Area : SNET-L
Date : Oct 12 '95, 11:42
From : Chris Terraneau, 1:330/201
To   : Donna J. Logan
Subj : high-tech terror outp


 -=> Quoting Donna J. Logan to All <=-

 DJL> From: "Donna J. Logan" 
 DJL> Subject: High-tech terror outpaces the FAA
 DJL> Message-ID:
 DJL>  Date: Sun,

 DJL> 15 Oct 1995 10:38:33 -0400 (EDT) The television show 48 Hours this past
 DJL> week was about bombs and explosives... according to the show, the tests
 DJL> of the scanners currently installed in  airports are rigged so that
 DJL> they will pass inspection.  Turns out the  test device is a crude
 DJL> representation of a clock/dynamite device, which  the reporter
 DJL> described as looking like something out of a cartoon.  The  scanners
 DJL> are not able to detect the more modern devices utilizing plastic
 DJL> explosives.

Rats. Missed that show. There ARE scanners which will detect plastic
explosives concealed under your clothes. I know. I was on the design team.
Trouble is they are expensive. About 100,000 dollars. And they can see your
body under your clothes, which makes potential users of the technology worry
about lawsuits.

 DJL> Even with the crude test device, the reporter was able to get thru
 DJL> "security" at two different airports with the device in her
 DJL> luggage...proving that current security is a joke.

Current security IS a joke. The FAA has not kept up with the technologies
available. I particularly like how they allow the images of baggage to be seen
by everyone at the airport. Now, it is easy to see what can, and what cannot,
be seen.

 DJL> Also, it was pointed out that only baggage going into the baggage hold
 DJL> is  put thru the scanner....carry on luggage is not (so they
 DJL> claim...altho  the last time I was on a plane - a couple of years ago -
 DJL> my carryon plus  my purse WAS scanned, plus me personally...so I don't
 DJL> know what airports  are not scanning carryon).

They were probably talking about the Thermal Neutron Activation (TNA) device.
You can't use it on people, as they will be subject to thermal neutrons
(nasty!). You can't use it on carry-on either, because all the bags remain hot
(radioactive) for about an hour afterwards.

 DJL> Anyways, they showed a new, highly technological scanner which CAN
 DJL> detect  plastic explosives, etc....but it was claimed the machine costs
 DJL> over a  million dollars, which is why airlines won't buy it.

That's the TNA machine, built by Scientific Applications International. It
takes 45 seconds per bag, and has a 40% false positive rate.

 DJL> So...why doesn't the government require the device be installed by the
 DJL> airport, the cost to be shared amongst all the airlines utilizing that
 DJL> airport?

They almost did. The FAA had drafted a mandate, then withdrew it at the last
minute, after it was finally revealed that the machine was not reliable, and
too costly.

It turns out that it is the airlines themselves who have to buy and staff the
inspection equipment. So, you can imagine all the opposition to new, expensive
technologies.

 DJL> And all flyers, regardless of carrier, would be required to
 DJL> have all luggage scanned tru?  Seems to me the savings in reduced
 DJL> security personnel and reduced wait times would be made back in short
 DJL> time.

In the end, Airborne Immunoassay sniffers will be deployed. A few years away,
probably. Very cost-effective.

 DJL> Or is there ANOTHER reason to stop travelers and demand they show ID?

They'll fix that with implantable ID chips, or at least a national ID card.

Regards,

Chris



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