Scanners on Hold

There won’t be any body-scanning in Arkansas airports this year.

As informed readers likely know, the Transportation Security Administration plans to put about 450 body scanners into use at airports across the country this year, but neither Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport nor Little Rock National Airport are on the current roll-out list, according to a source at XNA.

One caveat: The TSA’s fiscal year ends in September, so it’s possible an Arkansas airport could get a scanner between then and the end of the calendar year.

The scanners use low-dose X-ray to go beneath clothing, and are designed to show weapons, explosives and any other hidden object that’s above the skin. Using the scanners, which cost between $130,000 and $170,000, is currently optional for passengers, but is expected to become mandatory.