New Air Travel Problems - No more Camera Carry-ons?

I just read a very disturbing article about the possible ban of

several carry-on items, including cameras.

 

 

 

Aug. 4 � A new security advisory is about to go out to the nation�s

airlines and airports. The Homeland Security Department will advise

extra attention for some types of personal carry-on items, including

cameras and electronics.

 

 

FLASH UNIT MODIFIED

Senior U.S. officials told NBC News that recent raids of an

al-Qaida safe house uncovered a camera flash unit modified for use

as a stun gun and cameras modified to hold explosives. In addition,

there have been intercepted discussions on using other materials to

defeat security measures at U.S. airports.

 

 

Please see the full article at http://www.msnbc.com/news/948269.asp?

vts=080520031120

 

Thanks,

 

Chad

Thanks for the article but hold the hype. Nowhere does it say anything about banning camera gear. At most, you will get a little more attention if you're hauling around camera gear.

 

If you carry a laptop through an airport they make you turn it on. I assume that at worst, we'll be asked to fire a flash or show that the equipment works.

 

This has apparently been practiced at Dulles (IAD). If anybody gets pulled aside for a "random" pat down (e.g. non-US passport holders leaving on international flights), and you're carrying camera equipment, they will closely inspect it (pull lens caps off, look into the camera, etc.).

 

I don't see anything changing. Besides, this takes only five minutes, and I'd rather take the inconvenience than the alternative.

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005ckS">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005ckS</a> ?

They're not going to ban camera gear in carry-on luggage. They're not even talking about that. Talk about jumping to a wild conclusion!

 

All that the TSA is doing is paying more attention to the types of items that could be used to hid banned items. That includes looking at cameras more closely, and maybe subjecting them to the trace-element swabbing. There have been a rash of paranoid threads all over photo.net for the last week or so with predictions of everything from the TSA hassling photographers, to now, banning camera gear in carry-ons.

 

Everyone just needs to take a deep breath and calm down. All you're going to see is more careful screening and more attention paid to your camera. That's it.

I'm curious -

 

This is the text from the article you referenced: "the advisory will inform airport security officers to give extra scrutiny to some types of common carry-on items, to see if they might be concealing weapons".

 

Exactly how to you go from that, to the conclusion that the TSA is considering banning cameras from carry-on baggage? This type of mis-information is exactly how these ridiculous threads get everybody in a panic about nothing.

While there is no discussion of banning electronic gear as carry on items, some new hassles seem realistic. Now that cameras will be more scrutinized, the security people (who are often confused about film inspection rules) will do things many photographers will be uncomfortable with. They may decide to handle your gear instead of allowing you to demonstrate to them that your gear is legit.

 

In such an event, an agent may want to open the camera where poking at delicate shutters may occur. Fingerprints finding their way on lenses is possible, even a swab on the lense may occur. Pushing buttons and fiddling with controls may become common. If you object, more careless indifference could ensue.

 

I do not claim that these events are certain. Such occurances are possible, however, at various checkpoints considering the haphazard approach one finds at checkpoints despite established regulations. Close inspection is justified for today's security needs and there are lots of professionally minded people doing the job. Still, it is reasonable to fear and discuss what is next for the traveling photographer.

As I said in aother thread:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005fe7

 

"Forgive me for being cynical, but if they can parade dead bodies before the cameras, maybe they can show these "stun guns" that are supposed to flash units."

I travel about 3 times a month, and usually carry medium or large format equipment with me. I usually get stopped for a hand check, but have never had any issues. I usually tell them that it is photographic equipment, and offer to help them (politely) open the different lens wraps and compartments in the packs. I have never had any issues (even the day of that announcement), and usually have interesting conversations with people who mention the camera 'their grandfather used to have' - after seeing the LF gear.

I've had the exact scenario John mentions happen to me. I fly out of Dulles a lot and I had a TSA inspector open my Mini-Trekker full of Hasselblad equipment while I was being searched. *Every single item* was removed from the Mini-Trekker and I could see the ham-fisted inspector improperly handling my Flexbody by the delicate bellows assembly. I politely offered to help several times, but was flat out told no. Not a pleasant experience--I felt violated when the whole thing was over. The repacked bag was a mess and there was a jumbo thumbprint on one of the lenses. I quietly and politely voiced my concerns to a manager who did a good job of pretending I didn't exist. Your TSA at work.

I'm flying from New York to Frankfurt to Cairo tomorrow. This thread doesn't make me more nervous--nor did the TSA warning. It DOES mean that before I go to the airport my camera bodies will have no film in them and that I will get to the airport three hours early to allow for the extra security.

