BWI Explosive Detection Dogs Ready For Summer

BALTIMORE, MD — Expect to see more dogs at the airport this summer. Specifically, there will be dogs sniffing passengers for explosives at the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Explosive detection dogs known as "Passenger Screening Canines" will be working at security checkpoints at BWI, officials say.

The passenger screening canines are not trained to detect drugs, officials say, and they will be at the airport to check passengers for bombs.

The canines are specially trained to sniff out dozens of scents indicative of explosives. Their sensitive noses can detect these through the air currents, even if a person has walked away or is in motion.

Due to what it has termed the "current threat environment," the Transportation Security Administration told passengers this week in advance of the busy summer travel season that they should expect to see these four-legged officers patrolling BWI.

There are five passenger screening canines at BWI of different breeds, including two German short-haired pointers, Lisa Farbstein, spokeswoman for the TSA, told Patch. They will work a variety of shifts, she said.

Officials are keeping it under wraps whether one or all may be on duty at any given time, according to WTOP, which says the idea is to keep things random and for the canines to act as a deterrent.

Teams of canines and their handlers are one of the most efficient and effective ways of screening for explosives, according to the TSA, which notes they can also rapidly respond to different parts of the airport.

The TSA National Explosives Detection Canine Program trains dogs and their handlers at its facility at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas.

More than 900 trained TSA canine teams work at more than 100 of the nation's airports, mass transit and maritime systems, according to federal officials. In fact, the TSA reports that its canines logged more than 209,000 hours in the nation's transportation system in 2017.

In addition to noticing more canines at BWI, officials advise passengers that they may find there are more bag checks and additional screenings of specific items at the airport. The TSA will be conducting more targeted, expedited procedures that are intended to protect safety.

The TSA did not immediately respond about whether specific threats prompted the addition of Passenger Screening Canines to the ranks at BWI, and if pet owners should take different steps at security lines. Patch will update this article as more information becomes available.

Summer Travel Tips From The TSA

With more than 2.5 million passengers expected to pass through TSA checkpoints through Labor Day, based on airline projections, officials are encouraging travelers to be prepared.

Peak travel is expected from May through August. The busiest days of the summer are expected to be the days around major holidays like the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

• Arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. This allows time for parking, checked bags and bathroom stops before getting to security.
• Take out electronic devices at the security checkpoint. The TSA screens laptops, tablets, e-readers and handheld game consoles separately.
• Listen for additional instructions. TSA officers may instruct travelers to remove other items from their carry-on luggage for screening such as dense foods, powders or other materials that can obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.
• Review TSA's prohibited items list.
• Pack liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, sunblock, sprays and pastes for carry-on only if they are 3.4 ounces or less. Bottles must fit in a single quart-size plastic bag, which is placed in a bin for screening. Let the TSA officer know if traveling with larger quantities of medically necessary liquid medications or breast milk or formula for an infant.
• Enroll in a program that allows for pre-screening. TSA Pre✓ can speed up the security screening process. If traveling abroad, consider enrolling in Global Entry or using Mobile Passport to expedite customs processing.

Have questions about screening procedures? Check security policies on the TSA website. People can also call the TSA Contact Center at 1-866-289-9673.

Passengers with disabilities or medical conditions who have questions about screening policies and/or would like to arrange for assistance at the checkpoint may call the TSA Cares helpline at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before flying.

Pictured, Dafi the TSA explosives canine works with her handler at BWI Airport. Photo courtesy of the TSA.