Now official – Air Travel will Damage Film !!

[neil_r]

I am heading off to the US on Thursday next week and all my travel documents, tickets, itinerary etc arrived this week. Amongst this paperwork was a letter from “The Transportation Security Administration” (this is the US not UK) stating that they have now started screening all checked bags.

There are a list of do's and don’ts relating to how and what to pack, below are two direct quotes from the document:-

“Leaving bags unlocked will avoid the potential need for them to be opened forcibly”

“Recommend not placing film in checked bags, because screening equipment will damage it”

(Note it states will damage not might)

So I guess its official now, screening will damage film.

I am not a physicist but I do understand how x-rays can affect film but am I right in assuming that they cannot damage mag-media.

N

[eastcoast909]

Neil,

Prior to 9/11 most of the imaging equipment did not produce a large amount of radiation (x-rays) and or magnetic fields. The imaging requirements were such that the larger amounts were not required.

Since 9/11 the resolution requirements have increased to the level that a larger amount of energy is required to view the details needed. This means greater amounts of energy (x-rays) and magnetic fields in the newer machines. As a result, depending on the amount of shielding that the machinery has, the magnetic fields could be enough to change the properties of magnetic media.

[ssim]

As I understand it, the xray's used to screen checked baggage is much stronger than the one's where the passenger themselves are screened. Hence the warning on film in your checked baggage. There is not damage ot media types such as compact flash cards.

Here is the portion from the Canadian regulations and the link to their page. They pretty much parallel the US regulations.

18. Where should I pack my camera film?

You should pack your film in your carry-on baggage. CATSA has deployed new screening equipment for checked baggage at Canadian airports. This new equipment will damage camera film. Digital disks will not be affected by this new equipment.

The equipment used at pre-board screening (PBS) areas should not damage film under 800 ASA/ISO. Most amateur photographers use film in the 100-400 ASA/ISO range. However, multiple exposures (more than 5 times) of the same roll of film to PBS X-ray inspection may cause damage. If you are concerned about your film, once you have placed it in your carry-on baggage, you may request a physical search at the PBS area.

The link for the Canadian Air Transportation Security Agency.

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/english/index.htm

I know this doesn't address the US questions specifically but this may be of help to some of our members travellig to or within Canada.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Sheldon,.

I beleive the systems used in the US are pretty much the same.

My recent trip to Canada had similar warnings on the US end.. the checked baggage screening "machine" looked like something out of Dr. Seus that would put stars on Sneeches' bellies... essentially a giant cargo van sized Cat Scan looking tube thing... where as the carry on machine was not even as large as a pizza oven.

One could clearly understand that the "Star Bellied Sneech" aparatus was packing a much larger whallop....

My good friend and Scottes' penpal Arty Morris* :lol: recomends wearing your photographers vest loaded with film onto the plain. This article of clothing does not count as "carry on" and yet is spacious enough to stuff all your film and some other goodies..

*sorry.. inside joke...

[photoguynorth]

X-rays (at least at the levels used at airports) will not damage digital media, but the metal detectors generate magnetic fields, and are more likely to cause loss of data, although probably not damage the media itself. It is safe to check digital media.
At all the airports I've been through (North America only), they X-ray carry-on baggage, and don't pass it through the metal detectors. Don't carry the memory cards in a vest, that may cause damage.

[robertwgross]

A few years ago I was taking an intercontinental trip from San Francisco to Heathrow then Gatwick to Nairobi and on. Back then, I had a film camera only, so I had about 25 rolls of ISO 200 slide film. Naturally, I had all of my camera equipment and film in my carry-on bag so that it could not be easily stolen and so that it could be hand-inspected easily. I got through SFO and Heathrow, and then I got to Gatwick. As I approached the security inspection before the gate, I pulled out the one big clear bag of film and requested a hand inspection. The guard said "No problem." The rest of my carry-on bag went into the x-ray machine, and the guard looked at the bag of film. I stepped on through the metal detector doorway and started to look for my carry-on bag. Just then, as the guard finished looking at the bag of film, he laid it on the conveyor belt to run the film through the x-ray machine anyway. That kind of pissed me off. On the entire trip, I was going through quite a number of airports, and the total x-ray exposure was going to add up. Ahh, those Brits!

At Nairobi, they didn't look at anything. No x-ray. No nothing.

---Bob Gross---

[fotocom]

I flew from London to Orlando earlier this year taking only my digital camera and a couple of CF cards plus my laptop. On arrival in orlando (after an 8/9 hour flight) we were made to queue up and be searched. We were made to remove shoes, remove belts, take laptops out of their cases, put everything through the scanner including coats. (just what you need when all you want to do is get through the airport as quick as possible.)

Wearing a photo vest full of film would certainly have meant it being put through the scanner. I think the best thing is to use digital and keep the cards with you. When you go to the metal detector you always place all metal items on a tray which is passes around the outside. Place your cards here along with your watch, coins etc and it should avoid all scanning.

[Andy_T]

(Note it states will damage not might)


I assume that's their way to make it pretty clear to everybody who thinks about complaining afterwards that they'll just say 'Told you so...' :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

[MazerRakhm]

I beleive the systems used in the US are pretty much the same.

This is correct, I did quite a bit of traveling for work right after 9/11 and then post TSA takeover of the airline baggage screening process, and I would usually take my camera with me.

I would say 80% of the TSA reps there know which film can be scanned (Lower than ISO800) and will ask you when you present your film at the security checkpoint. The times that I’ve had a higher ISO film they were very cooperative, and just called someone over to do a hand search.

I do suggest doing a couple of things to make your, and their life easier in this process:
- Don’t leave film in the box packaging. I’ve seen them open this to get to the plastic canister. They just want to inspect the actual film canister, and sometimes pass the bomb wipe thing over it.
- Put all of your film in one bag. This makes it easier if they only have to search one bag, I usually had my film in a separate baggie that I could take out of my camera bag so that I could send the camera through the conveyer.

Link to the TSA site concerning film:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1035.xml

[blinking8s]

i am flying overseas to the middle east for xmas and have 100+ roles of black and white film going with me...looks like i will be lugging them over my shoulder...bummer

but they do make xray proof travel bags...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=179386&is=REG

[Jon]

i am flying overseas to the middle east for xmas and have 100+ roles of black and white film going with me...looks like i will be lugging them over my shoulder...bummer

but they do make xray proof travel bags...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=179386&is=REG

. . . which means they'll crank up the power until they can see through, or run it through again, or . . .

Put 'em in a clear plastic bag, out of their cannisters even. That's your best chance. Oh, and mix some high speed in with the rest to make it easier to justify hand-checking.

[blinking8s]

well, you dont check the xray pouch under the plane, but if they insist you put it in the carry on scanner then it might help a bit. I pass through about 10 of them on the trip home...its going to suck to request they be hand checked...

[Hellashot]

It's common knowledge that it will damage film. Take it as your carry on and tell them it's a camera and film so they don't xray it.

[bosamar]

Maybe you could fine a broadband connection and download everything to a server before you fly back. There are alot of free server options on the internet. Stop at an internet cafe, etc. Also, this would be a good idea if all of your media was full. Or burn it to a CD before flying back. Just a couple options.