Salisbury-Ocean City Airport gets new checkpoint technology equipment

Salisbury–Ocean City–Wicomico Regional Airport gets new state-of-the-art Advanced Image Technology checkpoint screening equipment

SALISBURY, MD -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has installed the latest checkpoint screening technology equipment at Salisbury–Ocean City–Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY).

With the addition of the new Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machine at SBY, the airport is able to further strengthen security for passengers flying out of the area. The machine is state-of-the-art equipment with automated target recognition software that uses bright yellow boxes to indicate to a TSA officer the location of an alarm on a generic “cookie cutter” image of a passenger. This way the officer knows exactly where to check for a possible threat item. If the machine indicates no threats, then a green screen appears that indicates the passenger is cleared to pass through the checkpoint.

The monitor on the left shows yellow boxes where the screening equipment has detected an alarm. The screen on the right shows that the passenger is clear to go. (TSA photos)

AIT technology is designed to enhance security by safely screening passengers for metallic and non-metallic threats—including weapons, explosives and other objects concealed under layers of clothing.

There is a generic image of all passengers who are screened through the new automated image technology checkpoint screening equipment. It’s the same generic image for all passengers, regardless of their gender, height or weight and is designed to enhance passenger privacy. The image looks very much like the outline of a cookie cutter.

Imaging technology screening is safe for all travelers, and the technology meets all known national and international health and safety standards. In fact, the energy emitted by millimeter wave technology is 1,000 times less than the international limits and guidelines.