This BIG Change Could Affect the Future of Airport Security in the U.S.

Everyone knows that the stress of traveling and flying can cause some headaches.

Orlando International Airport

Traveling isn’t always fun, especially at airports. Navigating rideshare services to pick you up can be pretty frustrating, and if you are parking your car, that comes at a cost. There can be delays or flight cancelations. Not to mention the LONG security lines for TSA. However, in the future, security might look very different, and it’s already starting at one U.S. airport.

In January, select passengers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas will begin testing a new self-service screening system from the Transportation Security Administration. According to the Washington Post, the setup will be like using self-checkout at the grocery store, but now, travelers will scan their own identification and carry-on bags instead of grocery items.

You want to avoid this at the Orlando International Airport

This process will allow PreCheck passengers to complete the screening process with minimal to no assistance from an airport employee. According to TSA’s website, “TSA PreCheck is an expedited screening program that makes risk assessments about passengers prior to their arrival at an airport checkpoint. TSA PreCheck enhances aviation security and provides a better travel experience. The program has expanded to approximately 200 airports across the country and millions of passengers have enjoyed the benefits of this program since its inception.”

Future airport screening concept design from 2015. Photo credit: S&T.

“The joint effort is focused on transformative research and development to increase security effectiveness and reduce checkpoint wait times, benefiting both passengers and TSOs,” Dr. Fortune, Screening at Speed Program Manager, said. “The passenger self-service screening technology aims to keep travelers and TSOs safer by minimizing person-to-person contact, reducing the number of bags TSOs have to pick up and move around, and allowing passengers to proceed at their own pace.”

Orlando International Airport

Additionally, a company called Micro-X is developing a pod-based design for passengers to use individual screening consoles consisting of a compact carry-on screening system and a flat panel passenger screening capability. The system provides feedback to the passenger if additional screening is needed. A second Micro-X effort includes developing a small Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray system for a compact carry-on and personal item self-screening solution.

Micro-X self-screening pod concept design. Photo credit: Micro-X.

TSA will also be giving the public a virtual reality walkthrough of the Micro-X self-screening system at their booths at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, according to the Washington Post. While this is only being tested in one airport, we hope more will come in the future. This could cut down those long TSA lines at airports.