FAA Orders Baggage Scanners

<I>Washington, D.C.</I> - The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered 54 state-of-the-art explosives detection systems-a contract worth $52.2 million-to upgrade security at the nation's busiest airports.

The order for the InVision CTX-5000SP, the only equipment of its type to be officially certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to inspect checked baggage, stems from the recommendations of the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security, headed by Vice President Al Gore. The CTX-5000SP operates similar to a medical CAT scan by creating computer images that are automatically analyzed in sections. If the equipment identifies objects that might contain explosive materials, it automatically sounds an alarm, alerting the operator to evaluate the findings.

The FAA also has placed orders for a number of trace detection systems, which are able to isolate mere particles of explosives in carry-on luggage or in items such as laptop computers. These systems will be used to bolster the government's anti-terrorist program at airports as well.

A special FAA task force is charged with spending $144 million during fiscal 1997 as the first step in an overhaul of aviation security. Many parts of the new program will be visible to travelers, such as the use of EDS systems to search carry-on bags, but other parts are behind the scenes, such as stricter checking of security passes for airport and airline employees.

InVision, a Foster City, Calif., company, is to deliver the first CTX-5000SP in January, and all 54 units are scheduled to be in place within 12 months. The FAA declined to identify the airports that will use the units.

FAA acting administrator Linda Daschle said her agency has an option to purchase additional CTX-5000SP units in 1998, which could bring the value of the contract to InVision to $110.9 million.

Meanwhile, Gore's panel convenes today in Washington for the International Conference on Aviation Safety and Security in the 21st Century. The three-day conference agenda includes scores of industry, academic and government experts who will debate the direction of airline safety, security and the nation's air traffic management system. Based on the findings of the experts, the Gore commission will issue a report in February that will outline policy recommendations for U.S. aviation security and discuss options for a stable, long-term source of funding for the FAA.