HARRISBURG, Pa. — Travelers heading to the Harrisburg International Airport will encounter new technology while going through security.
On Thursday, officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled the new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) system at the security checkpoint. The new units can more accurately track ID's in real-time.
“This unit is so smart that it can detect things the naked eye can’t see," said Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson with the TSA. “Maybe the lettering is off as someone was trying to develop a fake ID, even if it’s by a couple of millimeters.”
Travelers will present the TSA officer with their ID and stand in front of a camera for a picture. The picture will confirm the traveler's identity and flight information without exchanging a boarding pass.
TSA officials say the technology adds another layer of security, while travelers note that it helps make checking in easier.
“It couldn’t be better," said John Grainger. "You just pop it in, it pops out, and you go.”
Grainger frequently flies to visit friends and family across the country. He said he's already experienced the CAT system at other airports. To date, more than 800 CAT units have been deployed to airports in the US.
He said it makes traveling less of a hassle by decreasing the amount of time standing in line.
“I used to time it about an hour-and-a-half to two hours before [my flight]," said Grainger. "Now if I’m at the airport an hour before the flight, I go right through the line and get on the plane. It’s just the way I like it.”
The picture taken by the CAT system is deleted after checking someone in. While the system allows people not to exchange their boarding pass with security, they will still need it at the gate before boarding their flight.
Security officials say the technology will assure that travelers stay safe as they fly out of Harrisburg.
“We want to make sure you are who you say you are, and that’s important," said Farbstein. "It’s one of our layers of security.”