TSA adds EDT Portals.(Transportation Security Administration to purchase explosives detection trace portals from Smiths Detection and General Electric Co.)(Brief Article)

Airports International, August, 2005

Following successful evaluation of explosives detection trace portals at 14 cities airports, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is pressing ahead with this technology's wider introduction following an order for 44 more EDT portals. Their deployment began during July with ten additional airports inducted into the programme. TSA is purchasing 25 trace portal machines from Smiths Detection and 19 from General Electric.

By October, TSA will complete the first wave of EDT deployment to airports in Charlotte, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, New York, Palm Beach, Pittsburgh, San Juan and Washington DC. The TSA anticipates deploying 100 additional machines by January 2006, thereby ensuring that the 40 busiest airports handling 80% of all traffic will be covered.