Airport Security: The Plan to Allow Liquids on Planes Again
New technology promises the return of on-board liquids, but not anytime soon.
Oct. 22, 2010— -- Remember those days when you could bring a bottle of water or cup of coffee through airport security and onto your flight?
Unfortunately, those days are long gone for many fliers, after fears that terrorists would try and use explosive liquids to take down a plane.
But some time in the not-so-distance future passengers might be able to bring liquids on planes once again.
Currently, government security screeners have no technology to accurately tell the difference between soda pop and an explosive liquid. However, a team of scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico is working on the next generation of scanners that promise to be able to differentiate between a bottle of red wine and white wine.
Homeland Security officials recently demonstrated a prototype of the liquid scanner at Albuquerque's international airport. However, they warn that such devices are still years away for reaching airports.
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We will continue to push for a technological solution that relaxes the liquids policy while ensuring the safety of the traveling public," said Transportation Security Administration spokesman Greg Soule. "Currently, 3-1-1 rules for liquids, gels and aerosols remain in effect."
That means that all liquids, except those that are medically exempted, must be in 3-ounce or smaller containers, in a one quart zip-top bag, one bag per traveler. (Click here for more information about the 3-1-1 rule.)
Rafi Ron, a former Tel Aviv airport security chief and now CEO of New Age Security Solutions, said that the threat of liquid explosives has been around for quite a while.
"It is a very serious threat," Rafi said.
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