DHS, South Korean Ministry to Conduct Pilot of Baggage Pre-Screening Software

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate is partnering with South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on a pilot program aimed at demonstrating a contactless way of screening checked baggage prior to airport arrival.

The pilot will feature cloud-based baggage pre-screening software called the Common Viewer Air System. The technology is expected to help the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration in ensuring civil aviation security, the DHS S&T Directorate said.

Initial field demonstrations of the Common Viewer Air System will provide alternative baggage screening procedures at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Incheon International Airport located outside of Seoul.

Delta Air Lines will be joining the joint pilot program, which is scheduled to run in the summer.

David Taylor, S&T’s CBP portfolio manager, said in a statement that the pilot allows for improved aviation security while enhancing passenger experience.

Taylor’s sentiment was echoed by Donald Yando, CBP director of field operations in Atlanta.

According to Yando, the pilot offers a way of demonstrating the feasibility of screening images of every checked bag on an arriving flight before it lands in the U.S. and results in a more convenient process for travelers as they no longer need to have their baggage re-checked as much for connecting flights.

The DHS has been committed to implementing new technologies for improved security.

The agency is also working on a new vehicle inspection system to automate vehicle screening processes at ports of entry and checkpoints. The Vehicle Inspection for Early Warning is a joint collaboration between the DHS S&T Directorate, CBP and Federal Protective Service.