WATCH: Akron-Canton Airport Shows Off New Security Checkpoint
The checkpoint is four times bigger than before and includes the newest security technology
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Akron-Canton Airport officials say the new, roomier Transportation Security Administration checkpoint will really up the customer's overall experience at the airport.
"Along with safety, we also have an important priority, and that's our customer experience," said Rick McQueen, president and CEO of Akron-Canton Airport. "Make no mistake, every decision we make as an airport centers on how that decision impacts our customers."
McQueen gathered with airport staff, several legislative representatives and members of the media Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of the checkpoint, which boasts of four lanes (expandable to six lanes), the newest security technology and an up-to-date look.
New technology includes two millimeter wave Advanced Imaging Technology units (shown in the accompanying video), which are equipped with image-free technology that can detect objects of concern while protecing customer privacy.
Before the airport could expand its security checkpoint, it first had to move the food court from one side of the main concourse to the other — a $1.1 million project. The airport celebrated the grand opening of the new food court in August.
The entire airport renovation, including relocating the food court and expanding the security checkpoint, cost a total of $2.3 million. That money came from federal airport improvement program funds, passenger facility charges and airport operating revenue.
Those renovations fit into CAK's 2018 plan. CAK 2018 is a 10-year, $110 million capital improvement program that kicked off in 2008 and positions the airport for the future, McQueen said.
jim
1:45 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
If we can not profile then this improvment is the next best choice. Great to see Rick McQueen doing well.
Bill Fisher
7:58 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
These have a privacy screen on the display. The naked image is still in the system and is just covered up to get passengers to use them.
These are the same scanners that Germany banned because they generated too many false positives and required unnecessary pat downs. This isn't an improvement, just further government invasion of our privacy and erosion of our rights.
They claimed the images were suitable for Readers Digest last year until the privacy software was installed on the millimeter wave systems. . In August Denver TSA area director Pat Ahlstrom, said the scans " were graphic, no doubt about it." The MMW scanners still produce the naked image but TSA has added a software overlay to hide the image shown to the public. The Rapi-Scan units will continue to produce the naked image.
Neither system has been demonstrated to be more effective than the metal detectors, which still are the predominant weapons detection used in airports. to protect private manufacturers’ profits. There is clearly an implication of corruption in the deployment of the scanners and warrants investigation by Congress.
Remember that TSA isn’t paying for the scanners, American taxpayers are, to the tune of $8 billion a year. Taxpayers are also paying TSA to strip search old women, grope children and harass them at checkpoints. The taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for to be abused, at minimum the airlines should at least foot the bill.
Mike Fiume
4:21 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I have been flying out of CAK for the past 10 years and really loved the convenience, parking, getting from counter through security to the gate quickly and efficiently, until my first encounter with the new security system last week. I was delayed 20 minutes as the new scanner triggered a false alarm on me. My hands were examined by another TSA officer, I was then instructed that I would need to wait for a supervisor to take me into a private room for a full pat down. Several minutes later, he arrived and I received my pat down. After that, my carry-on was sent back through and subsequently searched, my wallet sent back through, my shoes re-examined, etc. If these scanners do not work reliably, then why are we footing the bill for this equipment? I will likely look more closely at flight options from CLE in the future.