End of the Dreaded Airport Pat-Down?

End of the Dreaded Airport Pat-Down?

Could a new security tunnel released by the IATA mean the end of those embarrassingly intimate pat-downs we’ve come to dread?

June 8, 2011 4:15 by shafeer

Never one to count our chickens before they hatch, Kipp is actually genuinely excited about what could be the end of those extremely uncomfortable inconvenient and even embarrassing airport “security checks”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently released a prototype of the new and unobtrusive security system in Singapore. IATA Director General Giovanni Bisignani said the news system means “passengers should be able to get from the curb to the boarding gate with dignity.”

The way the system works, is the passenger, based on a risk-assessment biometric chip on their passport will be required to enter one of these three 21 foot long lanes: “known traveler,” “normal,” and “enhanced security.”

As the passenger walks through the tunnel they are scanned for the big bad things that airport currently make you undress and unpack for–yes that means no more taking off your shoes, watches, belts and LAGS a billion times before you board your flight. The system is apparently going to be tried out in 18 months.

Of course, while we are glad for the new system, we can very easily see how it can be problematic. Apparently those passengers who seem suspicious would be asked to go through the ‘enhanced security’ tunnel which includes one of those highly controversial full body scanners. Any guesses for which nationalities and religious orientations would most likely have to go through them during “random checks”?