 

With no film in the bodies, I will have no problem opening them for guards and showing them that everything is normal. Let 'em look. EVERY airport security guard who has looked in my bag has been cautious, careful, and courteous.

 

I will be more worried if I have to check my camera bags. My suitcases always get bashed around and things get broken--like shampoo bottles and contact lens solution. Would you want my shampoo leaking all over your gear?!? Mix it with the solution and you get a bunch of lather in--and out--of the suitcase.

<I>"Forgive me for being cynical, but if they can parade dead bodies before the cameras, maybe they can show these "stun guns" that are supposed to (be) flash units."</I><P>Forgive me for being even more cynical, but they probably "can't find them". After all, thousands of presumably well trained and well equipped personnel have been searching for the "nuclear weapons" in Iraq for about 4 months and they can't find those either. And a nuclear warhead ready for delivery "within 45 minutes" would be bigger and more obvious than a modified flash unit.

This is just silly! The initial post is way over the top and over hyped whilst legit concerns about ignorant security staff x raying and handling your stuff unprofessionally is something we have come to approach carefully already anyway.

 

We should just get on with our lives. Every time I go through airport security, with the only exception being one cold December morning in Germany, everywhere in the world people are receptive to hand inspections and you showing them whats what, perhaps looking throguh a lens with the caps off to see its a lens etc - all it takes is patience and a polite request.

 

Relax!!!!

Karl, these stun gun flash units were supposedly found in a raid I believe in Germany. There has been a lot of flack lately on the TSA for the longer waits to be screened since they have reduced the size of the TSA force. Coupled with the fact that we are now getting to the two year anniversary for 9-11, and peoples memories are starting to fade. So in a case of "wag the dog" lets put out some threats to raise peoples consciences.

 

Don't get me wrong I don't mind security. It is just impossible to eliminate all threats. What sort of security measures will we have to go through if these cowards take a page from drug smugglers and stuff themselves with plastic explosives? I am just waiting for the day they ban all carry-on baggage.

... which doesn't help in the least against terrorists who are willing to commit suicide in the act of killing a few dozen innocent people: if luggage doesn't get aboard a plane unless the passenger it belongs to is aboard, a suicide bomber will pack a concealed bomb inside checked luggage, board the plane, and wait for it to break apart at 30,000'.

I recently (last 2 weeks) flew out of MSP. I was selected as a �select 8�. I don�t fly much but I guessed that means they check every 8th passenger closely or something to that effect.

 

They opened my carry on bag and glanced in, ran some paper through it and then ran the paper through the machine. They then asked to see my camera bag. I opened it just a bit and before I could take the camera out he ran some paper over the back of the camera, ran it through the machine, said ok, and sent me on my way.

 

I�ve heard of them asking people to open the back of the camera from time to time, but nothing more than that. I've never personally seen that request myself.

"The repacked bag was a mess and there was a jumbo thumbprint on one of the lenses. "

 

Does this mean we all should put a UV filter to avoid getting fingerprints on the front lens element? Also, I wonder how we would protect the rear element (can't put a filter on it for 95% of lenses). Any suggestions?

Just got back from a trip that took me through Spokane, Minneapolis and Duluth --a couple of days after the new security directive warning about cell phones, personal electronics, etc. was released. I hade 2 cell phones, a PDA , 2 chargers, and a small Nikon digital in my pack, my daughter had 2 cd players and a cell phone in hers, and not once were we questioned or examined any closer--in fact we were made it through security in less than a minute--including standing in line--faster than pre 9/11. I didn't see any one else get unduly hassled either--some poor guy had explosive residue on his shoes, but not electronic witch hunts.

Likewise, I came through Miami yesterday with camera, flash, lenses, assorted gadgets, and a pile of film. Asked for and received hand inspection of the film, and they did not even take the camera or flash out of my bag. They did check my back for explosive residue, and that was it.

 

The worst I have heard so far has been people having their equipment checked, piece by piece.

 

End of reality check. We now return you to your regularly scheduled rumours and speculation.

I just flew back and forth between NYC London Cairo. I was in Egypt for 2 months shooting for a project. I had a ton of equipment with me Flash, tripod, 6 lenses, and other equipment. it weighed a ton, certainly more than what BA allows but they allowed me aboard with it when i told them it was fragile photo equipment, most of which is irreplaceable...and not just that i was carrying an Egyptian Passport...and no one hassled me or thwarted me from going on my merry-way aboard with all my film equipment.