TSA & traveling with rigs as carry on

[rjackson 0]

I haven’t traveled with my rig as carry on baggage in a while. I just checked with the TSA website and the game looks the same even though they don’t have that nice pdf that you can print out to take with you.

Is the TSA handling rig the same as they did a couple of years ago? Assuming of course that there are a few bad apples out there.

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Randy

[daremrc 0]

I flew for the first time with my rig in June, from Detroit to Sacramento & back.

Both airports called a supervisor and had me take my carry-on gear bag to the inspection area. They swabbed it and in a matter of 45 seconds sent me on my way.

I was suprised that they didnt even want to open the gear bag, but just swabbed the outside of it.. I wonder if they thought the gearbag was the rig itself...?

Good judgement comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgement.

[Cashmanimal 0]

I travel with my rig about every 6 weeks or so. I have never run into a problem.

Just keep a copy of the AAD x-ray (if you have one--Airtec provides a handy one with a Cypress). It basically says they can't deny you because of your rig. I have even left my hook knife on my chest strap a few times and they never said a thing.

It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

[mik 2]

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I travel with my rig about every 6 weeks or so. I have never run into a problem.

Just keep a copy of the AAD x-ray (if you have one--Airtec provides a handy one with a Cypress). It basically says they can't deny you because of your rig. I have even left my hook knife on my chest strap a few times and they never said a thing.

I have lost two or three hook knives having left in a hurry and forgotten to remove them. Now I usually put my rig in a plastic crate in the hold

***********************************************
I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

[monkycndo 0]

I want my rig as carry-on on the way to where I am jumping. If my checked gear gets lost by the airline, I can scrounge goggles, alti, helmet that will fit. It's a lot harder to find a complete rig that will fit. On the way home, I'm less concerned because there is more time for the airline to find my stuff.

I sometimes carry both of my rigs when I travel. I pack each (carry on and checked) with a large envelope that contains the AAD x-ray card, the TSA letter authorizing rigs on planes and my name & cell #. On the outside of the envelope has the following in big bold letters:

TSA
Skydiving parachute information inside
Contact me prior to removing parachute for search(cell #)

My checklist for packing either rig includes securing the cutaway handle and removing the hook knife. I've never had a problem with these steps.

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[Morrison79 0]

I am trying to find a copy of the AAD X-Ray. Anyone got a link???

Thanks

[kallend 2,105]

It seems to depend on the airport.

I've had no trouble at all in Chicago (O'Hare and Midway) but I've heard of others who have. Each time I go through Ontario (near Perris) or Tampa (near Z-Hills) I get asked to open the bag and they swab the rig it with the sensitive paper.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[monkycndo 0]

Search is your friend.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1750698;search_string=xray%20card%20aad%20cypres;#1750698

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[JeepDiver 0]

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I have lost two or three hook knives having left in a hurry and forgotten to remove them. Now I usually put my rig in a plastic crate in the hold

The single item I had stolen out of my checked luggage last flight I was on. I always carry my rig on, never been a problem but I am always selected for the random screening.

[BMFin 0]

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Just keep a copy of the AAD x-ray (if you have one--Airtec provides a handy one with a Cypress). It basically says they can't deny you because of your rig. I have even left my hook knife on my chest strap a few times and they never said a thing.

Actually it doesnt matter what Airtec says.. Or do you think they should let you take a gun as a carry on if you have a card from airtec that says its ok ?

What matters here is that the "Chapter Section 17.2 of Version 4.0 of the Screening Checkpoint Standard Operating Procedure." allows rigs as a carry on.

And as it says in the USPA website:


"Skydivers encountering unsatisfactory treatment should contact USPA at 540-604-9743 or e-mail us. Be ready to provide the airport, date and time of flight, airline and flight number, and names of TSA officials involved."


I have gone thru screening at dozen airports and most of the time they wont pay much attention to the gear bag. Sometimes they try to deny it, but politely referring to the above SOP has always helped..


But remember, there are no rules abroad conserning rigs as carry ons.. So when you are coming back from where ever abroad they dont have to let you take your rig as a carry on.

These occasions I always ask the screeners to point out in black and white that would deny rigs as carry on and normally it helps.. (unless you are in frrance or something..) Sure the airtec card and a good attitude might help most of the times too.

USPA has done good work on this matter, I wish the Finnish organization had done the same.. (maby I just have to do it myself)

[simplyputsi 0]

I traveled for the first time with my rig a few weeks back. I had my cypress card ready to present. My bag goes through I see the belt stop. It goes back a little, then forward, stops, I'm like ughhhh here it comes. Then the belt starts moving forward my bag comes off and another bag starts to come behind it.

