New technology that confirms the validity of a traveler’s identification and confirms their flight information in near real time is now being used by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at several security checkpoint lanes at Boston Logan and Sacramento international airports.
Boston was one of the first airports in the nation to test Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) scanners last fall before they were rolled out to other airports. TSA has 25 CAT units in use at the airport.
“The technology enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents such as driver’s licenses and passports at checkpoints and increases efficiency by automatically verifying passenger identification,” says TSA’s Massachusetts Federal Security Director Bob Allison. “The system will also confirm the passenger’s flight status in near real time through a secured connection.”
When a traveler hands the TSA officer their ID, the officer places it in the CAT unit, which scans the ID and informs the TSA officer whether the ID is valid. Travelers who approach the TSA travel document checking podium do not have to show their boarding pass because the CAT unit verifies that the traveler is prescreened to travel out of the airport for a flight that day. Even with TSA’s use of CAT, travelers still need to check-in with their airline in advance and bring their boarding pass to their gate agent to show the airline representative before boarding their flight.
This technology will enhance detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents at the security checkpoint.
CAT units authenticate more than 2,500 different types of IDs including passports, military common access cards, retired military ID cards, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID cards, uniformed services ID cards, permanent resident cards, U.S. visas and driver’s licenses and photo IDs issued by state motor vehicle departments.
A CAT unit consists of the passport reader, an ID card reader, a Federal personal identity verification ID card reader, a monitor, a stand and a UV light. Each unit costs approximately $27,000.
TSA plans to have more than 500 CAT units deployed at over 40 airports nationwide by the end of February. CAT units will not be installed at every checkpoint lane at any given airport.
In addition, it is critical that travelers have their REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other acceptable form of identification by the Oct. 1, deadline. The CAT units will not accept a driver’s license after Oct. 1 if it is not REAL ID-compliant.
