Frequent fliers can get faster clearance

Anyone who has received a letter will be able to register this week at Logan. That process includes providing a name, phone number, and date of birth in addition to identification cards.

''That personal information will be used to provide a security assessment for that individual to make sure that they're who they say they are and cross reference that information with federal enforcement and intelligence data sources," Davis said.

Those enrolling in the program will also be required to provide fingerprints and submit to an iris scan. Everyone accepted into the program will be issued a ''smart card."

Once the program is up and running at Logan, participating frequent fliers will be asked to show the new card before being directed to a ''biometric kiosk" where they will be required to put their hand on a screen and have their eye scanned.

Those fliers will still have to go through the metal detector, but will be able to skip a more intrusive secondary search, including having their bags looked through -- unless they set off the metal detector.

The goal is to reduce the number of people required to go through the secondary screening process, which can take from three to five minutes per passenger, Davis said.

St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis was the first to introduce the program on June 28. Airports in Los Angeles, Houston, and Washington are also scheduled to be part of the pilot program.

Davis said the program focused on frequent fliers because they can best test the system since they fly so often.