b'SECURITYSPECIAL REPORT DEN 33its time, jam-packed with the latest technology and passengerSheehan is proud of DENs remote passenger screening processing systems. Initially, the public at large wasnt sure how it feltcapabilities. TSA officers in rooms directly below the DEN about the location 24 miles outside of the city limits, but DEN wascheckpoint monitor images on computer displays to keep clearly more advanced and modern than the downtown airport itlines of travelers moving toward their gates. Each screener is replacedStapleton International, built in 1929.responsible for watching one and one-half lanes.Originally, DEN was designed and built to accommodate 50In addition, passengers can opt into facial recognition million passengers, which was considered a stretch goal at the time.identification to make processing even faster. And with the CT To understand the magnitude of DENs growth since, compare theunits in place, even passengers who havent registered for TSA numbers: 32.3 million passengers passed through DEN in 1996,PreCheck can leave large electronics in their carry-on bags. and in 2023, DEN served almost 78 million. Airport executivesWe want to be at the bleeding edge of innovation while anticipate that number to reach 100 million sooner than later.improving customer service, says Sheehan. We have a robust Our growth has continued to build, affirmstraining program in place; were working very hard with our Michael Sheehan, DENs senior vice presidentfederal partners to make sure theyre trained.of special projects. Ultimately, in 2021 we thought the timeline to get to 100 million wouldPartnering with TSAbe about 10 years or so. Were on a fast track;The West Checkpoint opened this February, now were estimating well hit that number bybut Sheehan and his team started meeting with 2027/2028. TSA about the project at least three years ago. Per the goals of the Great Hall project, theMICHAEL SHEEHAN We also interfaced with Hensel first two of three phases are focused on building new ticketing andPhelps for the design, says Anne Cross, check-in spaces alongside the new West Checkpoint on Level 6.TSA deputy federal security director for The new checkpoint itself branches off into three parts:Colorado. They made sure the TSAANNE CROSSWest Security 1: standard screening, which makes up theofficers had enough space to complete prescreening and post majority of DEN passenger flow screening, plus the presence of local law enforcement. West Security 2: military, accessibility and functional needs, premium/premier access, and DEN Reserve (an online checkpoint reservation system run by the airport) West Security 3: TSA PreCheck passengers and CLEAR customers with TSA PreCheckIn addition to the new West Checkpoint, TSA will continue screening at the South Security Checkpoint and the A-Bridge Checkpoint.All New EquipmentThe airport worked closely with TSA to plan and design the new West Checkpoint, which has 17 automated screening lanes, computed tomography (CT) units with the most current X-ray screening technology, and nine Enhanced Advanced Imaging Technology (eAIT) body scanners. All in, the project cost about $240 million and was completely self-funded by the airport. Scarabee Security Group, now called Webb Daifuku, provided the automated passenger screening lanes, which are paired with Smiths Detection HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX baggage scanners. These scanners use CT to produce high-resolution 3D images, and advanced algorithms to improve detection results, says Smiths Detection Aviation Sales Manager JoeJOE KENNEDYKennedy. They also notably improve the checkpoint experience for travelers. With CT X-ray imaging, passengers no longer need to divest large electronics from their bags, Kennedy explains. This technology can reduce the instances of manual bag searches, which can greatly expedite screening time. AirportImprovement.comMay | June 2024'