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Folks...you're missing a goody

Up another 3c so far today

Subject: Bomb Plot Highlights The Need For Improved
Checkpoint Screening
Holdings Limited
ASX AND MEDIA RELEASE
BOMB PLOT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR IMPROVED CHECKPOINT
SCREENING
15 August, 2006 Perth, Western Australia: The detention in London of individuals alleged
to have plotted to blow up multiple airliners over the Atlantic Ocean has caused widespread
disruption to the United Kingdom’s aviation system. This has brought into sharp focus the
pressing need for a wholesale re-evaluation of how airports do checkpoint screening
worldwide.
While major advances have been made in many areas of aviation security, the deployment
of technology and processes used in checkpoint screening have not kept pace with the
developing threat. Current equipment and procedures are better suited to the prevention of
hijackings rather than the detection of improvised explosives and suicide bombers. New
technology, available now, that can detect improvised explosives and suicide bombers
should be expedited and implemented quickly. Given that the threat trajectory has
broadened substantially in recent years, it is incumbent upon all stakeholders including the
responsible governments and regulatory bodies to address the limitations of checkpoint
screening as a matter of urgency.
Former Head of Security of Heathrow Airport and QRSciences (ASX:QRS) Director, Mr.
Norman Shanks said the lack of sophisticated carry on hand baggage screening remains the
largest single threat to aviation security.
"The use of existing X-ray screening technology is deficient as it requires a significant
amount of human analysis with room for mistakes," Mr. Shanks said.
"X-ray checkpoint screening needs to be complemented with new technologies that help to
achieve substantial improvements in detection like Quadrupole Resonance (QR) developed
by Australian company, QRSciences", he continued.
"QR technology utilises low frequency radio waves to detect a range of difficult to identify
explosives providing the travelling public with greater confidence in aviation travel."
concluded Mr. Shanks.
"Unfortunately the established method of screening passengers and their hand baggage is
no longer effective. Terrorist groups have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to identify
weaknesses in the checkpoint screening process and exploit them to their advantage"
commented Kevin Russeth, Chief Executive Officer of QRSciences.
"The events of the past few days have underscored the urgency to re-evaluate current
checkpoints and move rapidly toward comprehensive screening of passengers and their
hand carried baggage for a much wider range of explosives in various configurations in
addition to the search for more traditional weapon threats. It’s important that a broad
upgrade to both processes and technology is implemented to remove the systematic holes in
the current capability. The piecemeal response of the past where screening processes have
been adapted to narrowly counter the most recent incident is analogous to preparing to fight
a battle in war after your opponent has changed his position. The groups seeking to do us
harm will simply move on to exploiting another weakness in the system".
"A variety of technologies, processes and know-how to deal with this are available today.
QRSciences baggage and shoe screening are an important part of this solution along with
other complimentary technologies and process revisions. With the right measures it’s
possible to dramatically boost checkpoint screening performance and realize a screening
system that’s both operationally viable and without the systematic flaws that have allowed
the tragedies and close calls of recent years" concluded Mr. Russeth.
QRSciences baggage screening technology has recently completed testing by the
Transportation Security Administration, part of the US Department of Homeland Security and
is now available worldwide direct from QRSciences and under license from Rapiscan
Systems, a leading worldwide vendor of X-ray and other screening equipment.
In May, QRSciences announced it had completed an agreement to cross license a suite of
patent and patent applications with GE Security, a business affiliate of the General Electric
Company (NYSE:GE). Under the terms of the license, QRSciences will earn royalties on GE
products incorporating QRS’ patented IP including GE’s Quadrupole Resonance shoe
scanner products which allow travellers to leave their shoes on when passing through airport
checkpoints while providing automated detection of concealed explosives.
About QRSciences:
QRSciences Holdings Limited is based in Perth, Western Australia with offices in San Diego,
California. The company designs, develops and sells advanced technology systems, subsystems,
components and software for security related applications. Applications for its
technologies include the detection of explosives and narcotics, metal detection and imaging,
surveillance and monitoring, chemical manufacturing quality control and assurance, mineral
and material assay, and lab instrumentation.
For more information visit www.QRSciences.com or phone +61 8 9358 5011 in Australia or
+1(858)613-8755 in the United States