Faa Purchasing High-Tech Bomb Detectors

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday that it is spending $12.2 million to buy new high-tech detection equipment for security at the nation’s busiest airports.

The agency said it is buying 50 each of three types of detectors to screen passengers and baggage for bombs and other weapons.

Airports where the equipment is to be installed were not announced.

The new equipment includes:

Thermedics EGIS 3000 from Thermedics Detection Equipment of Chelmsford, Mass. These free-standing units collect samples by wiping a surface with a special filter and then analyzing the filter for any type of explosives.

Barringer Ionscan 400 from Barringer Instruments of New Providence, N.J. This screens for explosives in cargo and baggage by either wiping a surface with a cotton swab or using a hand-held “vacuum” device to pull a sample into a filter.

Ion Track Itemiser from Ion Track Instruments of Wilmington, Mass. This also seeks traces of explosives using either a swab or vacuum.