Since COVID-19, the agency has been making consistent efforts to work out ways that can prevent the spread of the virus and other harmful pathogens, and assessment of this UVC-C based technology is a crucial attempt in that direction. The assessment process will be first carried out at two checkpoints of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
A prominent TSA official Scott T. Johnson, TSA Federal Security Director for the airport commented on the TSA’s persistent efforts to create a safer environment at the airport. “TSA continuously tests and deploys innovative technologies into operational checkpoint environments that seek to improve the checkpoint experience for airline passengers,” he said. “We are excited to test technologies that might prove effective in disinfecting checkpoint bins and eventually provide another layer of protection against viral and bacterial spread.”
TSA Innovation Task Force is supervising the demonstration and is keen to procure the results of the demonstration to learn about the equipment’s ability in reducing the number of pathogens. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the technology’s efficacy in making the checkpoint bins more hygienic without hindering operational efficiency.
TSA ensures thorough testing of the technology and foresees that the use of UV-C-based equipment will not affect the passenger screening time or comprise with the checkpoint screening process.