High Praise for Aigis Threat Containment Units

February 2008 - Huston Airport System

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, along with Kip Hawley, administrator for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), made a rare joint visit to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), this month.

The two leading figures praised the airport for its progressive use of technology and innovative security measures including the AIGIS mobile Threat Containment Units now positioned at the TSA security checkpoints in all terminals at both Bush and William P. Hobby airports.

The first-of-its-kind unit, which debuted nationally at IAH, is designed to quickly allow security personnel to remove suspicious items from the checkpoint area without a disruption or halt to operations.

“The way we look at it, it is better to evacuate the problem not the building,” says David Williams, assistant director of public safety at IAH. “When you look at it, these units represent good security and safety measures and when you calculate the cost of having to close down a terminal and delay flights and operations, these units not only help us with safety but allow us to offer better customer service as well.”