Good Afternoon FT'ers....
As I am sure you are aware, by my screenname, I am a screening guard at YHZ...I have never flown out of, or into any American airport, and I would like to know what the screening procedure is like there...
We have some equipment that the flying public seems to be impressed by...I cannot specifically say what it does exactly..but its the machine we use when we take swabs off your laptop or your bag before we start searching inside it...
Could anyone tell me if they have that kind of stuff in the US airports? I was also told that at a couple of American airports, they have a machine, much like the regular Walk Through Metal Detector...but it puffs air at you..
Could anyone tell me more about this machine? if you know anything about it...I have heard about it but nothing more than it exists...
And new devices and Security equipment interests me...

We do have the "swab" machines here in the USA. They are referred to on FlyerTalk as ETDs, for Explosive Trace Detection systems. They are used for secondary screenings and are present in every airport AFAIK.

We also have the "puffer" machines, but apparently they have a very high maintenance requirement, so the TSA pulled the plug on the program. If you search for puffer in this forum you'll get some more details/threads about them.

*Nod* That would be the machine ETD...*nod* Its a pretty neat machine..I love using it,and I hate using it at the same time....It is a truly impressive machine....

One thing you will not find in US airports that it appears you have is a good attitude towards your job.

*nods* I like to think I do....I absolutely love my job..Although I know my job gets some people annoyed because they can't bring certain things but hey...Its not me that makes the rules I just enforce them..but yes..This screening job, is the only job I have had..and I have had quite a few in a couple of year's span...I actually enjoy waking up and going to work...I meet quite a few interesting people..have met several celebrities while I was working at the airport...and have...seen......strange..and...things I never thought I'd see, in people's carry on, and checked bags...especially women's purses...those things are nightmares to search lol

So please feel free to share with the forum ^

E