Aiport invests in new security system.Thunder Bay International Airport Thunder Bay Airport or Thunder Bay International Airport, (IATA: YQT, ICAO: CYQT), is an airport in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. With 100,154 aircraft movements in 2006 it is the fourth busiest airport in Ontario. has installed a security device that is new to Canadian airports. It was used at the Salt Lake City Olympics and is currently in use at a Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), division of the U.S. Dept. of Justice charged with investigating all violations of federal laws except those assigned to some other federal agency. headquarters building in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . "It's a facial recognition system A facial recognition system is a computer application for automatically identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source. One of the ways to do this is by comparing selected facial features from the image and a facial database. that allows our personnel and airline personnel to access restricted areas," says Scott McFadden, airport president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . Transport Canada Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. History is monitoring the device that may eventually be installed at airports across the country. Conquest Alliance Group, a U.S. company, is supplying expertise and technology. When someone is issued a restricted area pass, a series of 50 pictures is taken of the person's face. As long as the face is in the database, the person is allowed access to restricted areas. Prior to the introduction of the facial recognition Noun 1. facial recognition - biometric identification by scanning a person's face and matching it against a library of known faces; "they used face recognition to spot known terrorists" automatic face recognition, face recognition device, personnel punched a code into a keyboard that allowed them access to restricted areas. Transport Canada may eventually determine the access code procedure to be insufficient, McFadden says. McFadden says the new system is now working well, after a few adjustments were made to it. "Tall people like me were allowed access, but shorter people had a problem for a while," he says. The Thunder Bay Thunder Bay, city (1991 pop. 113,946), SW Ont., Canada, on Thunder Bay inlet of Lake Superior. The city was created in 1970 by the amalgamation of the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur and two adjoining townships. Airport Authority has an e-mail notification system in place and is marketing a unique billing software system in partnership with a local firm. It is also the Canadian distributor for an airport surface maintenance vehicle. The e-mail notification system has been in place for a year. Customers of the airport type their specifics into the airport Web site, the notification system sends the customer a message when the flight they have identified enters the system, usually six hours in advance. Every change in flight status prompts another e-mail to the customer. In partnership with a local firm, Aviation InterTec Services, Thunder Bay airport is marketing unique billing software. The system was installed at the airport three months ago and is being evaluated at a number of other airports. "Airports have a unique hybrid of customers that make billing a challenge," says Ed Schmidtke, commercial manager for the airport. Customers range from those that fly in on an intermittent basis to those that lease space. Schmidtke says the software plugs into an airport's accounting system. "It is available for rent via the Internet which reduces the cost of ownership for cost-conscious airports," he says. Confederation College will break ground this spring on airport property for its Aviation Centre of Excellence Confederation College, which opened its doors in 1967, offered both the Aircraft Maintenance and Aviation Flight Management programs at the Thunder Bay International Airport since the late 1960s, however they were located at separate hangars. . The $15-million project win see all of the college's aviation programs consolidated at the airport. Airport President McFadden says traffic is returning to normal after a significant downturn following the 9/11 tragedy. Air Canada's new low-fare carrier Tango began service out of the airport on April 1. McFadden does not see a drop in WestJet's traffic as a result of the Tango service. "Many more people fly when fares are low," he says. www.thairport.on.ca. |
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