Airport boarding gate with built-in explosives detector unveiled

Sigh. Flying used to be fun.

Seems like a decent idea to me especially since there are a good number of us who don't like the idea of increased random pat-downs. I am sure that if you set it off they aren't going to throw you in prison just for that. I would guess this this is used for initial screening and then if you test positive, they can take you aside to assess the threat. I think this is much more practicle than the random pat-downs which may completely miss the target because they are busy patting down someone else. A dog is also good and would love to see more of them at the airport!

rickyveeOct. 04, 2012 - 09:33AM JST

and i bet you that after one year of use, it will have saved ZERO lives and detected ZERO passengers who were making bombs.

And a quarter million false positives.

The nonsense goes on and one, now no one can not buy duty free on the airplane. Soon in America there will be a camera everywhere, random searches on the streets. The police state is already here. The US 4th and 10th amendments are no longer valid.

So, let's forget Hanabi.

and i bet you that after one year of use, it will have saved ZERO lives and detected ZERO passengers who were making bombs.

tmarieOct. 04, 2012 - 11:02AM JST

So scans and a pat down along with the already established security checks? I hope they're hiring more staff to deal with the time delays.

Delays are over-played. I still get through security in US and Japan within 20 min, usually within 5 min. Hell, it takes more time to get my shoes on and laptop back in the bag.

Domestic flights coming into Narita have to go through international checks - and let me tell you, it is ALWAYS full. And to make it better, domestic and international flight rules are different so.... issues and long lines. Always connecting, always checked in well before I need to be.

I've used Narita domestically. It was actually very fast, far quicker than anything in the US, and absolutely no different than any other Japanese airport. Hardly any issue if you add 0s to the total time spent (since nobody needs to stop on this machine, which is at the gate not the security checkpoint)

YuriOtaniOct. 05, 2012 - 01:08AM JST

The nonsense goes on and one, now no one can not buy duty free on the airplane. Soon in America there will be a camera everywhere, random searches on the streets. The police state is already here. The US 4th and 10th amendments are no longer valid.

This has nothing to do with the US, and everything to do with Japan, which already has random searches on the streets and the N-system that has cameras everywhere.

I hope they put these on the US bound flights only, why do the rest of the world have to follow up with all this mythical terrorist crap ?

saru_auOct. 04, 2012 - 10:26AM JST

I hope they put these on the US bound flights only, why do the rest of the world have to follow up with all this mythical terrorist crap ?

So how about the three dozen terrorist attacks on airliners BEFORE all the high profile ones now. Sure most are simply a knife or gun, but it's not like terrorist attacks haven't happened.

tmarieOct. 04, 2012 - 12:06PM JST

I've had a few close calls at Narita going from domestic to international and have been pulled out of lines and just made the flights. I'd rather not miss a one every day/two day flight due to airports not hiring enough staff.

There is a little thing called the two hour rule and one hour rule. For international flights plan to get there 2 hours before your flight, and 1 hour for domestic. Also plan to leave an hour and a half between international to domestic at least, though it is best to keep about three hours just in case.

I've been secondary screened, patted down, had bags opened, had bags sent three times through xray then opened, pulled out INSIDE the gate, and everything else in between. It does not take too much time if you are used to it, unless you end up in a two gate airport that runs 737MAX and try to board 10 min before departure, you won't have issues especially with this walk through system.

Have they checked this thing against "Mother of Satan", a peroxide based explosive that contains no nitrogen? Hint: Dogs don't alert on it; they probably think it is pickles or kimchi. It's so dangerous to make that the "cooks" are usually missing fingers.

This is a good technology invented for better security against terrorist.

They acknowledged that the machine also picks up people who legally work with chemicals with explosive characteristics, such as farmers using fertilizers and angina patients who take nitroglycerin.

This might caused problems and delays for passenger stated above. Will the security personnel look for their documents saying they are farmers, chemist, and prescripitons and whatever to prove they are no threats.

