Munich Airport Upgrades Hold Baggage Screening

Developments in baggage screening technology and the necessity to comply with forthcoming legislation have brought together the fine resolution of medical scanning and the explosives detection of traditional machines. Morpho (Safran), through its subsidiary Morpho Detection, has announced a contract with the District Government of Upper Bavaria for the deployment of its high-speed CTX 9800 DSi explosives detection system (EDS) at Munich International Airport.

Once deployed, the computed tomography (CT)-based system will be used to screen all passenger checked baggage - referred to as Level 1 screening - for selected high-risk flights. In addition, the unit will be used to help Munich Airport prepare for a full transition to Standard 3 explosives screening capabilities in accordance with approaching European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) mandates.

The CTX 9800 DSi introduces a new data acquisition system that delivers unprecedented high-resolution 3D images. This high-resolution imaging engine, called Clarity, represents the culmination of years of aviation security experience around the world combined with GE Healthcare's work in 3D CT technology for high-resolution medical scanners. The combination of these two capabilities generates high-resolution 3D images that afford finely detailed views of baggage contents and precise algorithmic calculations, providing an increased ability to identify threats, reduce false alarm rates and lower operational costs.

Virtual Reality Inspection
The user interface helps operators maximize the value, detail and threat separation that high-resolution 3D images can provide. With the ability to visually travel throughout the bag and fully manipulate images, operators have more information and flexibility than ever before. Combining high-resolution 3D images with advanced navigation tools enhances the analysis of details and specific structures of suspected threats by maximizing the information available to make efficient and effective security decisions. Utilizing a flexible network architecture, this system can be collaboratively combined with other platforms such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The fusion of multiple sensors increases the breadth of threat detection and alarm resolution capabilities, which can enhance the security of the combined system.

The manufacturer has already supplied Munich and other airports in Germany with XRD-based EDS developed in Hamburg for more than 10 years. "We are thrilled to continue working with Munich Airport and local aviation security authorities to integrate advanced hold baggage screening capabilities through the deployment of the first CTX EDS in Germany," said Karen Bomba, president and CEO. "By reducing false alarms and time-intensive manual inspections of checked luggage, this system is delivering on our commitment to help airports prepare for approaching regulatory mandates and security challenges." In addition to meeting EU Standard 3 requirements, the highest standard set by ECAC, the CTX 9800 is certified by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Nearly 2,000 units of the CTX series have already been shipped worldwide.