The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has designated Smiths Detection’s explosives trace detector (ETD), IONSCAN 600, as Qualified Technology on its Air Cargo Screening Technology List (ACSTL). The approval will allow the IONSCAN 600 to be purchased and used as part of global screening operations by regulated air cargo facilities.
Since 2021, the TSA has mandated 100% screening of cargo being transported by aircraft originating in the US and destined for non-US locations. In addition, the International Civil Aviation Organization air transportation standards also mandated that international cargo-only flights receive the same level of security screenign and scrutiny that cargo shipments on passenger flights currently undergo.
“We’re thrilled that the IONSCAN 600 is now qualified on TSA’s ACSTL,” said Inder Reddy, President Smiths Detection. “This will allow operators to gain from efficiencies and heightened security offered by our proven technology in air cargo security. Already widely used by airports around the globe, the IONSCAN 600 is a leading trace detection system thanks to its reliability and speed.”
As well as promoting faster screening with detection analysis delivered in less than eight seconds, the IONSCAN 600 features highly sensitive trace system to detect explosives at nonogram levels, is both compact and fully portable enabling it to be used in dynamic screening environments and is specially designed to race swabs for efficient particle pick-up. Other benefits include non-radioactive source ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), minimal training due to the simple interface and low maintenance costs due to there being no requirement to replace dopants and recalibrate.
