With a pilot project in Terminal 2, the Southern Bavaria Aviation Office is ushering in a new era in passenger screening: The advanced technology installed in the two spacious testing lanes eliminates the need for passengers to take out permitted liquids or laptops. Along with the additional space and greater comfort, they benefit from a faster and more secure screening experience.
Up to four passengers at a time can place their hand luggage, jackets and other garments on the conveyor belt. After placing their items in the bins – which are larger than before – passengers can walk past slower-moving people and go straight to the next-generation body scanner.
Meanwhile their hand luggage will be passing through a state-of-the-art CT scanner that can do it all. Along with generating 2D and 3D images, this device can automatically identify solid and liquid explosives. For passengers that means: They can leave their laptops, smart phones and all permitted liquids in their hand luggage. Follow-up screening is necessary only if the CT scanner sounds an alarm.
The operator sits on a platform overlooking the screening lane. SGM, the security company at Munich Airport, performs the required security screening measures on behalf of the Southern Bavaria Aviation Office. On their monitors the SGM employees see the x-ray images from the CT devices. When an item is flagged "NIO" (not in order), or the screening is inconclusive, the bin is rerouted with a mouse click to a separate conveyor belt for follow-up screening by a colleague. After confirmation of the image as "IO", the luggage item is dispatched along the open belt to the waiting passengers.
When the walk-through scanner beeps, the problem is often the passenger's shoes. But now it is no longer necessary to take them back to the start of the main conveyor belt. Instead there is an additional x-ray system that can handle shoes, belts and other items that can trigger an alarm in the walk-through scanner – but not long baggage items or strollers.
Those who need a moment after screening can simply take the bin off the conveyor belt and turn around. They can then place their items on the table conveniently positioned there and take their time putting on coats and returning keys, etc. to their pockets.
If the operator selects "NIO", the luggage will be routed to a post-screening location. The bin remains on a special screening pad that recognizes the attached chip. This causes the corresponding x-ray image to be displayed on the monitor of the aviation security assistant, who can now take a closer look. He or she can use the software to separate laptops etc. from other items in the bag and rotate them in every possible direction on the screen.
Thanks to a combination of major innovations and minor tweaks, the entire screening process will be much faster than at conventional checkpoints. The project managers at the Southern Bavaria Aviation Office expect a big increase in hourly passenger throughput with the new screening lanes. Under the pilot project, testing of the new technology will continue until the end of 2019. If the project is a success, more next-generation double lanes will be added in Munich Airport's security screening areas.
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