Combined shoe metal and explosive detector

New experiments and trails with shoe analyzers were performed during the 2015 and 2016 as part of the Security Vision programme (Programme Vision Surete, France) and provided a preliminary feedback on this very promising type of equipment.

As well as substantially improving the quality of service given to passengers, the vast majority of whom no longer need to take their shoes off during screening, the shoe analyzers increased the efficiency of security checks. Actually, metal and explosives concealed in the shoes of people with malicious intent can be detected more easily.

Previous European regulations only authorised shoe analyzers that detect metal but during the course of 2016 France worked with international organizations (ICAO, IATA/ACI, etc.) to promote the benefits that these new shoe analyzers can offer to air passengers.

Then STAC led a European group working on new regulations to be proposed to the European Commission, which brought in 2019 to the latest generation of shoe analyzers being added to the list of authorised equipment.

In the light of these advances, many airports acquired these new technology. The latest version of the SAMDEX^® equipment, developed by CEIA, was successfully verified in specific Laboratory test by STAC and operationally tested in Paris Charles-de-Gaulle and Toulouse-Blagnac airports.

Description

The main components and features of the SAMDEX^® are as follows:

• A “step” structure designed so that the person being examined only has to place his/her foot in a well-defined area indicated by a positioning “footprint” engraved on the upper surface of the step.
• An automatic step-by-step guide to use of the analyzer, which addresses both the person being inspected and the security inspector via visual and audio messages.
• A compact, non-obstructive construction, characterized by its high degree of robustness and structural stability.

Ease of use and ergonomic design

Use of the Shoe Scanner is simple and stress-free. The time required for analysis is reduced to the minimum thanks to the innovative mechanical and electronic solutions adopted and is no longer necessary to bend down to carry out manual inspection.

Eu regulation 2019/103 (23 january 2019)

SAMDEX^® is the first equipment with double technology for the simultaneous detection of metallic and explosive threats concealed in passenger shoes without the need of divesting shoes.

In November 2016 the SAMDEX^® received the certification from DGAC-STAC in France as SMD^® and SED to be used to resolve alarms on shoes generated by passengers on the Walk-Through Metal Detector. The deployment in several French Airports started immediately after the certification.

In January 2019 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/103 strengthened certain specific aviation security measures in order to enhance security culture and resilience, and introduced performance standards and use of Shoe Explosive Detection equipment (SED) along with the already included Shoe Metal Detector (SMD^®). SAMDEX^® is a single inspection unit which complies with both measures at the same time.

Following some checkpoints configuration compliant with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/103 are shown.

Certified by governmental laboratories

SAMDEX^® compliance to operational requirements has been successfully verified and certified by Governmental Laboratories.

Deployment

Over 200 SAMDEX^® have been deployed and are currently in use in Airports up to date (June 2019).