Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today applauded the Eugene Airport’s acquisition of new state-of-the-art screening technology that enables Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) to better identify threats in carry-on baggage.
DeFazio also praised the airport for achieving the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)’s distinction of “Airport of the Year” – the top airport of its size – for its outstanding local leadership, commitment to empowering employees, and efforts to provide a superior traveling experience for the traveling public.
“This recognition from the TSA echoes what we already know in southwest Oregon: the Eugene Airport makes every effort to provide the flying public with the best and safest experience possible,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio. “Their utilization of cutting-edge technology makes our airport safer and improves efficiency, getting passengers to their destinations more quickly. In addition, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it’s imperative to invest in technologies that reduce the need for physical contact without sacrificing safety. I’m proud to have helped the Eugene Airport acquire these cutting-edge technologies and look forward to seeing how they use this innovative technology to help cement the Eugene Airport’s role as an aviation hub in the Pacific Northwest.”
In November 2020, TSA installed a computed tomography (CT) X-ray scanner, which applies sophisticated algorithms for the detection of explosives at airport checkpoints by creating a 3-D image that can be viewed and rotated 360 degrees for a thorough analysis. This system enhances TSOs ability to detect and deter threats without coming in contact with passenger baggage. CT technology has been deployed at more than 140 airports nationwide.
In addition, this week the airport announced that it will be installing an additional explosive detection system (EDS) machine to streamline the screening of passengers’ checked baggage. Previously, DeFazio led Senators Wyden and Merkley in pushing the Transportation Security Administration to support efforts to install such technology at the Eugene Airport, which will enhance aviation security and efficacy.
DeFazio has repeatedly pushed the TSA to deploy state-of-the-art security technology to the Eugene Airport. In 2019, DeFazio helped the Eugene Airport secure additional explosive detection system machines.