Happy landings

Even when you touch down and the threat of a flaming plunge from the heavens is over, there’s still an army of innovative tech working to keep international borders safe, most notoriously in the US of A.

Any international flight bound for American borders requires airlines to confirm a visa, visa waiver authorisation or US passport for every passenger. Airlines are also required to check travel documents against America’s “no fly list” of high-risk passengers.

In fact, the US and China are the first countries to give their airports a fully biometric upgrade, with the new tech due to be in place by the end of 2014. Whereas, previously,