GR travelers split on full body scanner

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Will the full body scanners make security at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport stronger, or will it just make lines at airport security longer? And just how much are security workers really going to be able to see?

The Transportation Security Administration demonstrated the Advanced Imaging Technology (aka: full body scanners) for the media on Monday morning. Security officials maintain the image can never be recorded and they are much "chalkier" than the very descriptive ones you may see on the Internet.

The machines look through your clothing to see if you're stashing anything that can't be picked up by a metal detector. Passengers stand with their arms up, while the machine snaps away, and then a security staffer views the image in a closed room.

"Our officer is looking for an anomaly, something inconsistent with the image. And they'll alert an officer to resolve that alarm," said Jim Fotenos of the US Department of Homeland Security.

Passengers, though, aren't sure what to make of it.

"That's a little too much. That's uncomfortable," traveler Emily Ensing told 24 Hour News 8.

Fellow traveler Alix Muniz said it's necessary, though, because "there are a lot of crazies out there." But Stacie Schifino doesn't "think there's a safety difference and I think this takes it to an extreme level."

Passengers waiting to get on Delta flights waited nearly 30 minutes to get through security, but TSA officials don't think the new scanners will make that worse.

"The longer portion of the screening process is really at the carry-on baggage," Fotenos said, "and the Advanced Imaging Technology is well within the same parameters of how long it takes to screen that luggage."

Passengers can opt out of a full body scan, but they'll instead by patted down and scanned with a metal detector.

Ensing said it "would be really annoying to have to come to the airport even earlier than you already have to" if the scanners add time to the checking in process.

In pilot programs, security officials said, only 2% opted not to undergo the full body scans.

The Ford Airport has one scanner at Concourse B, and another one soon for Concourse A.

Nationally, the federal government hopes to have 450 of these devices installed at airports throughout the country. Grand Rapids was chosen because it was ready to accommodate them quickly.

But even with all this advanced technology, passengers will still have to walk their own checked luggage through the security screeners.