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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

TSA camera damage - WARNING!

Recently flew into Kansas City for a commercial shoot with our RED in a Pelican 1510 carryon. On the return flight out of KC the plane was a "regional jet" with smaller overhead bins. The stewardess refused to allow me on with it. This happened AT the airplane door during boarding. This was not a small plane you enter on the tarmac. We boarded thru a jetway.

I don't think there is a foolproof method either way.

You don't want to hear my story about Fedex CRUSHING one of my anvil cases. All I know is there were tire tread marks on the case. (seriously)

RA Post
 
Maybe they`re going to save fuel by reducing bleed air extraction of the hp and lp stages and powering less acm packs, or you have to pay for it...I was in kinda situation where I entered the aircraft (a 737) and it was at least 104 degrees fahrenheit...this heat remained until we landed...
 
We always check our cameras - have for 40 years. Overall have had less damage and less airport issues than carrying on. The key is in the cases and the organization - we opt for more, well organized, cases with fewer items in them. If we are uncomfortable with the TSA we watch them inspect the checked baggage - usually if we explain our concerns they are cooperative.

You also should be aware that most airlines offer a special tariff for motion picture equipment when traveling domestically. This is a flat rate for multiple bags. Just Google the airline and add "Contract of Carriage" - read it carefully and it will usually tell you the details. For example, United's language is buried on page 32 but it says:

E) SPECIAL BAGGAGE CHARGES- APPLICABLE TO TRAVEL WITHIN THE
U.S., BETWEEN THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO/U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.
NOTE: CAMERAS, FILM, AND LIGHTING AND SOUND EQUIPMENT WILL BE
ACCEPTED WHEN TENDERED BY FILM-MAKING COMPANIES, UPON PAYMENT OF
USD 50.00 PER ARTICLE.​


The tariff also usually has more liberal size and weight restrictions.​

For international travel we usually call in advance and negotiate a fee. Make sure you get it in writing and that you get the fee confirmed both ways because fees are based on point of origin.​

What this means is that you can travel with more cases that really protect the equipment. When was the last time you saw anyone carrying a Panaflex on board?​

Travel IS a hassle and driving is still the best way to go - we compare costs and will often send out our semi or straight truck with everything ahead of time - costs is surprisingly close and we can sure take a hell of a lot more. Usually a couple of crew members are happy to drive. Even the van is a better option than flying.​

But when you must make sure you take advantage of the special treatment our industry has negotiated for us.​

Thanks,​

Jim​

ONE ADDITIONAL NOTE - PRINT THE CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE AND HIGHLIGHT THE SPECIAL FEE SECTION - WILL SAVE YOUR ASS WITH AGENTS UNFAMILIAR WITH IT. YOU NEED ONE FOR EACH AIRLINE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
 
Sean Michael Johnston said:
I trust my gear more with FedEx than when checked onto the same airplane I'm flying. When at all possible I try to drop-ship equipment.
Click to expand...

I've been drop shipping for years, with no issues.
Definitely my preferred method.

On one trip a few years ago, scheduling dictated that one case fly
back with me as a checked item.
The folks at LAX opened up a full set of Zeiss Digiprimes.
I watched in horror from a distance as these guys man-handled
these lenses like they were unlabeled cans of peas. Yikes.
 
on the way to SFO I got the look like we were trying to sneak a rocket launcher in through security. They make me build the camera and turn it on for them to prove it was a camera. I figure since it was SFO they would have seen the RED before.
 
the last two flights ive been on.. tsa didnt even take a second look at my camera. no swab or anything..
as long as you carry the body on.. send it through the xray, you should have no problems..
they most likely will swab.. but that is a min long procedure. I have been lucky and just walk right through
 
Lax

Lax

i guess i just got lucky today. they didn't even open my case and look at the camera at LAX. now on the way to LA i flew out of Little Rock, Ar and i thought the TSA agent was going to drop my camera. she was nice but told me i could watch her inspect but i could not touch while she worked.

overall for a first flight with the red packed in a Tamrac expedition 7x, it was pleasant experience with the TSA.
 
I have a funny airport-security-related story.. not exactly camera related, but visual effects related, here goes:

I always carry a ton of electronic junk.

Airport guy wants to look in bag. He opens. Finds, among my junk, a copy of Cinefex magazine.

