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Bad News for Aussie Airports: No Body Scan, No Fly

Where: Australia
February 7, 2012 at 9:16 AM | by | Comment (1)

It seems so long ago that American airports began introducing full-body scanners for passengers to be randomly selected before passing into the secure gate area. What also seems from long ago is the issue of privacy the machines posed with the revealing images. Well, after our outright concern, abhorrence, acceptance, and return to the concern, another continent joins the scanner controversy: Australia.

Down Under follows the US and Europe, and will adopt the same "gingerbread man person" technology, which displays an outline of a gender-less person only highlighting areas of risk. Parliament also promises that all images are discarded after each passenger. We have heard this all before.

The surprising, and perhaps disconcerting, issue of the entire roll-out is the adoption of a strict "no scan, no fly" rule. Simply put, if you are happily flying home through an Australian airport and get "picked," you are required by law to be scanned. There are some exceptions to the rule, but most perfectly healthy travelers will have no choice.

Currently, airports and security checkpoints in Oz have a drastically different feel from those in the States. Imagine not having to remove your shoes or belt and still being allowed to bring through a Costco-size bottle of shampoo. It's like that. Plus there's very little groping and even less suspicion, which will continue to be a theme for Aussie domestic terminals.

By the end of the year, plans are to have all 8 international airports fully operating the scanner machines. After spending a considerable amount of time on trials and even more money on the machinery (ballpark figure of $28 million AUD), Australian officials are confident in the government mandate to secure the skies. We're just hoping to avoid any Australian versions of wacky TSA stories, like this one and this one

[Photo: sfcitizen.com]

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Return to » Bad News for Aussie Airports: No Body Scan, No Fly


I don't know what all the fuss is about.

I've seen the images the machines produced and the reality is that I have seen way more detailed bits and pieces on Bondi Beach. Given over 51% of the Aussie adult population is overweight, chances are the people complaining don't really have much worth perving on anyway... just sayin. Bring on the scanning! If it makes air travel more safe then I'm all for it.
outandabout on February 7, 2012 at 10:05 PM #Permalink

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