Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/09/16

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Thoughts about cameras and the new aviation rules
From: Greg Locke <locke@straylight.ca>
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 21:43:18 -02-30

At 07:38 PM 9/16/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>I always put my film in lead bags when going through airports. When I'm
>carrying 1600 and 3200 I double-bag it. On some trips I've had to go through
>three carry-on xray screenings per flight, with a total of 12 or 15
>screenings before returning. No signs of trouble-- yet.

I would like to add that all airport x-ray machines are not created equal.

My experiences have been that the ones at large European airports the 
machines (Seimans which say "FILM SAFE" on them) are new design and minimum 
required dosage. I have never had problems with a couple of doses to carry 
on bags or checked luggage being x-rayed.

I took 300 rolls of Fujichrome (100 carry on, 200 in checked luggage) from 
St. John's to Toronto to London, Amsterdam and Nairobi without any 
noticeable problems.  All filmed was shipped back to North American 
magazines via courier or helpful airline pilots and was not subjected after 
being exposed.

HOWEVER!!!  many machines in US airports are old or not maintained well and 
they spray massive and excessive doses of xrays.
I have had film fogged in US airports.  Remember the effects are 
cumulative. Exposed film is more susceptible. If you cannot ship it home by 
courier, at least, try to have it processed locally.

as a side note...

In Amsterdam, a security officer came to the departure lounge and asked for 
me then requested I follow him. I was spooked.
He took me down a few back hallways and staircases and out on to the ramp 
right under the plane. My bag was sitting on the ground. He asked me to 
open it and remove the contents.... it seems their xray machine could not 
discern the tangle of batteries, chargers, bricks of film and wires in the 
middle if the case. ...and the best part was that he was VERY polite, calm 
and human.  Not the overbearing, paranoid Rambo's you find in Canada/US 
airports. But then again, he was Dutch. :^)

I'm not so much worried about ruined film as I am about the "pain in the 
arse" of having to spend a day at the airport for a domestic or regional 
flight because I have to travel with cameras and computers.


Greg Locke
St. John's, Newfoundland
http://www.greglocke.com
- -----------------------------------------
PictureDesk International .....news pictures ONLINE!
http://www.picturedesk.org  and http://www.newscom.com

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Replies: Reply from "Jim Laurel" <JimLaurel@earthlink.net> ([Leica] More M6 quality control problems)