Yeager Airport Uses Schlage Recognition Systems Biometric HandReaders to Secure Control Tower
West Virginia Airport Officials Anticipate New Homeland Security Regulations Requiring Biometric Access Control Measures
August 31, 2004
Yeager Airport Uses Schlage Recognition Systems Biometric HandReaders to Secure Control Tower
West Virginia Airport Officials Anticipate New Homeland Security Regulations Requiring Biometric Access Control Measures
CAMPBELL, CALIF. – August 31, 2004 – Schlage Recognition Systems, the biometric Access Control component of Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Electronic Control Systems, announced today that Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Va., is using five biometric HandReaders to secure access to the control tower. In anticipation of possible new requirements by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for biometric security measures, the HandReaders are being used as a pilot program.
HandReaders automatically take a three-dimensional reading of the size and shape of a hand and verify the user’s identity in less than one second. Hand geometry is the most commonly used technology for access control and time and attendance, according to Frost and Sullivan’s “World Biometrics Report.” Recognition Systems recently received the 2004 Technology Leadership Award in Frost & Sullivan’s Technical Insights study, Advances in Aviation Security Technologies.
“We feel that hand geometry is the best and most reliable biometric technology available," reports Yeager Airport Director Rick Atkinson. "We have never had any problems with the HandReaders since installing them in December of 2001. They work fine and are easy to administer.”
At Yeager Airport, HandReaders restrict access to the control tower, which is located in the airport terminal, and also to the HVAC system and other sensitive equipment. The control tower doors are opened about every five minutes around the clock. The HandReaders are all networked to the airport's central security system computer. One of the HandReaders is used as the master for enrollment purposes. The airport also uses proximity cards for sixty other control points throughout the airport. A video surveillance system is tied to airport alarms.
"It has been the consensus since 9-11 that using biometrics as an access control validation is the way to go," emphasizes Atkinson. "Sen. Rockefeller, the ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, held a Senate Hearing on aviation and airport security in Morristown. Since vendors were present, we were able to see a biometrics demonstration and learn about hand geometry."
The airport has its own police force and they administer all of the access control equipment. Yeager Airport's tower previously required 24-hour police protection for access control. This cost the airport $1,200 per day. The HandReaders have eliminated the need for guards, saving the airport a substantial sum on access control.
"In response to 9-11 and the increased concern for better security at the nation's airports, we decided to try hand geometry to secure access to our control tower, " Atkinson reports. "Although we were not one of the 18 airports to receive funding for the Access Control Pilot Program being run by the TSA, we expect to be affected by the results of that program. It is our feeling that the government will recommend that some form of biometrics be used instead of or in addition to other access control measures."
HandReaders handle any population volume with ease while providing impeccable reliability. With dramatically lower false reject and failure to enroll rates than other biometric technologies, the value of HandReaders grows as the number of users and/or transactions increases.
About Schlage Recognition Systems
With over 80,000 hand geometry units throughout the world reading millions of hands each day, Schlage Recognition Systems, founded in 1986, is the pioneer of hand recognition technology used in access control and identification applications. The company is the world sales leader of biometric verification devices and serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Campbell, Calif. Its website is www.handreader.com. Phone is 408-341-4100. Schlage Recognition Systems is the biometric Access Control component of Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Electronic Control Systems. The Ingersoll Rand website is www.irco.com.
-30-
For more information…
Bill Spence Tom Brigham
IR RECOGNITION SYSTEMS BRIGHAM SCULLY
408-341-4100 818-716-9021
bill_spence@irco.com tbrigham@brighamscully.com
West Virginia Airport Officials Anticipate New Homeland Security Regulations Requiring Biometric Access Control Measures
CAMPBELL, CALIF. – August 31, 2004 – Schlage Recognition Systems, the biometric Access Control component of Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Electronic Control Systems, announced today that Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Va., is using five biometric HandReaders to secure access to the control tower. In anticipation of possible new requirements by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for biometric security measures, the HandReaders are being used as a pilot program.
HandReaders automatically take a three-dimensional reading of the size and shape of a hand and verify the user’s identity in less than one second. Hand geometry is the most commonly used technology for access control and time and attendance, according to Frost and Sullivan’s “World Biometrics Report.” Recognition Systems recently received the 2004 Technology Leadership Award in Frost & Sullivan’s Technical Insights study, Advances in Aviation Security Technologies.
“We feel that hand geometry is the best and most reliable biometric technology available," reports Yeager Airport Director Rick Atkinson. "We have never had any problems with the HandReaders since installing them in December of 2001. They work fine and are easy to administer.”
At Yeager Airport, HandReaders restrict access to the control tower, which is located in the airport terminal, and also to the HVAC system and other sensitive equipment. The control tower doors are opened about every five minutes around the clock. The HandReaders are all networked to the airport's central security system computer. One of the HandReaders is used as the master for enrollment purposes. The airport also uses proximity cards for sixty other control points throughout the airport. A video surveillance system is tied to airport alarms.
"It has been the consensus since 9-11 that using biometrics as an access control validation is the way to go," emphasizes Atkinson. "Sen. Rockefeller, the ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, held a Senate Hearing on aviation and airport security in Morristown. Since vendors were present, we were able to see a biometrics demonstration and learn about hand geometry."
The airport has its own police force and they administer all of the access control equipment. Yeager Airport's tower previously required 24-hour police protection for access control. This cost the airport $1,200 per day. The HandReaders have eliminated the need for guards, saving the airport a substantial sum on access control.
"In response to 9-11 and the increased concern for better security at the nation's airports, we decided to try hand geometry to secure access to our control tower, " Atkinson reports. "Although we were not one of the 18 airports to receive funding for the Access Control Pilot Program being run by the TSA, we expect to be affected by the results of that program. It is our feeling that the government will recommend that some form of biometrics be used instead of or in addition to other access control measures."
HandReaders handle any population volume with ease while providing impeccable reliability. With dramatically lower false reject and failure to enroll rates than other biometric technologies, the value of HandReaders grows as the number of users and/or transactions increases.
About Schlage Recognition Systems
With over 80,000 hand geometry units throughout the world reading millions of hands each day, Schlage Recognition Systems, founded in 1986, is the pioneer of hand recognition technology used in access control and identification applications. The company is the world sales leader of biometric verification devices and serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Campbell, Calif. Its website is www.handreader.com. Phone is 408-341-4100. Schlage Recognition Systems is the biometric Access Control component of Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Electronic Control Systems. The Ingersoll Rand website is www.irco.com.
-30-
For more information…
Bill Spence Tom Brigham
IR RECOGNITION SYSTEMS BRIGHAM SCULLY
408-341-4100 818-716-9021
bill_spence@irco.com tbrigham@brighamscully.com
