CHO Public Notices

TSA Screening at CHO

Tuesday, November 23

In response to recent changes with airport Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) screening procedures, the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO) would like to share with passengers the screening procedures they can expect at CHO this holiday season.

The TSA at CHO does not have or use advanced imaging technology, sometimes referred to as “body scanners”.  TSA procedures at CHO include passengers screened by walking through a magnetometer, existing technology that has been in use at the Airport for a number of years. While federal officials have stated the resolution pat-down procedure was only deployed at airports with body scanners, to serve as an alternative to the scanner, CHO has not received any communication from TSA to indicate why it is now required at CHO, even though it is a “last resort’.

If an alarm sounds when a passenger walks through the magnetometer, and the TSA agent cannot resolve what is causing the alarm, the TSA agent will conduct a standard pat-down.  The controversial “resolution pat-down” is only undertaken if the standard pat-down does not resolve the alarm.  A resolution pat-down is only conducted by a TSA supervisor and is done in a curtained area for privacy.  From October 29 through November 22, only 1 resolution pat-down has been conducted by TSA at CHO.

Members of social networking sites are publicizing an effort to conduct a civil “national opt-out day” on Wednesdsay, November 24, traditionally the busiest travel day of the year.  CHO wants passengers to know there is nothing to opt-out of at CHO since body scanning technology is not in use.

Advanced imaging technology has not been used at CHO and the TSA has not shared plans to install the new scanners at the Airport.  The Airport has requested equipment upates unrelated to the “scanners” to increase efficiency for passengers.  Specifically, the airline operations area and outbound bag system was modified in 2005 to allow for the installation of advanced inline screening equipment to speed up the process of screening checked luggage, and that equipment has not been installed by the TSA as originally scheduled, therefore extending the time needed to screen passengers checked luggage.  Other than that, the local TSA process has been very successful at CHO and from a security standpoint, has not demonstrated a need for improvement.

CHO reminds passengers that to avoid sounding the alarm during the security walk-through at CHO, passengers should dress for screening success.  Wear no metal and inform the TSA screener in advance of any non-visible item that cannot be removed (e.g. orthotic brace).  Take all jewelry, belts and other metal off prior to commencing the screening process.