TSA Removing Backscatter Screening from MCO?

[Greysword]

Hi everyone.

The Points, Miles, & Martinis blog is reporting the TSA is moving the backscatter x-ray machines from several major US airports to smaller ones. One of the reported airports is Orlando.

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/point...ns-removing-backscatters-from-major-airports/

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...-scanner-generic-outline-tsa-security-officer

http://transportationnation.org/2012/10/23/tsa-removes-x-ray-body-scanners-from-major-airports/

Backscatter X-ray info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backscatter_X-ray

While they are being replaced by different machines that do the same thing, at least the higher dose radiation will go away. Unfortunately, it may be coming to an airport near you.

Just wanted to pass this along.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

While they are being replaced by different machines that do the same thing, at least the higher dose radiation will go away. Unfortunately, it may be coming to an airport near you.

Just wanted to pass this along.

High dose? Really, being an alarmist?

You are subjected to more radiation in flight then from one of these machines.

 

[Greysword]

You are right, but in this age of sun block for everything, can't hurt to minimize exposure, right?

I just thought it was a quirky story that may effect our travels.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

High dose? Really, being an alarmist?

You are subjected to more radiation in flight then from one of these machines.

The level is is low, but it's ionizing radiation, which is considered carcinogenic. Never a good thing to be exposed to unnecessarily.

I have enough concern about backscatter X-ray body scanners that I opt out if I'm asked to go through such a scanner. (That means a pat-down instead.)

The European Union does not allow backscatter X-ray body scanners due to health concerns. In other words, the U.S. and the Europeans have reached different conclusions. That alone is enough to cause concern. See the following Time article:

http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/21/europe-bans-airport-x-ray-scanners-should-the-u-s-follow-suit/

If I'm asked to go a millimeter-wave body scanner (looks like a round phone booth), that's okay.

 

[lylone]

I don't see the validity of that article. I have been through these X ray scanners at both ATL and MCO in the same trip last December. So which is the large airport and which is the small?
To me it is really no big deal...except for coming back from Mexico earlier this year...I went through one and then had to have my legs patted down. I was wearing shorts... I guess they had to check my bare legs for prohibited items.

 

[MolonLabe]

The level is is low, but it's ionizing radiation, which is considered carcinogenic. Never a good thing to be exposed to unnecessarily.

I have enough concern about backscatter X-ray body scanners that I opt out if I'm asked to go through such a scanner. (That means a pat-down instead.)

The European Union does not allow backscatter X-ray body scanners due to health concerns. In other words, the U.S. and the Europeans have reached different conclusions. That alone is enough to cause concern. See the following Time article:

http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/21/europe-bans-airport-x-ray-scanners-should-the-u-s-follow-suit/

If I'm asked to go a millimeter-wave body scanner (looks like a round phone booth), that's okay.

Europe approves much more tech and medical devices/procedures years and years ahead of the US FDA.

The fact that Europe has banned them speaks volumes IMO.

The original testing was also done at about 10% of the power that is currently used. The TSA has, internally, just done a 10x the initial readings and extrapolated that way.

Anyone who knows a little about radiology knows that the higher intensity does not directly correlate in such a basic fashion.

That is why Europe has banned them, they actually tested them at the levels they are being used at.

I fly occasionally for conferences and I won't subject myself to them, the testing simply hasn't been done properly here in the US.

 

[Greysword]

I don't see the validity of that article. I have been through these X ray scanners at both ATL and MCO in the same trip last December. So which is the large airport and which is the small?
To me it is really no big deal...except for coming back from Mexico earlier this year...I went through one and then had to have my legs patted down. I was wearing shorts... I guess they had to check my bare legs for prohibited items.

You are correct that the article does not apply to you, other than you may see a reduction of them in MCO.

That said, we recently received the millimeter scanners here in PDX (Portland, OR) but didn't have any scanners for some time. Since this is a mid-market airport, it would have been a good candidate for them (and maybe still is? ).

However, I'm not sure why you don't think the article, as a whole, for the DIS community would be invalid simply due to your origination and destination point. Could you clarify why the article is not valid for the DIS community?

 

[aubriee]

To me it is really no big deal...except for coming back from Mexico earlier this year...I went through one and then had to have my legs patted down. I was wearing shorts... I guess they had to check my bare legs for prohibited items.

That's funny! I guess Dallas is not the only airport to have TSA agents that don't have any common sense. I posted on here about a year ago about the TSA agent that decided my bare legs needed a pat down. I had already been pulled out of the regular line to go through the scanner, but then they said I needed the pat down too. Fine, I was wearing shorts and a thin tshirt. I assumed I'd be patted down from the shoulders down to the edge of the shorts. Nope, she rubbed both bare legs down too. I was on a flight from Dallas to Orlando.

 

[lylone]

However, I'm not sure why you don't think the article, as a whole, for the DIS community would be invalid simply due to your origination and destination point. Could you clarify why the article is not valid for the DIS community?

I don't think the article is that important because it seems that no matter what airport you go to they may have Xray scanners and you may be subject to having to go through them. And I don't think that MCO is considered a large airport and they have had X ray scanners for at least 3 years.

 

[CPT Tripss]

No one has to through either the xray or millimeter wave scanner. One can "opt out" and go get the alternate screening. Just be aware that the airport security screeners may try to convince you otherwise.

The other option is to case the checkpoint and get in line for the old style metal detector - there are still some of them out there.

aubriee - the type of screener you are seeking are few and far between.

 

[Greysword]

I...And I don't think that MCO is considered a large airport and they have had X ray scanners for at least 3 years.

According to the article, not any more

Also, it seems some DISers would be ok with the millimeter scanners more so than the backscatter scanners, so this may be an improvement if they are tired of the pat down.

 

[dioxide45]

It is more about speed than safety. They can move more people through the millimeter-wave scanners in the same amount of time vs the backscatter scanners. The backscatter scanners take longer to actually perform the scan vs millimeter-wave. My preference is the millimeter-wave for this very reason.