TSA Expands Pilot Testing Of AS&E's Privacy Enhanced Personnel Screening System

Billerica, MA - American Science and Engineering, Inc., a leader in X-ray detection technology, announced recently that its privacy-enhanced SmartCheck Personnel Screening System will be used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in its next pilot test of passenger screening systems at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). AS&E's SmartCheck provides optimum security by safely screening for a wide variety of threats concealed on a passenger, while ensuring their privacy. The SmartCheck system creates an image that looks like a chalk outline of the passenger with threats and contraband outlined, but does not reveal facial features. Additionally, the SmartCheck systems installed in LAX and Phoenix cannot store, export, print, or transmit images.

"We are pleased to begin another phase of testing with TSA and to assist in their mission to safeguard air travel," said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E's President and CEO. "SmartCheck provides TSA with a comprehensive, safe, non-intrusive, easy and highly effective way to detect plastic and liquid explosives, weapons, and other contraband while ensuring travelers' privacy."

TSA began piloting the SmartCheck system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in February 2007 for secondary screening, on a voluntary basis, and as an alternative to traditional pat-down searches. To date, approximately 90 percent of passengers have opted for screening using SmartCheck rather than undergoing a pat-down.

Assured Privacy

• SmartCheck's Privacy Image Provides Only an Outline: The privacy image provides operators with information to identify the nature and location of any threats, but it will not show revealing images of the screened individual. The privacy image shows an outline of the passenger and outlines any potential threats on the person, more like a chalk drawing than a real person. To view images from AS&E's SmartCheck system, please visit: http://www.as-e.com/products_solutions/tsa_z_backscatter_pilot.asp
• System Cannot Store Images: For added privacy to the passenger, the system is not capable of storing, exporting, or transmitting images, and all images are automatically deleted from the system immediately after they are reviewed.
• Remote Imaging Station: TSA has established a separate location for the security officer to view the images so that the officer never sees the passenger
• Voluntary Screening: SmartCheck scan is a voluntary option for passengers undergoing secondary screening as an alternative to the pat down procedures currently conducted by Transportation Security Officers at the security screening checkpoint.

System Safety

• Safe for All Screened Individuals and Operators: Since the SmartCheck system uses Z Backscatter X-ray technology; it is safe for both operators and scanned individuals. A person passing through the scanner will receive about the same amount of radiation as a person flying for two minutes at an altitude of 30,000 feet, or less than 10 microrem (0.1 microsieverts) per scan. SmartCheck meets the manufacturer's requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard N43.17, which is the standard that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) references for systems such as SmartCheck.

SOURCE: American Science and Engineering, Inc