News

Technology allows passengers to help with air security

March 6, 2002

Airline passengers interested in helping U.S. security measures can do so through an airport kiosk known as "Known Traveler." The new technology will be used in the U.S. government's airport and transportation security initiative.

Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Electronic Data Systems and PwC Consulting developed the National Integrated Security Suite, which combines biometric technology with passenger profiles. The system builds on the biometric airport security system in use since 1998 at Israel's Ben Gurion airport.

"Known Traveler" is a voluntary passenger registration system that lets passengers fill out a questionnaire and agree to a background check at an airport kiosk or online, according to a news release. The passenger is then given a smart card that contains data from an electronic fingerprinting and an iris scan.

A similar program, "Secure Employee," registers and identifies airline employees.