Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has installed Rohde & Schwarz’ QPS201 security scanners. A shortage of personnel in the after COVID-19 period and fully resumed air traffic turned out to be major obstacles to its rapid handling at the security lanes. After air passengers have recently been confronted with long waiting queues for security checks, the modernized security lanes at Schiphol now meet the surging post-pandemic travel demands.
The R&S®QPS201 security scanner delivers high-precision and efficient security control while ensuring an unobtrusive and uncomplicated experience for scanned persons. It consists of a flat panel with thousands of transmitter antennas that emit extremely low-power millimeter waves in very short succession and just as many receiver antennas. Persons being scanned stand squarely between the panels as if facing a mirror, holding their arms slightly away from their bodies.
Since 2019, Schiphol operates more than 25 security scanners. In February 2023, it was decided to also modernize the Schengen departure filter, where most traffic is expected especially during peak seasons like school holidays. The R&S QPS201 offers industry-leading speed and comfort for person screening without the need to raise arms and ultra-low alarm rates that reduce the need for manual pat-downs. Moreover, the open construction of the scanner makes it much more pleasant for passengers who feel place constrained in classic cabin-type scanners.
The innovation is a win-win for everyone: Schiphol is now able to minimize manual pat-down searches consuming less time and passengers experience higher convenience and speed at security checkpoints. Moreover, security officers are excited: "The new scanners work much easier, and we have to inspect fewer passengers. It gives them much more convenience and makes it safer, really a great progress.”
With a firm deadline to be met before the start of the Dutch May holidays, all parties had to work together very closely. Project manager Perry van Kan: “It takes a lot of work and planning to change a complex environment such as the Schengen security filter. The passenger service shall always continue, and changes may not invoke any limitation. Normally, such a process takes a lot of time, but we didn't have that. It was great that the security scanners were delivered in such a short time and the cooperation with Rohde & Schwarz has been experienced to be very flexible. It proves that, if necessary, Schiphol can also make such a project a great success in a short time frame.”
One important criterion for Schiphol to proceed with the replacement was the timely delivery of the 21 security scanners. Despite the global shortage of raw materials in the component industry, Rohde & Schwarz proved to be a reliable partner also in this aspect. As the R&S QPS201 is developed and manufactured in Germany and thanks to a solid supply chain management, Rohde & Schwarz was able to guarantee reliable delivery times even under such challenging conditions.
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