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What to Expect at the Airport
At the Pre-Board Screening Checkpoint
CATSA has put in place the people, processes, procedures and
state-of-the-art equipment necessary to carry out its important
mandate
Due to increased security measures, your experience at the pre-board
screening (PBS) checkpoint may be different than what you've
experienced in the past.
CATSA has been busy putting into place the people, processes, procedures
and state-of-the-art equipment necessary to carry out its important mandate
of screening passengers and their belongings.
Please be advised that no passenger is obliged to submit to a search
of his or her person and goods if he or she chooses not to board the
aircraft.
To make the PBS process as smooth as possible, you can do the following:
Make sure to go through the PBS checkpoint well in advance of your
flight, especially during peak periods (early morning, noon, suppertime).
Avoid the rush!
Please leave your empty baggage cart outside the PBS checkpoint;
Only passengers are allowed in the PBS checkpoint, unless other arrangements
have been made in special circumstances;
Always have Government-issued photo ID on-hand;
Be aware that any metal detected at the PBS checkpoint must be identified.
As you proceed through the walk-through metal detector, you may be
required to undergo additional screening, which may include hand-wanding
and a physical search of your person;
You can save time by not wearing metal items or by placing such items
in your carry-on baggage before you get in line;
You can remove metal items at the security checkpoint and place them
in the tray provided. Your carry-on baggage and trays will go through
an X-ray machine and will be carefully examined by a screening officer.
You may also be asked to authorize the screening officer to open baggage
for further examination.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Never joke or make 'small
talk' about bombs, firearms or other weapons while going through
pre-board screening. Depending on the circumstance, this can be an offence
under the Criminal Code of Canada.
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PBS checkpoint procedures are as follows:
Present your boarding pass to the pre-board screening officer;
Let the screening officer know of any personal needs you may have
due to a medical condition, disability, religious or cultural consideration
or other Special Needs;
Passengers are advised to pack their film in their carry-on
baggage. The equipment used at pre-board screening (PBS) areas will
not damage film under 800 ISO/ASA. However, multiple exposures (more
than 5 times) of the same roll of film to PBS x-ray inspection may
cause damage. Most amateur photographers use film in the 100-400
ISO/ASA range. Specialty film is defined as film with an ASA/ISO 800
or higher and typically used by professionals. If passengers are
concerned about their film, once they have placed it in their
carry-on baggage, they may request a hand search at the PBS area.
Please note that physical search of films will be carried when
circumstances permit;
Place carry-on items (i.e. purse, coat, hat) in the tray
provided;
All loose and metal objects, including coins, gum, and keys
must be placed in a plastic tray;
Your portable computer and other electronic devices such as CD player
and cellular phone should be taken out of the case and placed in a
plastic tray;
In most circumstances, electronic devices do not need to be turned
on. Electronic devices may be screened by special screening equipment.
Nonetheless, you should always be prepared to turn them on if asked
by a pre-board screening officer;
Proceed through the metal detector archway when the PBS officer signals
you to do so;
If you are selected for an additional physical search, you may request
a private area and a same-sex PBS officer to conduct the search;
Remember to take all your belongings with you when leaving the PBS
checkpoint.
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