Cathay Pacific gets big on security

Cathay Pacific cargo have always taken aviation security seriously but as more focus has been put on Primary and secondary screening types X-ray machines remain at the fore-front of how the department for transport have viewed security.  Most X-ray machines at Manchester are suitably sized for lower deck cargo and operate with a width of 150cms and a height of around 160cms. 

Cathay Pacific cargo operate their own transit shed at Manchester, the only freighter operator to do so, and have seen an increase in cargo being presented for X-ray which subsequently fails primary screening and has to be sent for secondary screening.  They are hoping that with the addition of a new X-ray machine the balance will be somewhat redressed.   With an operating size of 184cms wide and 178cms high it brings into play X-ray for considerably more cargo than previously.  

You still cannot X-ray full airline maindeck pallet sizes as their has to be some trade-off between size and an operator getting a good clear image but these larger machines are a step in the right direction for export cargo and Cathay could well reap the rewards of being the first mainstream operator in Manchester to have the facility to X-ray some Maindeck cargo and reduce down the reliance on costly and time consuming secondary screening procedures.