Transportation Security Administration officials said personnel at two airports are using new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) to confirm the identification (ID) validity and flight information in near real-time.
Systems at Baltimore/Washington International-Thurgood Marshall Airport and Tampa International Airport (TPA) are utilizing the CAT units as a means of enhancing detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents at the security checkpoint.
“The Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units improve upon TSA’s capabilities to detect fraudulent ID such as driver’s licenses and passports at checkpoints and increases efficiency by automatically verifying passenger identification,” Andrea R. Mishoe, TSA’s Federal Security director for Maryland, said. “The CAT system is able to confirm a passenger’s flight status in near real-time, adding to the efficiency of the process.”
The units authenticate several thousand types of IDs, including passports, military common access cards, retired military ID cards, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID cards, uniformed services ID cards and visas and driver’s licenses.
“This state-of-the-art technology improves upon TSA’s real-time detection of fraudulent identification documents such as driver’s licenses and passports at checkpoints and increases efficiency by automatically verifying passenger identification,” Kirk Skinner, TSA’s Federal Security director for Tampa International Airport, said.
It is critical travelers have REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other acceptable forms of identification by the Oct. 1, 2021, deadline. CAT units will not accept a driver’s license after Oct. 1, 2021, if it is not REAL ID-compliant.