By Michael Hill
Correspondent
Just in time for the Thanksgiving crush of travelers, at 4:20 this morning, the Transportation Security Administration and United Airlines rolled out the first two automated security screening lanes.
“It allows multiple passengers to divest simultaneously whereby we can leverage the experience of the travel while allowing the slower traveler to take their time and not affecting the total through put on the lane,” said TSA New Jersey Security Director Thomas Carter.
The federal agency and the airlines then did a show and tell for the media. The lane has six spots for passengers. At the same time, they can all grab a bin 25 percent bigger than standard ones, load it, push it onto the conveyor belt, watch it roll toward a TSA screener for an X-ray. If something suspicious appears, the bin is diverted and goes to an agent with state-of-the art, high-definition technology to peer through the bag from several angles — a move the TSA wouldn’t allow us to record.
It also identifies what the object is?
“That’s correct. We can also track it for data analysis so that we can better educate passengers and as well as train our officers about what to look for,” Carter said.
With the new lanes, no more TSA agents having to haul and stack empty bins. The lanes do it automatically, rolling them back to where passengers need them.
This whole process is designed to be 30 percent faster for passengers and a lot more secure for the entire flying public.
“So, this is a very exciting day. Customer experience is going to improve in safety and efficiency and effectiveness of the TSA is also going to improve. It’s a win-win situation,” said United Airlines Executive Vice President Rick Hoefling.
Airports in Chicago and L.A. already have the new lanes. Newark is the first in this area with plans to have 17 installed by March, the dawn of the new age for airport screening.
“This is the start of it. This is innovation, this is looking at technology, looking at process, working together collaboratively with stakeholders to make a difference and make it better,” Carter said.
The TSA says it anticipates screening nearly 60,000 travelers at this airport tomorrow — more than the last two years — on the busiest travel day of the year.
A little advice: “You want to get to airports around here about two hours before your flight. This is going to allow you enough time to navigate the roadways around the airport, to find parking,” said TSA Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.
How about two and a half hours before your flight like this couple.
“We figured that a lot of people will be leaving Newark too so we got here early,” said Peter Jankunas of North Arlington.
“And we didn’t know if there would be a lot of traffic on the road either,” said Allyson Jankunas.
Old-fashioned planning as the TSA and United launch new technology to meet a huge demand.