Blast of Air Tests Travelers at Salt Lake International

Blast of Air Tests Travelers at Salt Lake International


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Sandra Yi ReportingIf you plan to travel through Salt Lake International Airport, be prepared to get blasted with air. It's part of a brand new security screening process and everyone flying will have to experience it.

Gene Sprague: "Actually, it startled me. I knew it was coming and it startled me anyway."

Jackie Vice: "It was just a little blast of air. It was real quick."

A puff of air is making waves in airport security.

Earl Morris, TSA Federal Security Director: "It's all part of making the experience of flying more pleasant, and at the same time more secure."

Salt Lake City travelers now have to walk through what's called an explosive trace portal, nicknamed "The Puffer". It can detect traces of an explosive material, up to a billionth of a gram.

Earl Morris: "We're taking advantage of technology, and it's not as intrusive as the pat down procedure that we normally use."

The process is quick.

Earl Morris: "It takes about 15 seconds to take the sample, another 30 seconds for the analysis. So maybe one minute."

And it seems to give these travelers peace of mind.

Gene Sprague: "Love to see the security and really appreciate what Salt Lake is doing."

Jackie Vice: "If it's for security, it's fine."

If you set the alarm, you'll have to go through a pat down procedure and have your bags searched.

This airport is the 25th in the nation, to get "The Puffer". Travelers still have to go through the metal detectors.

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