Airport security and safety challenges rank among the most pressing matters of modern times. This is especially true in the current climate where terrorism is a perpetual concern. At the same time, airport customers are becoming more demanding - over four billion people took to the air in 2017, and that number is set to double over the next two decades. Passengers want to avoid standing in line for hours, and it is imperative that airports balance security and revenue considerations.
L3 MacDonald Humfrey Automation (L3 MHA) recognises this and works with the world's busiest airports, offering total system solutions that boost security, expedite passenger flow and alleviate bottlenecks, dramatically improving the customer experience.
Mach-Secure, for example, is the company's innovative line of integrated security solutions. It involves a whole suite of products that offers a coherent, structured and centrally controlled solution that underpins the secure airport of the future. An important part of the Mach-Secure solution is Mach- SmartLane, a checkpoint-automated tray handling system that improves operational efficiency and streamlines the whole process of hand luggage security checks. L3 MHA has installed 32 Mach-SmartLane screening lanes in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), one of the busiest airports in the world, and 19 in New York's John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Both have seen dramatic improvements with significantly improved passenger flows, reduced queue times and marked reductions in bottlenecks.
The innovative Mach-SmartLane solution allows several passengers to place their items in the trays provided, rather than moving through a regular, single-line queue. It enables faster passengers to move around those who need more time, allowing them to proceed more quickly to the next stage of the screening process. Further time efficiencies are made when passengers collect their belongings at the other end, as items that have been flagged are automatically transferred to the unsecure line, away from the passengers. This means that only passengers whose items need further inspection will be inconvenienced, allowing the majority to continue on unimpeded.
L3 MHA was the first company to be approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to integrate its solutions with the leading manufacturers of checkpoint X-ray machines and advanced CT machines, including its advanced screening systems. This put the company in the perfect position to help international airports - such as LAX - to process passengers quickly and efficiently, while also improving security.
Of course, every airport is unique; each has its own individual challenges, which is why L3 MHA works closely with airports, airlines, regulatory bodies and law enforcement to tailor Mach- Secure to individual requirements. Prior to installation, L3 MHA models the solution on simulation software to help its clients visualise the design and show how operational efficiency can be improved. The system is modular and flexible; each installation can be designed and configured to suit the individual situation, even where space is restricted.
Its expertise comes from its experience as a supplier of highquality total turnkey system solutions. It works across a wide range of industrial sectors, including airports, logistics, nuclear, process and water, providing total turnkey solutions. L3 MHA's success is in no small part due to the investment it puts into its work; it invests in its products and its personnel.
L3 MHA has 350 employees and has advanced in-house training facilities, ensuring that its engineers are always up to date with the latest innovations in technology. Its products and solutions division, meanwhile, was established to provide innovative, reliable systems that integrate seamlessly into a wider range of technologies and applications.
L3 MHA's innovative portfolio of products and services has been proved time and again, and the company is looking to build on its long-standing track record. The new lanes at LAX are expected to cut wait times by 30% and allow nearly 1,100 more passengers per hour to be screened. In 2018, a new $12.3 million project will see 14 of the 16 lanes at the Thomas Bradley International Terminal at LAX outfitted with the new technology. L3 MHA looks forward to seeing the efficiencies this new project will bring to the airport and its passengers' experiences.
