O'Hare expects better X-rays, more dogs

Despite reigning as one of the country's busiest airports, O'Hare International has often lagged in landing new high-tech screening gear to protect against terrorists.

But on Friday, O'Hare's security director said the airport will be getting new and better X-ray machines to scan baggage and more canines to sniff cargo.

The X-ray machines will be used on passenger baggage to provide clearer images and different viewing angles, said Kathleen Petrowski, O'Hare's federal safety director. They should be at the airport in the next six to 12 months. The additional dogs will come in April or May.

While O'Hare doesn't have all the newest security measures, it has roped in what it needs to protect fliers, Petrowski said.

"When we need support we do receive it," Petrowksi said, while insisting the airport's dearth in the latest technology is not a hindrance.

Questions about O'Hare security were raised last week in a report that revealed screeners failed to find bomb making materials 60 percent of the time in internal tests in 2005.

After a tour of airport security systems on Friday, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, told reporters he is confident the airline system is safe. He also agreed with federal security officials, who say they have made great strides to improve screenings since the 2005 internal tests.

Among the new security measures O'Hare has not received are "puffers," which shoot air at fliers and then sniff it for explosive chemicals. That technology is in use at Midway Airport.

The machines are not at O'Hare because of problems fitting the machines into the concourses, Petrowski said.

O'Hare also is not yet on schedule to receive new full-body scan machines. The scanners, which can see through clothes, are in the testing stage at other major airports.