LCY is the first UK airport to introduce full-body scanner

12th October 2016

Enaie Azambuja

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London City Airport (LCY) has successfully introduced a state-of-the-art millimetre-wave full-body scanner which will help further increase the speed of security screening and detection at the airport. The Quick Personnel Security scanner R&S QPS200 from Rohde & Schwarz completes a scan in just a few seconds and automatically detects potentially dangerous items.

The open plan design of the equipment means passengers simply stand in front of the scanner with their arms held slightly away from the body. If the scanner reports an alarm, the location of the object is marked on a graphic of the human body, with a neutral display preserving the privacy of passengers.

The introduction of the new scanner will help ensure the airport experience for passengers is quick and efficient, whilst maintaining the airport’s customer proposition of 20 minutes from the front door to departure lounge, as part of a £2 million security investment.

Melanie Burnley, Director of Customer Experience at London City Airport, said: “Each day approximately 10,000 departing passengers pass through our central security search area and we constantly look at ways to improve the screening experience, including the use of new technology.

“The Rohde & Schwarz body scanner is one of the best in the industry and is easy for passengers to use, meaning we can keep their time in security to a minimum and also quickly detect any prohibited objects.”

Frank Mackel, Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz UK, said: “We were easily able to install the scanners during a weekend down period. They were live and ready for passengers on the Monday morning. The scanners proved completely reliable, working continuously during the trial other than in scheduled downtime. They integrated well with LCY’s processes and systems. This pilot scheme demonstrates that we have a future proof technology and, with the expansion of LCY now approved, we are looking forward to working with LCY in the future, trialling and testing new techniques and protocols with body scanners. This successful deployment at a major airport is a springboard for expanding our technology in the UK.”

The security scanners have been certified by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), and are already the preferred choice for security checks based on millimetre-wave technology within German federal facilities.

R&S QPS millimetre-wave technology operates in the frequency range between 70 GHz and 80 GHz and there is no health hazard associated with the R&S QPS transmitter, which is hundreds or even thousands of times lower than that of a mobile phone.