RTE8000 in miSense biometric trial at Heathrow Airport

23 January 2007

The RTE8000 scanner was an integral part of the high profile miSense biometric trial conducted by multiple partners at Heathrow Airport during December and January.

The trial combined several technologies – including multiple biometrics – to make the passenger journey from airport arrival to boarding, more efficient.  The Rochford Thompson RTE8000 document scanner – which is now becoming the technology-of-choice at airports – was central to the trial, which took place at Terminal Three and involved passengers travelling on Emirates and Cathay Pacific.

The UK Home Office, Accenture, and The British Airports Authority were behind the trial (www.misense.org), which involved volunteers whose reward was to be fast-tracked through the airport.

The trial was designed to assess the ability of the various technologies involved to work cohesively together; to link the immigration services in the UK and Hong Kong, allowing for faster automated passport control at either end of the journey; and to test interactive Advance Passenger Information (iAPI) for analysis in the UK before passengers board their flight.  

“This is one of the most sophisticated trials of its type and we have been extremely enthusiastic participants,” said Rochford Thompson Managing Director Chris Scorey.   “The companies involved in this are all at the forefront of enhanced airport security and efficiency, and the array of strategies and technologies under scrutiny represents the leading edge thinking of the moment.”

For further press information, contact David Bellis on +44 (0)20 8399 1184 / db@garnett-keeler.com