It was a harry potter edition (flaming goblet) with the ugly mermaid thingy on the front.

He looks at it with THE most puzzled expresison ever, and asks "W T F is this?" I explain, it's from a movie, its computer graphics, it's tricks, and that I work in the visual effects industry...

...this is when he leans over to me, and whispers "So do I. This is all just for show".

/Z
 
MasterZap said:
I have a funny airport-security-related story.. not exactly camera related, but visual effects related, here goes:

I always carry a ton of electronic junk.

Airport guy wants to look in bag. He opens. Finds, among my junk, a copy of Cinefex magazine.

It was a harry potter edition (flaming goblet) with the ugly mermaid thingy on the front.

He looks at it with THE most puzzled expresison ever, and asks "W T F is this?" I explain, it's from a movie, its computer graphics, it's tricks, and that I work in the visual effects industry...

...this is when he leans over to me, and whispers "So do I. This is all just for show".

/Z
Click to expand...

lol :)
 
I know an old lady (a UK pensioner) who, about ten years ago now, and with no apparent justification, had a much worse experience in an American airport, involving her body, on her way home from a holiday.
In an American airport, I get the impression you have less rights than you might assume..
 
i was in arizona years ago and found some unspent rifle rounds someone had been shooting at some cactus. i accidentally left them in my carry on bag and didn't realize it till I GOT HOME! thats F*cked up and would have gladly relinquished it at the airport had i know or been found.
that being said i agree that if carrying sensitive gear you should be allowed and demand the right to a visual inspection of the repack.
 
I'm in NYC right now on a shoot. I sent everything except the body, EVF, 1 lens, 1 battery, and essential cables ahead via UPS. I hand carried the body, etc. I don't trust TSA or baggage handlers. I was in an airport one time and the TSA guy kept inspecting my shotgun mic. He finally asked, "What is this thing?" I said, "a microphone," being real careful not to say shotgun.
 
Just FYI, Customs is cracking down on those who take data storage devices (including flash memory) and laptops in and out of the US (for the sake of anti-terror efforts and preventing child pornography from being moved) so make sure you send any important production-sensitive footage home via an alternate method if you are filming outside the US with your RED. Upload it whenever possible if you have a reliable means of doing so.
 
The original problem was UNACCOUNTABLE POWER as in government security employees destroying people's personal property with impunity. This is an unacceptable situation. Government agents with unaccountable power is fascism.

The assumption has been, since the 90s at least, that you lose your constitutional rights when you enter an airport. They can take you aside and strip search you (every inch of you) at will, and you have no legal protections, according to the federal interpretation of their powers. This abuse of the constitution arose out of the "drug war" which is, of course a "war" against our own citizens -- citizens who have a constitutional Bill of Rights which cannot just be set aside by the government without a long, laborious constitutional amendment process (that would not fly).

Unaccountable state power is unconstitutional. If you are a victim of this, you should stand up and demand a redress, whether it be lawsuits or whatever processes are in place. Apparently there are no processes in place, from this anecdotal evidence, and so lawsuits would be the next step. A class action lawsuit against the TSA would be appropriate for everyone who has lost personal property due to government employee negligence or malice.

That is, of course, only the tip of the spear as it were. If your name ends up on "the list", there is no way to get it off. That is more unaccountable power. The "no fly list" is inherently unconstitutional. If you have committed a crime, you should be arrested. If not, there is no justification to be denied transportation for the rest of your life. These practices are being used against US citizens, with unaccountable impunity.

Someone suggested giving these people AK-47s, as if that would mean they were suddenly trustworthy and competent? Are you insane?
 
Brent J. Craig said:
Exactly! Those guys are trained. They are smart, serious and thorough! They are not local yahoos who were too dumb, too fat or too whatever to be accepted in the police academy so they answered the TSA ad.

True security is quite different from security theatre. Sure, the TSA's theatrics have made enough people feel secure in flying that (most) airlines have not gone out of business. "Ooh! I had to remove my loafers. Those guys are serious!"
Click to expand...

I could not agree more. The ONLY time I have ever experienced airport security that was worth a shit was at Tel Aviv. I got the full treatment (short of the lubed glove) including 3 hours of interrogation in a back room.

I didn't mind one bit, because it was clear that they were pros, and they weren't just going through the motions. And the woman asking the questions was HOT.
 
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