New Security Measures Begin At Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

All passengers at Pittsburgh International Airport are required to go through high-tech body scanners, first introduced to the airport last summer.

The scanners replace metal detectors and produce a two-sided image of the person's body to better detect any dangerous objects.

Passengers who do not want to go through the scanners will undergo a body pat-down instead.

Transportation Security Administration officials said the new technology speeds up the screening process and is less obtrusive. They said the device screens passengers for both metallic and nonmetallic threats.

TSA spokesperson Ann Davis said a low grade X-ray beam that can see through clothing collects an image for screeners. From there, an officer at a remote location looks at the picture before a passenger is cleared for travel.

“Once the officer views the image and ensures that it is safe, it’s cleared and gone forever,” said Davis.

TSA officials said the machines have helped decrease security line wait times.

The TSA is also now requiring that all passengers in the United States provide their full name, birth date and gender when purchasing a ticket.

Passengers who do not provide the required information, or whose names do not match their government identification, will not get a boarding pass.

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