Explosive detection capabilities at most airports consist of magnetometers and x-ray equipment that were designed to detect handguns. U.S. Public Law 101-604 was enacted after the Pan Am 103 incident which dictates that in addition to carry-on luggage, checked bags, mail and cargo must be monitored prior to being loaded onto an aircraft. The candidate detection technologies must also be tested by a uniform and calibrated method to assure effective detection. An effective security system will consist of integrating several types of proven technologies (physical and chemical detection) into a complete system. The system should be designed to accommodate new technologies as they are developed to assure the system contains the latest technologies. Using this concept we propose to develop a hand-held, high module of the FT-IMS would contain the IMS drift tube, sampling pump, gas recirculation components and signal electrometer and would weigh less than ten pounds. The engineering of this Phase I effort will emphasize small size and use of efficient manufacturing concepts to assure a practical, field- dependable, cost-effective phase III commercial instrument.
