Canada Airports Get New X-Rays For Carry-On Bags

November 27, 2009 6:12 a.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - The Canadian Air Transportation Security Authority will install 145 x-ray machines in five airports across the country to provide multi-view images of air passengers' carry-on bags. The CATSA will spend $27 million on the machines to be installed at the gateways in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Halifax.

The authority has started to install 31 machines at the Vancouver International Airport. By 2010, it will install a second batch of the new x-rays at the airports in Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg.

The new machines are expected to facilitate the inspection of carry-on bags and speed up checking-in for travelers. It will provide airport personnel a multiple view of the bags' contents, unlike the present machines which allow only a top view.

The new x-ray machines are made by a British firm that manufactures security devices for military and civilian institutions to detect chemical or biological agents. It could detect explosives in liquids and gels.

Aside from the modern x-ray machines, the CATSA is trying on a pilot basis in several Canada airports pre-board screening trials, particularly new procedures for passengers who set off metal detector alarms, new pat-down techniques, bigger x-ray bins and different locations and roles for screening staff.

CAT Senior Vice President for Operations Yves Duquay said in a statement, "CATSA is always looking for ways to enhance the passenger experience by making airport security screening as quick and convenient as possible. This pre-board screening trial will give us an opportunity to put innovative ideas to the test in real-life situations, and to gather valuable input from screening personnel as well as the traveling public."