The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) has begun installing new state-of-the-art advanced technology computed tomography (CT) scanners in a phased approach in the two checkpoints.
Installation of the first unit of the new equipment began today in the West Checkpoint and another will be installed in the West Checkpoint two weeks later. One unit will then be installed in the East Checkpoint in October. This approach will lessen the impact on the screening operations, but passengers traveling on airlines using the West Checkpoint should allow for extra time in the coming weeks. Once construction starts in the East Checkpoint all passengers will use the West Checkpoint until the East Checkpoint’s new unit is active.
“We always advise passengers to arrive at the airport two hours before flight time,” said Kim Jackson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the State of Mississippi. “This guidance is especially important during these upgrades to our equipment. TSA’s people, processes and equipment keep you safe every day.”
“CT units apply a sophisticated algorithm as they generate a 3-D image of the contents of the carry-on bag,” Jackson continued. “A TSA officer can rotate the 3-D X-ray image on-screen to allow for a better view of the bag’s contents, ultimately reducing the number of bag checks that are required.”
When a carry-on bag is screened through a CT scanner, travelers can leave everything in their carry-on bag, including electronics larger than a cell phone and 3-1-1 liquids in their bags. The opening to the X-ray tunnel on a CT unit is slightly smaller than on a traditional X-ray unit so TSA advises travelers not to force larger items into the tunnel, but to ask a TSA officer for assistance.
Another feature of the CT scanner system is that every carry-on item including suitcases must be placed in a bin for screening.