Carrying Rigs on US Domestic Flights

[Basedude 0]

I havnt carried my BASE rig as hand on a US domestic flight since 9.11. (Never had any trouble before this) . I was wondering if this is a problem these days.
Anyone know what the general concesus is? I'll be flying from logan to BD this year and dont want hassel at the security check point but would also like to avoid luggage going missing/not arriving on time. thx!

[JaapSuter 0]

It's fine. In a way it's easier than skydiving rigs because the contents is much simpler. I've passed security with my rig in or out of the stashbag and only once did they even ask what it was. They never asked me to open it.

If you're worried, bring your USPA and/or USBA membership card. Also, print the letter available at the bottom of this website which you can show to them in case they start asking too many questions.

[Basedude 0]

VERY helpful. Thanks alot!

[VictorSuvorov 0]

On multiple occasions I have tested my luck unswerving the question: what is it? by explaining that that my base rig is just a new type of a tent (if looking from the back side), rock-climbing gear (if looking from the harness side) or just "recreational equipment" . I concluded that the personnel do not have the competence to tell the difference. I had a bad luck using a word "parachute" it got the vigilant inspectors alarmed and it took them 20 minutes to figure out what to do next

[Cleatus 0]

About a week and a half ago, I was flying with my rig. I was pulled aside to get grouped by the back of a liver spotted hand. Meanwhile, my stash bag also went for additional screening. All of a sudden I hear the unmistakable sound of a shrivel flap.(This sound gives me a erection, which lead to something else that I'll post on the Bonfire.) Anyway, I said, DUDE!? at which point several TSA people came to me and said I need to be quite. Fortunately, dude only pulled it about halfway open before he relized what it was. The point, they said if your bag gets picked for additional screening, that you can ask them to wait for you to be right there when they rifle through your shit.

[cornishe 0]

Actually, I think they arent allowed to open your shit without you there watching them. I yelled at them for that crap once and their reaction of "so sorry, so sorry" indicated they also felt they were doing something wrong.

This isn't Syria or Nazi Germany... yet.



.

Abbie Mashaal
Skydive Idaho
Snake River Skydiving
TandemBASE

[Zennie 0]

Same experience as Jaap. A couple of times the did the back-and-forth thing through the X-Ray machine to figure out what it was, but nobody has ever asked me anything about it.

I personally keep mine in a stash bag just to avoid attacting undue attention.

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[vid666 0]

I haven't had a problem. I had it in a stash bag, and one time even had the hook knife on it. Not a question. In fact I think my laptop was scrutinized more than my rig.

[wwarped 0]

on a recent trip, my buddy lugged 2 rigs around. no hassle, well, except for lugging 2 rigs around. several times he said, "watch my stuff."

personally, I check mine. especially if traveling alone. I don't want to be getting cozy with my rig while sitting in a stall somewhere...

DON'T PANIC
The lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
sloppy habits -> sloppy jumps -> injury or worse

[pullhigh 0]

I've never had any trouble carrying my base rig with me. I would however suggest removing the hook knife and placing it in your checked bag. Last trip out to TWF, Jalisco had a TSA agent actually tell another TSA guy that his was a parachute knife, and that it was designed not to hurt people, and therefor it was ok to carry on. Personally, I would not suggest hoping for that sort of response from a TSA dude.

Ganja

[rpersi 0]

Field pack your rig after jumping rather than just balling it up in a stash bag. Takes up less space and I get stopped for questioning much less when field packing. At the very most, they just swabbed my rig to test for traces of explosives.

Randy

[pullhigh 0]

Just be sure you never stand at the edge with a rig that has been field packed...

I've heard at least one story from my mentors about someone almost jumping a rig that was field packed.

What I learned from that was either it's in the container or it isn't....

Ganja

[rpersi 0]

I pack my pilot chute inside the rig when field packing to avoid any confusion.

[Skinflicka 0]

Quote

I pack my pilot chute inside the rig when field packing to avoid any confusion.

Hilarious!

Nice one.

$kin.

Prizes to anyone who gets to read my posts before Mr Aiello's son, Tom deletes them.

[DexterBase 1]

What you should have heard is that there was actually a rig jumped that was field packed. It resulted in a near-fatality that should have definitely been a fatality.

[DexterBase 1]

I've flown domestic and just worn my rig like a backpack. Out of the stash bag on my back with the legstraps hanging.

KMonster and I flew from Seattle to Sacramento and both wore our rigs. Our helmets were in our hands. The TSB guy asked, "Are those parachutes?" We answered, "Yes" He just nodded and let us through.

Since there's not much metal on a BASE rig, when it goes through the metal detector, there's nothing there to raise interest or suspicion. I would check the hook knife though, they cost $15 for a good one and it's a pain in the ass if yours gets confiscated.

[RhondaLea 4]

Quote

What you should have heard is that there was actually a rig jumped that was field packed. It resulted in a near-fatality that should have definitely been a fatality.

Then I think there have been two incidents, not only one. The '96 incident resulted in wet gear and no injuries--at least none so serious as to preclude he-who-forgot-to-pack from jumping the following day.

His companions, on the other hand, lived through a couple of rough hours I wouldn't wish on anyone.

rl

Some people are so fond of ill-luck that they run halfway to meet it. - Douglas William Jerrold

[rendezvous 0]

I carried it back and forth between new york and TF as carry on in a stash bag. Didn't have any problem. Of course, I did carry the Skydiving docs. too just in case but never needed to use it.

[base428 1]

Quote

Then I think there have been two incidents, not only one.

Yes, there were two field packed jumps. One in WV in 1996 with a water landing and the other in 2000 in Moab over hard land. Bill G and Nathan B.

Another thread on flying with a rig is here

(c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted. <==For the media only

[grundleson 0]

yeah, i carried my rig on no problem. they didnt say a word.

i did take out the hookknife to avoid any hassle with the highly trained TSA professionals. bah

Dont die!

[Faber 0]

Quote

I've heard at least one story from my mentors about someone almost jumping a rig that was field packed.

What I learned from that was either it's in the container or it isn't....

if having a hassel about taking it inside the harness,why not just pack it for a jump them..

im on your lowest line if its inside a harness its ready to be jumped..

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[huckfinn 0]

***

I've flown domestic and just worn my rig like a backpack. Out of the stash bag on my back with the legstraps hanging.

KMonster and I flew from Seattle to Sacramento and both wore our rigs. Our helmets were in our hands. The TSB guy asked, "Are those parachutes?" We answered, "Yes" He just nodded and let us through.
__________________________________________________

I've heard some base jumpers and skydivers say they do this and I never understand why. To draw attention to yourself and your rig, especially if it could delay getting on the plane, seems like you're just asking someone to wonder about it. A stash bag easily remedies this and even better, a lightweight backpack to just zip over the stash bag.

Ginny