TSA Expands Pilot Testing of AS&E’s Privacy Enhanced SmartCheck Personnel Screening System to JFK International Airport

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI) (AS&E^®), a leader in X-ray detection technology, announced today that its privacy-enhanced SmartCheck^™ Z Backscatter^™ Personnel Screening System will be used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in its next pilot test of passenger screening systems at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. SmartCheck provides optimum security by safely screening for a wide variety of threats concealed on a passenger, while ensuring their privacy. The SmartCheck system creates an image that looks like a chalk outline of the passenger with threats outlined, but does not reveal facial features. Additionally, the SmartCheck systems installed in JFK, LAX, and Phoenix Sky Harbor cannot store, export, print, or transmit images.

“SmartCheck will provide TSA security officers at JFK with a safe, comprehensive method to safeguard air travel, while ensuring travelers’ privacy,” said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E’s President and CEO. “We are pleased with the overwhelming positive passenger response to the system and look forward to our continued work with TSA on this critical mission.”

TSA began piloting the SmartCheck system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in February 2007 for secondary screening, on a voluntary basis, and as an alternative to traditional pat-down searches. In May 2008, TSA launched the second SmartCheck pilot at Los Angeles International Airport. To date, approximately 90 percent of passengers have opted for screening using SmartCheck rather than undergoing a pat-down.

Assured Privacy

• SmartCheck’s Privacy Image Provides Only an Outline: The privacy image provides operators with information to identify the nature and location of any threats, but it will not show revealing images of the screened individual. The privacy image shows an outline of the passenger and outlines any potential threats on the person, more like a chalk drawing than a real person. To view images from AS&E’s SmartCheck system, please visit: www.as-e.com/products_solutions/tsa_z_backscatter_pilot.asp
• System Cannot Store Images: For added privacy to the passenger, the system is not capable of storing, exporting, or transmitting images, and all images are automatically deleted from the system immediately after they are reviewed.
• Remote Imaging Station: TSA has established a separate location for the security officer to view the images so that the officer never sees the screened passengers.
• Voluntary Screening: The SmartCheck scan is a voluntary option for passengers undergoing secondary screening as an alternative to the pat-down procedures currently conducted by Transportation Security Officers at the security screening checkpoint.

System Safety

• Safe for All Screened Individuals and Operators: Since the SmartCheck system uses Z Backscatter X-ray technology; it is safe for both operators and scanned individuals. A person passing through the scanner will receive about the same amount of radiation as a person flying for two minutes at an altitude of 30,000 feet, or less than 10 microrem (0.1 microsieverts) per scan. SmartCheck meets the manufacturer's requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard N43.17, which is the standard that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) references for systems such as SmartCheck.

About SmartCheck

SmartCheck is a safe, non-intrusive personnel screening system that allows operators to detect threats hidden on a person. The system displays both organic and inorganic materials, revealing objects such as guns and knives, explosives, composite weapons, and other hidden threats. Its Z Backscatter^™ technology gives the operator easy-to-interpret information about where threats are hidden, thus eliminating the need for intrusive and time-consuming pat-down searches. For more information on privacy and technology, please visit: www.as-e.com and http://www.tsa.gov/research/privacy/backscatter.shtm.

About AS&E^®

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection systems. With 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company’s product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E’s complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. AS&E systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and trade fraud, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, and illegal immigration and people smuggling. AS&E customers include leading government agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), HM Revenue & Customs (U.K.) and Hong Kong Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com.

Safe Harbor Statement. The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered “forward-looking” under applicable securities laws. AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any source component incorporated into AS&E's products; litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E’s periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time.