| Some time ago, a cargo plane crashed in Los Angeles. | | | | In order to step up airline safety, in 2002 the US |
| The cause of the crash, it was quickly discovered, | | | | Congress passed a law stating that all checked |
| was due to a series of miscalculations concerning the | | | | baggage must be screened for explosives. This is a |
| weight of the baggage loaded on the plane. The load | | | | change from the random search of checked baggage |
| was unbalanced and the plane could not take off | | | | at most airports. One way to fill this tall order is for |
| correctly, and plunged to the earth minutes after | | | | airlines to put into action the practice of matching |
| take-off. Previously, air cargo containers were put on a | | | | every bag that goes into the belly of a plane to a |
| scale and the weight was written by hand on the | | | | passenger on board. |
| outside of the can. Sloppy handwriting may have been | | | | The new process of bag-matching involves scanning |
| one cause for the plane crash. A POS airport | | | | tags on bags loaded onto planes, and comparing bag |
| baggaging system was needed immediately. | | | | tags to passenger lists. If a passenger doesn't get on a |
| A thermal printer that communicates directly with the | | | | flight, that traveller's bags will be removed. This is all |
| cargo can's weigh scale was required. The printer | | | | done in an effort to prevent suspect luggage being |
| prints a barcode, destination, date and container weight | | | | checked onto a plane without the passenger actually |
| clearly and in large letters. The warehouse worker | | | | being on the flight. Barcode printers are perfectly suited |
| applies the label to the can where it can be read by | | | | for this task. |
| airport personnel loading the can on the plane. The | | | | Each of the airlines will require a system of printing and |
| logistics corporation also chose a durable and | | | | inventorying barcodes to keep up with these new |
| inexpensive direct thermal media to withstand | | | | standards and airport baggage pos systems are up to |
| abrasions and scratches endured during transit. | | | | the challenge. |
| Airport Security | | | | Read the original baggage pos systems article. |