Security push calls for dual view X-ray system

Increasingly rigorous air transport regulations demand more sophisticated electronic checking equipment, requiring airports to upgrade their security technology. “But more cargo being screened does not necessarily mean more airport X-ray machines being sold,” says Aaron Chola of HAB International, one of Africa’s suppliers of airport X-ray equipment. “For example, a Rapiscan 632XR X-ray machine has a larger tunnel size than say a 628XR machine and therefore will have more throughput as it will accommodate larger parcels,” said Chola. “But generally, higher sales (of X-ray machines) means more cargo is being moved,” he added. “The other ways of checking cargo are sniffer dogs, explosives and trace detection, hand search and ‘maturation,’ where you set the package aside for 48 hours and hope it doesn’t blow up. But as regulations become more stringent the trend is toward X-ray screening,” he said. The push toward tighter security has come from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and guidelines have further been stiffened since an explosive device sent as air cargo from Yemen to Chicago was intercepted in Britain in 2010. What usually happens took place – a new set of guidelines already being implemented is now being accelerated. “South African cargo moving directly to the US must go by US guidelines. That influences our sales because now everybody in the cargo business has to acquire newer machines that meet the standards for screening these parcels,” said Chola, whose company services international airports in southern Africa. The technology is evolving to meet new regulations. For years, the single view system which shows the interior of a package from one angle has been used. “Now regulations by TSA, and the EU is following suit, require a dual view system – showing two angles of the same object. Although these systems may be higher in price than the conventional systems, they come with certain advantages such as increased screening throughput which results in reduced operating costs,” Chola said. While some airports in African countries also use X-ray screening, they do not presently need the latest technology because they cannot airfreight directly to the US and EU and usually fly via South Africa, where such technology exists or is being put in place. However, as these airports expand, they will also inevitably have to comply with these requirements.”