 7:43 am
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Originally Posted by n5667
I don't understand the point of rolling out a security measure that isn't in place at every airport - only as strong as the weakest link, after all.
Aug 5, 07, 7:53 am
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I will concede that I am not a chemist. However, something in the excerpt of the article that essxjay posted caught my attention because it sounds inconsistent. I thought the liquid explosives that so alarmed TSA were ordinary substances that when combined airside formed dangerous explosive compounds. The scanner will not alarm on hydrogen peroxide, for example, because there are no explosive vapors around a bottle of only hydrogen peroxide. Same for water, shampoo, etc. So if a bottle of a liquid or gel has not been opened, there would be no possibility of it containing an explosive. The scanner will be entirely useless for unopened packages. Am I missing something, or is this more fluff and pork barrel as essxjay so aptly observed?
Aug 5, 07, 11:19 am
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Originally Posted by PatrickHenry1775
Am I missing something, or is this more fluff and pork barrel as essxjay so aptly observed?
This is our unary liquid explosive countermeasure, intended to catch those transporting nitroglycerin who have managed NOT to blow themselves up on the way to the aieport.
We're still umm... testing our binary one.
Last edited by Wally Bird; Aug 5, 07 at 11:48 am
Aug 5, 07, 11:36 am
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Originally Posted by Wally Bird
This is a different threat, Citizen.
This is our unary liquid explosive countermeasure, intended to catch those transporting notroglycerin who have managed NOT to blow themselves up on the way to the aieport.
We're still umm... testing our binary one.
This is our unary liquid explosive countermeasure, intended to catch those transporting notroglycerin who have managed NOT to blow themselves up on the way to the aieport.
We're still umm... testing our binary one.
Aug 5, 07, 12:29 pm
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Originally Posted by Superguy
When I read that, I thought it said urinary at first.
OMNI to SG: Take it easy on those pun meds today, okay?
Aug 5, 07, 1:21 pm
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Now I'm really confused! They'll have these devices sitting around for the rare stuff such as breast milk ... but they'd still confiscate many water bottles, etc. with the device sitting there unused? 
