Compact Flash vs Airport X-Rays

[WSpruance]

What is the best way to protect my compact flash card memory when going through airport security?
Checked Luggage?
Carry on x-ray?
Carry in person through x-ray?
In Camera?

Thanks in advance.

[gmolony]

I'm by no means an expert but I just spent a week in Venice, Italy and going thru the airport on our return trip I lost two folders on a CompactFlash card (200 pictures). I can only attribute this to the X ray machine. We needed to pass thru the x-ray machine twice. I know the pictures were on the card before I passed the security gate because I was viewing them just prior to arriving in the airport. When I tried to put the card in the camera and view them on the plane they had disappeared. I have been using the same card since then with no problems. I had two other folders on the card that were fine?? I am going to try passing them to an attendent with out being x-rayed next trip.
If anyone has a better idea I would be interested also.

[zebron]

I have taken CF cards through airport security dozens of times, and never had a single problem. One solution to get around the problem is to dump the photos on to hard drive (laptop etc...) If you do have a portable HD device with you, leave the CF cards in a pocket and pass through the metal detector. If they go off, just say that you do not want them to go through the XRay machine and show that they work with your camera.

Z

[RbnDave]

I am an airline pilot. For the last year and a half I've brought my S30 to work with me. It gets run through an X-ray machine three to five times a week. So far, I've never had a problem. I also carry a spare CF card in the camera case. I've had no problems with files on the spare either.

Dave

www.pbase.com/rbndave

[robertwgross]

CF cards are relatively immune to radiation from an airport Xray machine, and there have been virtually no documented cases of damage. Anecdotes to the contrary, I would much rather carry CF cards through than carry film through.

(A film story)
I had traveled internationally and then checked in at London - Gatwick. I approached the Xray inspection, and I pulled the lead-lined film bag out of my carry-on. Then I asked for a hand inspection, so I pulled the top open for the inspector. Then I stepped forward through the metal detector doorway. The inspector closed the top on the film bag and then threw it on the conveyor belt to go through the Xray machine!

---Bob Gross---