Body Scanners At Montreal Airport: What To Expect

Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, also known as Montréal-Trudeau, uses full-body scanners and walk-through metal detectors for security screening. The airport has been using millimeter-wave body scanners since at least 2010, and passengers selected for secondary screening can choose between a full-body scan or a physical search. This technology is designed to enhance security and efficiency, allowing passengers to leave approved liquids and electronics in their bags during screening. While some travellers may have concerns about privacy, others prioritise the convenience and increased safety that body scanners provide.

Montreal's Trudeau Airport uses millimetre-wave body scanners

Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport uses millimetre-wave body scanners. Body scanners have been a feature of the airport since at least 2010, when the first of 44 $250,000 devices was installed.

Millimetre-wave body scanners are whole-body imaging devices that use electromagnetic radiation to detect objects concealed underneath a person's clothing. They are non-ionizing and do not cause cancer. The radiation used is more than three orders of magnitude lower in energy than ultraviolet radiation, the nearest radiotoxic wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum. The shallow penetration depth of millimetre waves means that any acute biological effects of irradiation are localized in the epidermal and dermal layers and primarily manifest as thermal effects.

Millimetre-wave body scanners come in two varieties: active and passive. Active scanners direct millimetre wave energy at the subject and interpret the reflected energy. Passive systems, on the other hand, create images using only ambient radiation and radiation emitted from the human body or objects. Active scanners use two antennas to transmit millimetre waves (a type of microwave) as they rotate around the body. The signals are then sent to a high-speed computer, which uses software to mathematically focus them and create a final high-resolution 3D holographic image.

The efficacy of millimetre-wave body scanners in detecting threatening objects has been questioned. Some studies have suggested that the scanners are relatively ineffective at detecting objects, whether dangerous or not, on the person being scanned. As of January 2011, there had been no reports of a terrorist capture as a result of a body scanner. However, in a series of tests, agents responsible for monitoring body scanners were deemed at fault for not recognizing a handgun hidden in an undercover agent's undergarments. Additionally, millimetre-wave body scanners have been found to have problems reading through sweat and can yield false positives from buttons and folds in clothing. Despite these limitations, millimetre-wave technology continues to be used in airports around the world, with PNNL (the original developer of the technology) working to enhance its capabilities and address existing challenges.

Passengers can opt for a physical search instead

Montreal's Trudeau Airport is equipped with full-body scanners, which have been in use since 2010. While the scanners are considered controversial due to their ability to see through clothing, passengers at Trudeau Airport have the option to choose between getting scanned or submitting to a physical search, also known as a "pat down".

Opting for a physical search instead of the body scanner is a valid and recognised choice. Passengers may have various reasons for doing so, such as health concerns, discomfort with the technology, or privacy preferences. It is important to note that opting out of the body scanner does not exempt passengers from security screening procedures.

If you decide to opt for a physical search, you should inform the security agent at the checkpoint. While you will still be subject to security measures, you will not be required to pass through the full-body scanner. It is recommended to arrive at the airport early, as opting out may result in a longer process, especially during busy periods.

Additionally, it is worth noting that some passengers with TSA PreCheck may be directed to the old-style metal detectors instead of the body scanners. Thus, it is advisable to wait until you are certain you will be subjected to the body scanners before expressing your preference to opt out.

Scanners can see through clothes, raising privacy concerns

Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport uses millimetre-wave body scanners. These scanners can see through clothes, and their implementation has raised some controversy and privacy concerns.

Body scanners are used to detect foreign objects on the body and to ensure the safety of passengers. However, the detailed images produced by these scanners have sparked privacy concerns among travellers. The scanners create graphic, almost naked images of travellers, which has led to a public outcry. In response to these concerns, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented measures to protect passenger privacy. Today, instead of explicit images, generic outlines or nondescript avatar images of the human anatomy are used, addressing privacy concerns while maintaining security effectiveness.

TSA officers do not see travellers naked, and strict protocols are in place for image handling and screening procedures. The generic human form, resembling a gingerbread man or paper doll, is displayed on the screen to indicate the presence of potential threat items without exposing the traveller's physical body. These updated procedures strike a balance between protecting passengers' safety and respecting their privacy.

While the scanners at Montreal's airport address privacy concerns, it is important to note that travellers still have the option to choose between the scanner and a physical search. This choice ensures that the use of the scanner remains voluntary and does not infringe on individuals' privacy rights.

As airport security continues to evolve, it is crucial to maintain a balance between ensuring the safety of passengers and respecting their privacy. The implementation of millimetre-wave body scanners at Montreal's airport, with appropriate privacy measures in place, reflects this ongoing effort to enhance security while addressing travellers' concerns.

The scanner produces a computer-generated stick figure

Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport uses full-body scanners and walk-through metal detectors to screen passengers. The full-body scanners use millimetre-wave technology, which works by projecting low-level radio frequency (RF) energy over and around the passenger's body. The RF wave reflects off the body, and the signals are then detected using highly sensitive detectors.

The process of being scanned is straightforward. Passengers enter the scanner and stand with their feet apart and arms extended over their head. The scan only takes about five seconds, and once it is complete, passengers exit on the opposite side of the scanner. This technology is designed to improve passenger throughput and reduce the need for passengers to remove items from their bags.

The full-body scanners are just one of the advanced security measures being implemented in airports worldwide. Airports are also utilising 3D imaging, CT scans, and advanced threat detection software to improve security and efficiency. These new technologies aim to streamline the screening process, enhance safety, and improve the overall airport experience for travellers.

The millimetre-wave technology uses low-level radio frequency energy

Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport uses millimetre-wave scanners for security screening. These scanners use low-level radio frequency energy to produce a unique image of the passenger in the machine.

Millimetre-wave technology uses a series of small, disc-like transmitters stacked on top of one another to produce waves. These waves fall in a range between 1 millimetre and 10 millimetres, and the energy in this range is known as millimetre-wave radiation. This radiation is a subset of the microwave radio frequency spectrum and is non-ionising. This means that it does not have enough energy to cause cancer or alter biological molecules. In fact, the energy required to produce a thermal injury in the skin is much higher than that delivered by millimetre-wave scanners.

The use of millimetre-wave technology in full-body scanners has been controversial due to privacy concerns. The scanners can produce detailed images of the surface of the skin under clothing, as well as medical equipment such as colostomy bags and breast prostheses. In response to these concerns, the U.S. Congress prohibited the display of detailed images in 2013, requiring scanners to display a generic body outline instead. This outline is created by Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) software, which can detect and highlight potential threats, including liquids, gels, plastics, powders, metals, and explosives.

While millimetre-wave scanners have been adopted in airports to enhance security, their efficacy in detecting threatening objects has been questioned. Some studies suggest that the cost-benefit ratio of these scanners is poor, and there have been instances where they failed to detect handguns hidden in an undercover agent's undergarments. However, proponents of millimetre-wave technology assert that it is safe and effective for security screening, providing a natural and harmless extension of existing technologies.

Frequently asked questions