Just a thought.... :)

basroilOct. 04, 2012 - 10:57AM JST

So how about the three dozen terrorist attacks on airliners BEFORE all the high profile ones now. Sure most are simply a knife or gun, but it's not like terrorist attacks haven't happened.

well, this is Japan.. so how about "dozens" of terrorist attacks using explosives on airliners departing or entering Japan... or is that number closer to zero ? just because US wants to disturb nutcase regimes and incite terrorist attacks does that mean every country must suffer this myth that we are all under attack ??

thanks for adding that basroil. i forgot to mention that.

tmarie, this device is AT THE GATE. It has nothing to do with security checkpoints before your gate, so if this will increase your chances of missing a plane, you should have arrived earlier before they made final call.

Plastic hidden in your butt and the machine will smell nothing... Does it detect detonators?

Flying was fun BRA but we in the PRA. And, would a dog work just as well or better?

would a dog work just as well or better?

I'll send mine over to Narita immediately... (That used to be his job... and he did it very well !)

I think this is a step in the right direction, but I hope they realize certain medications may set up false alarms particularly heart medicine. As long as they have a good procedure set in place to investigate false alarms so as to not cause undue hardship on otherwise innocent passengers, I think all of this is good.

Saru_au,

" just because US wants to disturb nutcase regimes and incite terrorist attacks does that mean every country must suffer this myth that we are all under attack ??"

This is so true, beyond "blowblack", now there's "overspray" and "cross-contamination". Thanks Uncle Sam, NOT!

As a gardener, I guess I'll get singled out for growing eggplant, potatoes, peppers, and goya.

In YOUR experience. I'm stating otherwise. You could apologize for assuming I wasn't checking in with enough time.

LOL! That's a good one. Especially coming from you since many of your posts typically criticize others who have the temerity to experience things differently than you.

In all seriousness, look back over your posts and see how many times you have made a baseless assumption about another poster or criticized somebody for simply seeing things differently than you do. Go back and check. It will probably do you some good.

You assume things about others all the time and you are almost always wrong. How many times have you apologized?

Do not pack a jar of honey in luggage as it detects as an explosive bomb.

instantly analyses whether there are any explosive substances present,

Explosives aren't the only thing this can be programmed to detect. Pretty much anything. Drugs, excessive perspiration, you name it.

Remember that scandal a few years back when they started detecting trace amounts of cocaine on a large percentage of bills in the United States?

Let's say you shake hands with somebody that's been puffing on the magic dragon, then go through airport security. You could get busted for trying to smuggle drugs!

Anything you touch that could have been in contact with a "banned" substance can get you in trouble.

Suppose somebody built a bomb and left residue on the restroom door? BUSTED!

Suppose you spent the night with a lady with a substance abuse problem? BUSTED!

Suppose you drank too much coffee, and are sweating too much? BUSTED!

The possibilities for abuse with this device are ENORMOUS!

"When you exchange freedom for safety you get neither."

Bas, if I don;'t get to the gate on with a few minutes to spare, it is a pain in the butt. Get it? Narita from domestic to international is daydream under staffed - again, where is the apology??

So scans and a pat down along with the already established security checks? I hope they're hiring more staff to deal with the time delays.

bsroil, I'm glad you've had such luck. I've had a few close calls at Narita going from domestic to international and have been pulled out of lines and just made the flights. I'd rather not miss a one every day/two day flight due to airports not hiring enough staff.

People should just learn how to plan better and get to their respective gates with plenty of time to spare. If they can't do that then I guess they can always blame it on Japan if it makes them feel better.

There is a little thing called the two hour rule and one hour rule. For international flights plan to get there 2 hours before your flight, and 1 hour for domestic. Also plan to leave an hour and a half between international to domestic at least, though it is best to keep about three hours just in case.

Indeed there is but when you have already checked in say, four to five hours before the international flight and are transferring domestically... Ahem. I forgive you for assuming I was late in check in these times. Domestic flights coming into Narita have to go through international checks - and let me tell you, it is ALWAYS full. And to make it better, domestic and international flight rules are different so.... issues and long lines. Always connecting, always checked in well before I need to be.

I've used Narita domestically. It was actually very fast, far quicker than anything in the US, and absolutely no different than any other Japanese airport. Hardly any issue if you add 0s to the total time spent (since nobody needs to stop on this machine, which is at the gate not the security checkpoint)

In YOUR experience. I'm stating otherwise. You could apologize for assuming I wasn't checking in with enough time.

Iasia, care to point out a case?

Interesting how you seem to think you know so much after two posts...