News

London City Airport introduces full-body scanners

12 Oct 2016 by Tom Otley
London City Airport body Scanner

London City Airport has completed the first UK trial of the Quick Personnel Security scanner R&S QPS200 from Rohde & Schwarz. The scanners are now in situ to screen passengers.

The body scanners differ from existing scanners as passengers stand with their arms slightly away from their body while the equipment completes a full body scan. As with existing scanners, the technology quickly detects the location of potentially dangerous objects, but the open plan design allows for quicker processing of passengers, according to the airport.

The open plan design of the equipment means passengers simply stand in front of the scanner with their arms held slightly away from the body. If the scanner reports an alarm, the location of the object is marked on a graphic of the human body, with a neutral display preserving the privacy of passengers.

London City Body Scanner

A view of the new body scanner at London City Airport.
The scanner is unoccupied and has not just vaporised the person who has been scanned.

Melanie Burnley, Director of Customer Experience at London City Airport, said:

“Each day approximately 10,000 departing passengers pass through our central security search area and we constantly look at ways to improve the screening experience, including the use of new technology.

“The Rohde & Schwarz body scanner is one of the best in the industry and is easy for passengers to use, meaning we can keep their time in security to a minimum and also quickly detect any prohibited objects.”

Frank Mackel, Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz UK, said:

“We were easily able to install the scanners during a weekend down period. They were live and ready for passengers on the Monday morning. The scanners proved completely reliable, working continuously during the trial other than in scheduled downtime. They integrated well with London City Airport’s processes and systems. This pilot scheme demonstrates that we have a future proof technology and, with the expansion of the airport now approved, we are looking forward to working with LCY in the future, trialling and testing new techniques and protocols with body scanners. This successful deployment at a major airport is a springboard for expanding our technology in the UK.”

The security scanners have been certified by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), and are already the preferred choice for security checks based on millimetre-wave technology within German federal facilities.

R&S QPS millimetre-wave technology operates in the frequency range between 70 GHz and 80 GHz and there is no health hazard associated with the R&S QPS transmitter, which is hundreds or even thousands of times lower than that of a mobile phone.

Londoncityairport

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