Oakland launches in-line screening

Port of Oakland and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials have showcased Oakland International Airport’s new US$16.4 million in-line explosive detection baggage screening system, which is being used at Terminal 2. With the new system, TSA screeners have increased average throughput from 250 bags an hour to over 1,000. Travel at the airport is up nearly 14 percent since TSA took over screening in 2002, necessitating the increase in capacity.

With the new system all checked bags are routed by conveyor belts to TSA's Explosive Detection System (EDS). These minivan-sized machines allow TSA screeners to separate innocent checked luggage from suspect bags. The suspect bags are then sent to a secondary screening area where they receive closer scrutiny by TSA screeners.

The system is fully automated, which reduces the amount of bag lifting for screeners and lessens work-related injuries and fatigue. The more efficient in-line process allows TSA to use fewer screeners for the checked baggage function. This frees up resources to handle increased passenger loads at the airport's two checkpoints and ensures that screening capabilities can expand to meet increased demand.

Oakland International is one of 10 airports in the U.S. – four of them in California – that currently offer in-line explosive detection screening systems. The airport handled 14.4 million passengers and over 671,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2005.