Aviation Security Facilities

Millions of people fly every day. Most ofthem have no intention of harming anyone. But there is always the possibilitythat a terrorist or a criminal is hidden among the masses. To avoidthese problems, each passenger, baggage and cargo that will board an aircraft wouldhave to pass the security checkpoints. There are metal detectors, X-raysystems and other security facilities there.

Almost all airports install thewalk-through metal detectors (WTMD). This kind of metal detector is based on pulseinduction. If there are metal articles on a passenger, a tone will set off.Under this situation, the passenger is asked to remove any metal objects andstep through the detector again. If the metal detector continues to indicatethe presence of metal, the security officer will use a hand-held detector tofind out the cause. The hand-held detector is also based on the pulse inductiontechnology.

       

Some airports are equipped with explosivetrace detection portals. This portal operates automatically todetect explosives. The system uses airflow to dislodge particles fromthe clothing of passengers as they pass through the portal. Partial samples andvapors can be analyzed for traces of explosives, or illegal drugs withinseconds.

While a person steps through the WTMD orportal, his carry-on items are going

through the X-raysystem. A conveyor belt carries each item across an X-ray machine. Since differentmaterials absorb X-rays at different levels, the screener is able to see distinctitems inside the bags through the image on the monitor. Screeners aretrained to look for suspicious items.

Since May 13, 2010, a hi-tech “glass” dooris helping Manchester Airport lead the world insecurity checks. The traditional archway metal detectors are being replacedwith “smart” gates. These automated glass doors act as advanced metaldetectors. All passengers walk through them and stand in a holding area. If themetal detector does not trace anything suspicious, a green door opens withintwo seconds and passengers can proceed. But if the alarm sounds, the red laneopens and passengers are then asked to go through one of the new body scanners--- anyone who refuses to do so will be barred from travelling. It means theairport will be the first in the world to stop searching passengers by hand,replacing it with the advanced metal detectors and controversial “naked”scanners. This body scanners use low-energy X-ray imaging technology to scanpassengers. Using this equipment, security personnel will be able to “seethrough” clothes of passengers in order to identify the

possession of guns, bombs, liquid explosives andother dangerous items. This instrument is a high-tech security equipment toupgrade the existing version, with which you can detect what the ordinary metaldetector cannot.

A survey showed that 78% of the respondentsconsidered body-scan screening

acceptable, and84% of the respondents thought that the whole-body scanner security

apparatus will prevent terrorists from carryingexplosives on board. Some people think the whole-body scanning technology willinvade the privacy of passengers if out of control; nude personal perspectivesmay also appear on the Internet.

 

                        New Words and Expressions

criminal ['kriminəl]                 n. 罪犯, 犯罪者

detector [di'tektə]                   n.侦察器, 探测器
install [in'stɔ:l]                     v.安装, 安置

pulse induction                      脉冲感应

portal ['pɔ:təl]                      n.正门，入口

automatically [ˏɔ:tə'mætikəli]         adv. 自动地, 机械地

dislodge[dis'lɔdʒ]                   v.移去，取出

distinct [dis'tiŋkt]                   adj.清楚的, 明显的

suspicious [sə'spiʃəs]               adj.可疑的, 怀疑的

controversial [ˏkɔntrə'və:ʃəl]         adj. 争论的, 争议的

possession[pə'zeʃən]                n. 拥有

respondent [ri'spɔndənt]              n. 被调查者

apparatus[ˏæpə'reitəs]                n.装置，设备

invade[in'veid]                     v.侵略，侵犯

nude[nju:d]                        adj. 裸的，裸体的

perspectives[pəs'pektɪvz]             n. 透视图，全景

 

Task 1 Complete the following statements byfilling in the blanks after reading the passage.

1. There are __________________, __________________ and other security facilitiesthere when passengers pass the security checkpoints.

2. __________________ or __________________ are based on the pulseinduction technology.

3. __________________ operates automatically to detect individuals forexplosives.

4. While a passenger walks through the WTMD or portal, his/her carry-onitems are going through __________________ carried by __________________.

5. At ManchesterAirport, the traditional archway metal detectors are being replaced with‘smart’ gates --- __________________ since May 13, 2010.

 

Task 2 Talk about the following questionsafter reading the material and do some extended discussion.

1. How do the automated glass doors act as advanced metal detectors?

2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the new body scanners.

 

 

 

Learn more professional terms for your further study.

hand-heldmetal detector               手持金属探测器

personalsearch                       人身检查

manual/physicalsearch                 手工检查

belongings[bi'lɔŋiŋz]                n. 财物，携带物品

metalitem/object/thing                 金属物品

checkingtable                        检查台

restrictedarticle                       限制物品

aeratedbeverage ['eiəreitid] ['bevəridʒ]    碳酸饮料

alcoholicbeverage [ˏælkə'hɔlik]         带酒精的饮料

mineral['minərəl] water                矿泉水

yogurt['jɔɡət]                      n. 酸奶

liquidarticle                         液态物品

contraband['kɔntrəbænd]             n. 违禁品

prohibiteditems                      违禁品

toolkit                             工具箱

hairmousse [mu:s]                    摩丝

hairspray [sprei]                      发胶