Security Screening Facility

Abstract

A security screening facility for a location in which passengers travel from a check-in location within an in-secure area of a terminal to a secure part of the terminal for eventually boarding a transport vehicle. The facility includes a prefabricated building located alongside the terminal which houses body scanning apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from United Kingdom Application Serial Number 1003248.0 filed Feb. 26, 2010 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a security screening facility. More especially the invention relates to a security screening facility separate from the airport terminal and including security measures to meet up-to-date legislation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To combat increases in terrorist activity, increasing amounts of legislation within the aviation sector is being introduced globally to require electronic screening equipment, not only for baggage, but also for human passengers. It is increasingly likely that similar requirements will be imposed for travel by sea and rail.

In many countries the logistics of complying with requirements for human body scanners and other increasingly advanced technologies are considerable. Many airports are faced with significant levels of expenditure and disruption to meet the requirements. Moreover, the majority of airports simply do not have the space to accommodate new systems and apparatus that will be required.

The applicant's earlier patent application no. PCTGB2004/003823 discloses a baggage screening system that provides a pre-fabricated building constructed next to an airport terminal that houses explosive detection screening apparatus. This allows for the baggage to be screened in an entirely separate area to those where the passengers are located and move between. On-site people in the baggage screening facility are thus restricted to only those necessary for the screening process and/or physical inspection of the bags.

Recent legislation in many countries now requires, or will require, further security checks in the form of human screening apparatus. The present invention seeks to provide an improved baggage screening facility to take into account such new legislation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect invention there is provided a security screening facility for a location in which passengers travel from a check-in location within an in-secure area of a terminal to a secure part of the terminal for eventually boarding a transport vehicle, the facility comprising body scanning apparatus housed within a prefabricated building located alongside the terminal.

By “in-secure area” it is meant part of the terminal (for example an apart terminal) accessible to the general public who are not necessarily travelling to or from the airport.

By “secure area” it is meant part of the terminal that is only accessibly to the travelling public and authorised personnel.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a security screening system for a location in which passengers travel from a check-in location within an in-secure area of a terminal to a secure part of the terminal for eventually boarding a transport vehicle, the system comprising diverting all passengers from the insecure area of the terminal to body scanning apparatus housed within a prefabricated building alongside the terminal and re-introducing the cleared passengers back into the secure area of terminal for eventual boarding.

Preferably the facility also includes other passenger and hand baggage screening devices

Improving the functionality of the baggage screening facility detailed in the applicant's earlier application enables all passenger and passenger related items to go through strictly controlled processes in a consolidated screening area that is exclusively administered by security personnel.

It also allows airports to fast track consolidated security facilities thus freeing up retail and operational floor space within an existing terminal and enabling the screening authorities to enjoy far more efficient staffing economics. The facility is quicker and cheaper to install compared with conventional builds within existing terminals.

The prefabricated building housing the security screening apparatus may be accessible from the non-secure part of terminal via walkways.

The prefabricated building housing the security screening apparatus may provide access to the secure part of terminal via secure walkways.

Preferably, the pre-fabricated building also includes baggage screening and explosive detection screening apparatus.

The building may have a number of levels through which passengers and/or items of baggage travel.

The facility may also be used to screen transiting or transfer passengers and their carry-on bags as well as their checked baggage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing,

FIG. 1, in which is a schematic plan view of a security screening facility constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For ease of explanation, the following embodiment is discussed in the context of aircraft and airports. It is to be understood, however, the invention also has application for road, rail and sea transportation.

Systems in accordance with the invention enable screening of passengers about to board a plane, as well as items of baggage to be held within an aircraft hold and/or to be taken on the plane as hand luggage.

The building illustrated in FIG. 1 is a conventional prefabricated building 1 which can be erected on site adjacent to a main terminal building of an airport in a relatively short period of time at relatively low cost. The walls, roof and other structural items of the building are prefabricated at a remote location and transported in sections for assembly on site. Minimal footings are required, the building being able to stand alone on an existing base or airport tarmac. The building 1, when constructed, is designed to withstand heavy winds, rain and snow and substantial seismic activity. The building specification typically includes HVAC for explosion detection screening (EDS) units, heat and lighting and a generator with transfer switch. Fire and security systems may be installed if required.

If the building is to house a manual system in accordance with the invention, it is ideally sited between an exit from a baggage hall of an adjacent terminal building and aircraft gate/stands and is connectable to a power supply of the main terminal. Such a building 1 is shown in the FIGURE. The illustrated building comprises prefabricated walls 2, covered by a pre-fabricated roof (now shown). Doors for allowing passengers into the building 1 from a non-secure part 3 of the airport terminal are shown at 4.

Screens 5 or other queue control devices are located near to the entrance doors 4 to steer passengers along a chosen route through the screening apparatus (as can be seen by the arrows). In the embodiment shown in the FIGURE three identical screening areas are shown. Each area includes firstly roller beds 6 feeding an x-ray unit 7 linked to a monitor 8.

Passengers are directed first through a screening arch 9 followed by a full body scanner 10. Some or all passengers may then be diverted to pat-down booth 11 before exiting the building 1 into a secure area 12 of the airport terminal.

A separate body scanner control room 13 may also be located within the building 1.

For airports having several terminals or for regional or even national groups of airports, only one control room may be required. Appropriate IT systems allow these remote locations to be controlled from a central point thus restricting on site staff to those necessary to undertake physical inspection of the passengers to monitor the x-ray machines.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of security screening systems in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A security screening facility for a location in which passengers travel from a check-in location within an in-secure area of a terminal to a secure part of the terminal for eventually boarding a transport vehicle, the facility comprising a body scanning apparatus housed within a prefabricated building located alongside the terminal.

2. A facility according to claim 1 further comprising other passenger and hand baggage screening devices housed within the facility.

3. A facility according to claim 1, wherein the prefabricated building housing the security screening apparatus may be accessible from the non-secure part of terminal via walkways.

4. A facility according to claim 1, wherein the prefabricated building housing the security screening apparatus may provide access to the secure part of terminal via secure walkways.

5. A facility according to claim 1, wherein the pre-fabricated building also includes baggage screening and explosive detection screening apparatus.

6. A facility according to claim 1, wherein the building may have a number of levels through which passengers and/or items of baggage travel.

7. A facility according to claim 1, wherein the facility may also include means to screen transiting or transfer passengers and their carry-on bags as well as their checked baggage.

8. A security screening system for a location in which passengers travel from a check-in location within an in-secure area of a terminal to a secure part of the terminal for eventually boarding a transport vehicle, the system comprising diverting all passengers from the insecure area of the terminal to a body scanning apparatus housed within a prefabricated building alongside the terminal and re-introducing the cleared passengers back into the secure area of terminal for eventual boarding.

9. A facility according to claim 8 further comprising other passenger and hand baggage screening devices housed within the facility.

10. A facility according to claim 8, wherein the prefabricated building housing the security screening apparatus may be accessible from the non-secure part of terminal via walkways.

11. A facility according to claim 8, wherein the prefabricated building housing the security screening apparatus may provide access to the secure part of terminal via secure walkways.

12. A facility according to claim 8, wherein the pre-fabricated building also includes baggage screening and explosive detection screening apparatus.

13. A facility according to claim 8, wherein the building may have a number of levels through which passengers and/or items of baggage travel.

14. A facility according to claim 8, wherein the facility may also include means to screen transiting or transfer passengers and their carry-on bags as well as their checked baggage.