FYI: New TSA rules for Photographers

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1248.xml

 

Travelers & Consumers

Transporting Special Items

 

Transporting Film and Photographic Equipment

 

Photographic Equipment

 

You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to

one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening

checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's

carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air

carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport.

 

In cooperation with the American Society of Media Photographers, this

policy was expanded primarily to accommodate working photographers

traveling with sensitive, valuable equipment. Working photographers,

and other members of the traveling public, are encouraged to carry

photographic equipment and film as carry-on luggage.

 

Film

 

The equipment used to screen checked baggage will damage undeveloped

film. Pack your undeveloped film in your carry-on bag. High speed and

specialty film should be hand inspected at the security checkpoint.

To facilitate hand-inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the

canister and pack in a clear plastic bag.

 

The screening equipment will not affect digital cameras and

electronic image storage cards.

 

________________________________

 

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1035.xml

 

Transporting Film

 

WARNING: Equipment used for screening checked baggage will damage

your undeveloped film.

 

Traveling with Film

 

Never place undeveloped film in your checked baggage.

Place film in your carry-on baggage* or request a hand inspection.

 

* Carry-on screening equipment might also damage certian film if the

film passes through more than 5 times.

 

None of the screening equipment - neither the machines used for

checked baggage nor those used for carry-on baggage - will affect

digital camera images or film that has already been processed,

slides, videos, photo compact discs, or picture discs.

 

General use film **

 

You should remove all film from your checked baggage and place it in

your carry-on baggage. The X-ray machine that screens your carry-on

baggage at the passenger security checkpoint will not affect

undeveloped film under ASA/ISO 800.

 

If the same role of film is exposed to X-ray inspections more than 5

times before it is developed, however, damage may occur. Protect your

film by requesting a hand-inspection for your film if it has already

passed through the carry-on baggage screening equipment (X-ray) more

than 5 times.

 

Specialty film **

 

Specialty film is defined as film with an ASA/ISO 800 or higher and

typically used by professionals.

 

At the passenger security checkpoint, you should remove the following

types of film from your carry-on baggage and ask for a hand

inspection:

 

Film with an ASA/ISO 800 or higher

Highly sensitive X-ray or scientific films

Film of any speed which is subjected to X-ray surveillance more than

5 times (the effect of X-ray screening is cumulative)

Film that is or will be underexposed

Film that you intend to 'push process'

Sheet film

Large format film

Medical film

Scientific film

Motion picture film

Professional grade film

 

Other Tips and Precautions:

 

If you plan to request a hand inspection of your film, you should

consider carrying your film in clear canisters, or taking the film

out of solid colored canisters and putting it into clear plastic

bags, to expedite the screening process.

If you are going to be traveling through multiple X-ray examinations

with the same rolls of undeveloped film, you may want to request a

hand-inspection of your film. However, non-U.S. airports may not

honor this request.

If you plan to hand-carry undeveloped film on an airplane at an

international airport, contact the airport security office at that

airport to request a manual inspection.

Consider having your exposed film processed locally before passing

through airport security on your return trip.

We recommend that you do not place your film in lead-lined bags since

the lead bag will have to be hand-inspected. If you have concerns

about the impact of the X-ray machine on your undeveloped film, you

can request a hand inspection.

You may still consider bringing a lead-lined bag if you are traveling

through airports in other countries as their policies may vary. Check

with your airline or travel agent for more information on foreign

airports.

 

** This guidance was developed in cooperation with the International

Imaging Industry Association (I3A).

 

--

 

"At the passenger security checkpoint, you should remove the following types of film from your carry-on baggage and ask for a hand inspection:

 

Professional grade film"

 

hmm

I think it's good that we can ask any pro film to be hand-inspected. No questions asked, no hassle. Unfortunately apparently the cosmic rays at high altitudes cause much bigger damage than the carry-on x-ray scanner. And also, TSA rules don't apply outside of the USA.

Out-damn-standing. After hearing so many people gripe about how draconian they find the TSA to be, it's nice to have something solid to point to that shows how far the TSA is willing to go to accomodate photographers.

Yeah right! Try asking customs officals at Heathrow London for a hand inspection. (or JFK, Newark or Laguadia for that matter) not to mention San Marco, Gatwick, Charles De Gaulle etc. The minimum wage security staff at these posts start by looking at you like you have 2 heads, then point to a sign that says "OUR SCANNERS ARE FILM SAFE" (or words to that effect) and insist you put your bags through anyways. I have put film through hand baggage scanners and in check baggage no fogging no detoration of quality etc. The unfortunate events of 9/11 have turned the security operations of the US in to a minimum wage boom industry that dosen't know its ass from it's elbow. As for weight and size of your camera bag, I leave my bag on my back at all times an just forget it's there, if you dont point it out they wont ask. But do be considerate and make sure it fits in the overhead bin. Good luck on your travels.

There is an accumulative affect from film safe scanners as well, the more often they are scanned the worse the effect is. Not long aster 9.11 I travelled from Frankfurt to Nairobi via Heathrow. There was a total of 8 bag searches and x-rays I got away with a hand search at all but 2 in Heathrow they threatened to hand search me if I insisted on a hand search. Any film after 8 x-rays (no matter how �FILM SAFE�) will lose image quality.

 

I was also talking with a pro in Kenya about the same theme for him the problem was worse as all his middle and large format films don come in a nice little metal container, so when x-rayed they suffer. Also he told of one time when he asked for a hand search and the security guard said ok then threw the film bag into the x-ray machine.

You should make sure you check with the individual airline before you show up at the

airport. A representative from Alaska Air, for instance, told me:

<blockquote>

I have conferred with a supervisor at the airport and they have advised we

would not allow a third bag as a carry-on due to lack of space onboard the

aircraft.

</blockquote>

So long as the airlines are not onboard with this policy it doesn't really help us that we can

get our gear through the checkpoint.

<i>So long as the airlines are not onboard with this policy it doesn't really help us that we can get our gear through the checkpoint.</i><p>

 

It's not an issue of the airlines being "onboard with this policy." The TSA gives the airlines the right to allow or not allow the extra bag on the plane. A page that shows this is easily found <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1248.xml">here.</a>

OK Jeff, then let me re-phrase:

 

So long as the airlines only allow two bags, the TSA's policy is meaningless to us as

photographers--unless you think there is some advantage to being able to bring bags

through security which are not allowed on the planes.