The Impact of Technology on Airport Security

15th Jul 2010

Airport security measures are the bane of many travelers lives but, hold on, help is at hand through new technology.

At least that is what the authorities at JFK Airport in New York, USA are telling travelers as they pass through the rigorous security measures in The Big Apple.

While waiting to go through security [ everything out of pockets, belt off, shoes off ]at JFK this writer spied two interesting notices.

The first informed travelers that the JFK authorities were working on technology to allow full body scanning without taking off your shoes, belt and jackets.

The second said they were working on technology that would allow computers to pass through the scanners in their bags.

How long this will take is anyone's guess, but it does show that the US authorities are working on streamlining the strict security measures that they, quite rightly given September 11 and continued threats, they have put in place.

Which brings us to the whole issue of biotechnology and how it is being used by airports for security, health and safety and legal reasons to track people as air travel continues to be the preferred form of international travel.

The best example of using biotechnology to safeguard both travelers and civilian populations are in the SARs, bird flu and now H1N1 [swine flu] cases.

In this regard Thailand is a very active leading exponent. When SARs hit six years ago, Thai Airways, for example, introduced some of the most stringent measures of any airline that won praise from the World Health Organisation at the time.

Now, with the H1N1 virus THAI has, again, taken a lead by introducing a deep clean fumigation aircraft sterilization on flights from 15 high risk countries and it is also changing the on-board True Hepa air filters more regularly. These filters are used in hospital surgical units and ensure air is 99.999% particle-free and pure.

The irony is that no H1N1 has been officially reported on any commercial airlines. It was the same with SARs. The infections have either occurred at the source [ Mexico in the case of H1N1 and China in the case of SARS ] or when people have arrived at the end of the flight'but not in flight.

Still, you can never take enough precautions, which is what THAI and the airports under the Airports Authority Of Thailand have been doing with thermal scanners being used to screen arrivals at airports.

At Phuket International Airport they have been scrubbing and cleaning to ensure an H1N1 free airport. In fact the Phuket Gazette reported that PIA had advised travelers to sing 'Happy Birthday,' a song that takes the same amount of time [ 20 seconds ] as it does to wash and dry your hands, one of the best things you can do to guard against H1N1.

So take heart. The security measures in places like the US may get less onerous soon and in Thailand the measures to combat the so called pandemics are well in hand.

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