NEWPORT NEWS -- Passengers flying out of Newport News will now have to go through a body scanner during the security screening process.
The Transportation Security Administration demonstrated the new technology installed about two weeks ago at the airport. It's called Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT).
"The benefit of it, it has enhanced security detection capabilities. It's capable of detecting potential threats, weapons or explosives that are not just metallic, but also non-metallic in nature," said Kawika Riley, TSA spokesperson. Unlike the Backscatter scanner that some airports have, the AIT does not generate any detailed body images of the passenger during the scan. If something questionable is detected, agents will see a yellow square on a silhouette of a body. "In other words, the technology self detects or autodetects whether or not there's a suspicious item on a passenger. No image is ever viewed," explained Riley. The airport says no one has raised any concerns over the new equipment since it has been installed. "It's been a smooth transition. Passengers seem to be acclimating from it rather well," said Jessica Wharton, spokesperson for the Newport News Williamsburg International Airport. TSA says there are about 160 of the AIT scanning devices at airports across the country. Riley said that AIT will eventually make it to Norfolk International Airport, but he could not give specifics on when it will be installed.
