Airport Security Screening: What Can They See?

The debate continues as to whether or not advanced airport screening is an invasion of privacy. While airports continue to argue that these measures are necessary in order to protect the safety of passengers, those awaiting a flight worry that the airport staff may be seeing too much. When your luggage passes through an airport scanner, do you know what objects become visible to the screeners?

We’ve come a long way from the 1970s, when sky marshals were hired to travel on-board flights to address potential hijackings. A few years later, the airlines realized that this was not an efficient way to tackle the problem and introduced the first screening system. By the mid-70s, all passengers and carry-on items were screened for safety purposes, with the screening itself performed by various sub-contracted security companies.

Following the 2001 attacks, airlines began limiting the items allowed on an aircraft and implemented stricter identification practices. The following year, airline security became responsible for using its own screening methods, with new explosive detection technology added a few years later. The GE company seized the opportunity to create a new airline system and so started the Secure Registered Traveler System. The system not only scans baggage, but also uses an advanced full body scan to check passengers for concealed weapons.

If you will be taking a carry-on, airport security will get a peek into everything you’ve packed. Of course, this is the only way for them to make sure you are not carrying any weapons, prohibited liquids, food or drink, or any other troublesome items. With weapons being the main concern, airlines suggest that you lay out electronics and other metal objects between two layers of clothing to make the process quicker and easier.

One of the newest technologies to appear is the Backscatter X-Ray machine, which uses radiation waves to search passengers for weapons. The machines cost approximately $100,000 and make use of a technology that reflects off of travelers and permeates right through their clothes. In essence, the passengers making their way through the Backscatter will appear unclothed to specially-trained airport security staff, causing many individuals to lash out at the concept. However, airlines argue that this is the most effective and time-efficient method available, and that the images behind the screen will only be viewed by a select few.