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.