$400M in new security scanning equipment for CJIA

…to detect threats to civil aviation

Over $400 million worth of screening equipment was commissioned at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Saturday to help detect threats to civil aviation quickly and aid law enforcement to fight against narco-trafficking at the main port of entry.

The machines commissioned include an L3 Pro Vision Scanner ProVision ATD with Automatic Target Detection. It quickly screens passengers and automatically detects concealed objects made of a broad variety of materials — both metallic and non-metallic.

The passenger experience with the ProVision ATD is convenient, straightforward and efficient, requiring only a single stationary position during a less than 1.5-second scan.

Also commissioned was the CTX 5800 Checked Luggage Scanner worth GYD $290M. The CTX 5800 explosive detection system (EDS), which is TSA certified, quickly identifies threats in checked baggage. A single X-ray generator provides high-resolution 3D images for quick and accurate threat, making it ideal for airports, such as CJIA.

This unit replaces the Rapiscan 528, which was commissioned at CJIA more than 16 years ago. Guyana is one of the few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that have deployed this new technology at the airport.

Added to this is two Smiths HI-SCAN 6040-2is Hand Luggage Scanners worth GYD$64M. This equipment is a Dual-View X-ray Inspection for hand luggage and is reliable for the automatic detection of solid and liquid explosives in personal belongings and cabin baggage.

There were also two Rapiscan 620 Dual View Hand Luggage Scanners worth GYD $36M. They are designed for aviation and high-security applications and approved for automatic detection of solid explosive software and Automatic Liquid Explosive Identification. The equipment are work

More equipment included the GYD $15M IONSCAN 600 Portable Explosive & Narcotics Trace Detector and Closed Circuit Television Cameras.

The pieces of equipment are built-in, state-of-the-art technologies and were funded by the CJIA Corporation with support from the Guyana Government. The machines have automatic detection capabilities and will allow the screener to manipulate and further examine anomalies detected in passenger luggage. Two of the new screening equipment will be deployed at the Passenger In-transit and Staff Screening Points.

According to a release from the CJIA, along with the changes, in-transit Passengers will no longer have to clear Arrivals Immigration and be escorted to the Departures’ Terminal to board their connecting flights. These passengers will enter directly into the Departures’ Lounge after being screened at the In-transit Check Point.

Meanwhile, employees of the airport will be screened separately from passengers, thus improving the processing time for each flight. This is a much-needed and welcomed service and will assist the concessionaires in promptly scanning their goods/merchandise.

In the future, the CJIA hopes to purchase additional equipment to enhance its security capabilities. These include body cameras for security staff and bottle scanners for liquids.

“The Government of Guyana remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment to the travelling public. We will continue to invest in human resources and state of the art equipment, in this regard,” the release stated.