"Sir is this your bag" I'm about to answer and the guy behind me goes yeah.
"Do you have a water bottle in there"
Yes
"You can't take that with you"

I laughed, kept my mouth shut, grabbed my bag and kept moving.

Same happened on the way back, but the lady had a coke can in her bag.

So, so far I'm happy with my experience traveling with my bag as a carry on.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[tdog 0]

My advice from experience:

1) Declare what is in the bag before it goes thru the Xray. "Sir, I just wanted you to know there is a skydiving parachute in this duffel bag." This is because they have to have the supervisor do the hand inspection, so they can call them over before they discover what it is themselves.

(I tried not saying anything once, and the guy actually pressed the "get more people here" button thinking the wires looked too much like a bomb. When he figured it out, he asked me, "is this a parachute?" I said "yes". He said, "Thank god, I seriously thought it was, a you know, 'poof'. All those wires..." The sweat on his forehead, and the sudden crowd of police around me, made me believe him).

2) If the main is unpacked inside the duffel, it can make the screeners feel more comfortable because they feel less is hidden inside. By the time they get thru a few square feet of fabric with their wand, they dig less.

3) I never have gotten defensive or told the person what to do. Never had to give them the USPA letter or Cypres card (although I have them). Hence, they always are good to me. Sometimes we have some small talk about the boogie I am going to, etc. If they small talk, I small talk back.

4) When they open the duffel I always offer, "Would you like me to pull it out and show it to you?" I do this because I see the guys intimidated by the handles afraid that they will "set it off". I typically say, "just don't pull on this handle", but show the rig can be handled like a rig, not a box of china. When they feel they can handle it and know what not to touch, typically they are more comfortable. Often though they just leave it in the duffel and do their swabs.

[NWFlyer 2]

Excellent advice, and it pretty much mirrors my experience, and I have traveled with my rig quite a bit.

Really, the key is to be patient and polite. Most of the time if they do want to look at it, they'll send it back through outside of its bag (I carry it in a rolling case), and/or they'll want to swab it. Unlike most people I have actually had to pull out the AAD card, but it's been a good opportunity for education. Lots of time I want to roll my eyes and get annoyed, but I just take a deep breath and it has always worked out fine, though sometimes it takes a little more effort and education and even escalation.

When someone expresses concern about the rig, I ask for a supervisor if they haven't already. Oftentimes it's the first time the screener has seen a rig, but the supervisors have seen them before. There's one in particular in Seattle who will just look at his staff when they're all worried about a rig and say "Yeah, so? Swab it and don't pull any handles."

A sense of humor and rapport can help most of the time, too. I have joked before about the AAD saying "it's actually packed inside my reserve container, and I have to get an FAA rigger to repack that if we open it... I don't think either of us wants to bother getting the FAA involved!" Then you're co-conspirators rather than adversaries.

I've only had to talk a supervisor off the ledge twice. Once was in Oakland where she wanted to see "my orders." I had to explain that I was a civilian who skydives for fun, not anyone operating under anyone's "orders." Another time was in Boston where the screeners had created such a frenzy about the AAD that the supervisor was going to make me check the rig until he finally saw the x-ray himself and realized what he was looking at.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[rjackson 0]

Thanks everyone....

Looks like its about the same as before.

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Randy

[billvon 3,059]

>Declare what is in the bag before it goes thru the Xray.

I actually do the opposite. I don't call attention to it, and just wait to see if they have any questions. About half the time they do, and then they generally want to swab it. Has worked for me.

[Icon134 0]

I traveled with my rig last weekend through Columbus, OH and Phoenix, AZ In Columbus my gear bag (a Samsonite Roller bag) went through with out even skipping a beat...

On the way back one of the inspectors noticed the metal buckle on one of my leg straps and they requested to open the bag at which time they discovered the parachute. At this point one of the TSA personnel took me to the side and had me remove the rig from the gear bag and swabbed it in various locations. The woman doing the inspection commented at one point that she was always nervous when she ran these tests because if the alarm goes off she is required to have us open the container... (I mentioned that I didn't mind opening the main but would have some issues opening the reserve as an FAA rigger was needed to repack it...)

overall it wasn't a big deal...

oh, for what its worth I carried the Cypres card but didn't have a copy of the TSA letter. (since its no longer available on the TSA website)

The biggest thing I am conserned about is if I ever have to fly with my camera gear as it is high value equipment and I woudn't want to have to pack it in my checked bags unsecured...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[LloydDobbler 2]

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oh, for what its worth I carried the Cypres card but didn't have a copy of the TSA letter. (since its no longer available on the TSA website)

I had to do a bit of digging, but I eventually found this TSA letter tucked away on the USPA website. Thought I'd post it in case anyone else was having trouble finding it.

