New airport screening machines for airports | 06.07.2006 | 08:20:13 | Views: 4836 | ID: June 7 '06: The Transportation Security Administration reported Monday that five new airport screening machines which are smaller, more portable and cheaper than conventional screening machines were sent to be used at Kansas City International Airport. The Reveal CT-80 machines were designed "to address requirements at smaller and medium-sized airports," according to Richard Curasi, the TSA's Federal Security Director in Kansas City. According to the Kansas City Star, "KCI is one of 22 airports that have or are about to have the machines. Others include John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Newark Liberty Airport," in New Jersey. The smaller, cheaper machines make it easier for local and smaller airports to afford the security upgrades. And that money will be coming after a Homeland Security Appropriations bill passed on Tuesday night by the House of Representatives. $173 million was earmarked in the bill for procurement, installation and maintenance of new equipment at airports and security check points. The machines installed at KCI were bought through a federal TSA grant totaling $24.8 million and in total 72 machines were eventually acquired and sent to international and regional airports after field testing. Other airports include Albany, NY, Memphis, Tenn., Bangor, Maine, Charleston, SC, Norfolk, VA and Billings, Montana. "Inside the Reveal CT-80 machines, bags are X-rayed and scanned for explosives or any kind of explosive residue. ... The Reveal CT-80 machines are about 8 feet long, 4 1/2 feet wide and almost 5 feet tall. Each weighs 3,700 pounds and costs about $340,000," the Star reported.
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