4 ms·

These scanners did disappear. They aren't the current millimeter wave scanners.

natch 6y ago
In every airport of every country? When we sold our last ICE car to go electric, we learned that a lot of used ICE car inventory is being shipped to Mexico and other countries where they are still ok dealing with the smell (or just not in a financial position to move forward as fast). I imagine the same kind of dynamic happens with equipment like this.
- bonzini 6y ago
  I'm not sure if they were ever in use outside the US.
  - tjohns 6y ago
    I have seen a few at airports outside the US after we switched to millimeter wave. So yes, they are used in other countries. (And unlike the US, opting out sometimes isn’t an option.)
- fwip 6y ago
  I think something like 4-5% of car sales in the US are electric-only or hybrid, the remaining 95% being old-fashioned ICE. It's not just Mexico still buying them.
  - natch 6y ago
    Yeah. It’s still early days.
- maximente 6y ago
  there's no value add - other countries aren't really concerned with security theatre to the extent that the US (maybe UK?) is. witness the difference between screening at e.g. international airports outside of US/UK and then additional necessary screening for US bound flights. perhaps, though, that makes it a great export opportunity there, similar to arms exports: US law will mandate that these scanners are minimally required for inbound flights, other airports pick them up in order not to lose US flight slots.
- Sharlin 6y ago
  It's not like ICE cars (both new and used) aren't still being sold in tremendous amounts in the US…
  - natch 6y ago
    Used ICE car prices are crashing though.
- vinay427 6y ago
  I definitely only meant it for the TSA, and I'm glad you pointed this out. However, I suspect that in these countries that have the financial constraints you describe, opting out may not always lead to decommissioning them because installing alternatives requires significant expenditure (which is why the US could afford to get rid of them in the first place). I don't think this is universally true (i.e. I expect some countries ended up with old backscatter scanners but would choose to replace them if many people opt out) but I don't know that this intersection is very large.

In every airport of every country? When we sold our last ICE car to go electric, we learned that a lot of used ICE car inventory is being shipped to Mexico and other countries where they are still ok dealing with the smell (or just not in a financial position to move forward as fast). I imagine the same kind of dynamic happens with equipment like this.

bonzini 6y ago
I'm not sure if they were ever in use outside the US.
- tjohns 6y ago
  I have seen a few at airports outside the US after we switched to millimeter wave. So yes, they are used in other countries. (And unlike the US, opting out sometimes isn’t an option.)
fwip 6y ago
I think something like 4-5% of car sales in the US are electric-only or hybrid, the remaining 95% being old-fashioned ICE. It's not just Mexico still buying them.
- natch 6y ago
  Yeah. It’s still early days.
maximente 6y ago
there's no value add - other countries aren't really concerned with security theatre to the extent that the US (maybe UK?) is. witness the difference between screening at e.g. international airports outside of US/UK and then additional necessary screening for US bound flights. perhaps, though, that makes it a great export opportunity there, similar to arms exports: US law will mandate that these scanners are minimally required for inbound flights, other airports pick them up in order not to lose US flight slots.
Sharlin 6y ago
It's not like ICE cars (both new and used) aren't still being sold in tremendous amounts in the US…
- natch 6y ago
  Used ICE car prices are crashing though.
vinay427 6y ago
I definitely only meant it for the TSA, and I'm glad you pointed this out. However, I suspect that in these countries that have the financial constraints you describe, opting out may not always lead to decommissioning them because installing alternatives requires significant expenditure (which is why the US could afford to get rid of them in the first place). I don't think this is universally true (i.e. I expect some countries ended up with old backscatter scanners but would choose to replace them if many people opt out) but I don't know that this intersection is very large.