I usually carry it, and the info from this USPA page, and highlight all the explanatory info, such as me being allowed to be present, them not being allowed to open it unless they detect trace explosives, etc.

I also highlight the bit that reads "Skydivers encountering problems with screeners should request that the screener's supervisor become involved. Skydivers should insist that the supervisor review "Chapter Section 17.2 of Version 4.0 of the Screening Checkpoint Standard Operating Procedure." Skydivers encountering unsatisfactory treatment should contact USPA at 540-604-9743 or e-mail us. Be ready to provide the airport, date and time of flight, airline and flight number, and names of TSA officials involved."

Figure if it gets to the point where I need to pull out the paperwork, it might be a good idea to let them know, in a non-confrontational manner, that I'll be taking it up with some people higher up if they don't let me through.

Hope it helps.

Signatures are the new black.

[NWFlyer 2]

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>Declare what is in the bag before it goes thru the Xray.

I actually do the opposite. I don't call attention to it, and just wait to see if they have any questions. About half the time they do, and then they generally want to swab it. Has worked for me.

I've done both and it appears to make no difference as to the level of attention that they will pay to it.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[freakyrat 1]

I had no problems carrying it through Dallas Love Field or Houston Hobby this past summer. Usually at Hobby they like to swab it but this time they didn't. I packed it in a Rollerboard type bag both times. I guess they are just getting used to seeing them.


Chris

[hackish 8]

I asked a customer who used to be a baggage screener for the local (Canadian) airline. He said the most important thing is to be friendly and non-confrontational. Basically if you're a prick then they'll be pricks.

If you're concerned then try calling the airline before you fly. Get the info from them - this way if the baggage person says "you can't check that" you'll be able to tell them that you already spoke with Mr. X and he said it would be ok.

-Michael

[BMFin 0]

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If you're concerned then try calling the airline before you fly. Get the info from them - this way if the baggage person says "you can't check that" you'll be able to tell them that you already spoke with Mr. X and he said it would be ok.

-Michael

I think this is a bad idea since :

-Airlines dont handle the screening at all. They dont have a clue when it comes to more detailed info about what is allowed and what is not.

-If they redirect you to an instant that should know about this mattere and they dont, they are much more likely to just say NO even if they should just say I dont know.

-Only TSA has rules about the matter. In the states this thing is crystal clear. Outside TSA jurisdiction there are no rules (not that I know of) concerning the matter. (wich means they are allowed as carry on) But whenever any screener comes up with a situation that they are not sure of they will most likely say that its forbidden..

[NWFlyer 2]

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-Only TSA has rules about the matter. In the states this thing is crystal clear. Outside TSA jurisdiction there are no rules (not that I know of) concerning the matter. (wich means they are allowed as carry on) But whenever any screener comes up with a situation that they are not sure of they will most likely say that its forbidden..

Kind of tangential, but there are sometimes airline-imposed weight restrictions for carry-on bags that some rigs will fall under. I've not heard of this with US carriers (or int'l carriers operating out of the US) but I did run into it last year with Air Canada when flying back into the US from Toronto. 10KG/22LB weight limit, which my rig is above, enforced by weighing all carry-on luggage at check-in. If the rule even exists, they didn't enforce it going to Canada from the US, though. I think there's some carriers in Europe where the same rules apply.

But, in that case it's not about the rig, but the size of the rig, and it's not an issue in the U.S.

Be informed about what you can and can't do, be calm, stay reasonable, and escalate it up the supervisory chain if you need to. If you follow that, you'll find that any problems are usually a matter of lack of understanding that can be resolved.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[DougH 270]

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If you're concerned then try calling the airline before you fly. Get the info from them - this way if the baggage person says "you can't check that" you'll be able to tell them that you already spoke with Mr. X and he said it would be ok.

TSA doesn't give two shits about any conversation you had with so and so from southwest airlines 1-800 number, even if they do have a cool name like "Mr. X".

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[billvon 3,059]

>Only TSA has rules about the matter. In the states this thing is crystal
>clear. Outside TSA jurisdiction there are no rules (not that I know of)
>concerning the matter. (wich means they are allowed as carry on)

Well, anyone from the airline to the pilot can refuse to carry them. I was once getting on a commuter flight; the pilot saw the parachute and said "that is not going in the cabin!" So it had to get checked. A while back there was one airline that refused to allow them in the cabin; I believe they no longer have a policy on the matter.

[kallend 2,105]

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But, in that case it's not about the rig, but the size of the rig, and it's not an issue in the U.S.

.

It can be an issue on some of the smaller commuter planes on account of (lack of) availability of in-cabin stowage space.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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