security and film

[kcdizkid]

I have a question for all the recent cruisers out there....Has anyone had any difficulty with the security x-rays and there camera film at the Orlando airport? A recent travel article I read warned that with increased security and the higher x-ray concentration, travelers were experiencing damaged film.
I know that Orlando is one of the busiest airports in the country and they have some of the newer and more powerful security equipment.

I'm trying to decide if now is the time to invest in a digital camera....any news??? TIA

 

[taswira]

I am a professional wildlife photographer. The increased security screenings have been a nitemare for me with my film. The problem is that the effects of x-rays are cumulative. Taking slow speed film through once or twice is okay. Aything more, or with high-speed film, and you are likely to see some fogging at least.

Now is an excellent time for you to go digital. Make sure you research thoroughly and think about your present and future needs. At the consumer/prosumer level, you can get anything from the simplest point-and-shoot to models that have many features of a 35mm SLR and allow you to add optional lenses/accessories. Don't fall for a high digital (interpolated) zoom feature unless it also has high optical (true) zoom.

 

[mikeymars]

I know on past trips (pre-9/11) that when going through airport security I've always be able to request that my film (which I keep in a clear plastic bag) be manually hand checked and NOT sent through the x ray. Does anyone know if one can still ask for that? Also, when you board the ships does Disney X-ray the bags you are hand-carrying (I know some other lines do, some don't) and if so, can you request the security staff to also manually check film?

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Being a professional, maybe taswira can tell us whether this helps or not, but I always pack film in a lead-lined bag when travelling, and have never had problems. Then again, I don't use really fast film, probably ASA 400, tops. The bag cost probably less than $10 at a camera shop. Sometimes, security makes you take it out and open it up, other times it just goes right through. Once, pre 9/11/01, they even swept my backpack with an explosives detector of some sort after having me open the lead bag.

Mikeymars,

Yes, DCL does pass your carry-ons through an x-ray machine, similar to those at airports. This happens when embarking, and when re-boarding in ports. Post-9/11, they started to do it on Castaway Cay as well. Prior to that, you could walk on and off the ship at CC without even having to show your key to the world card.

 

[taswira]

In the past all I ever did was pack my film canisters (without the boxes) in heavy-duty clear ZipLock plastic bags, and request that they hand-check them. That usually worked inside the U.S. Recently I was appalled at Orlando airport when, upon my request, they took my bags of film (high speed), stared at the canisters in the bags and then, without a word, put them on the belt through the x-ray machine!

I have occasionally packed film in lead-lined bags, but when I travel internationally (particularly Amsterdam, Nairobi, etc) they have sometimes INSISTED on removing them from the bags and putting them through the x-ray. Nowadays I always carry a digital camera in addition to my SLRs. For the latter, I try to buy film at my destination when possible, so it will go through x-ray as little as possible.

 

[mikeymars]

Regarding the unfortunate incident taswira ran into with the security staff at the Orlando Airport, here is what is stated in Section E of Article 108 of the current FAA "Airplane Operator Security" regulations:

"No certificate holder may use an X-ray system to inspect carry-on or checked articles UNLESS A SIGN IS POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE AT THE SCREENING STATION AND ON THE X-RAY SYSTEM WHICH NOTIFIES PASSENGERS THAT SUCH ITEMS ARE BEING INSPECTED BY AN X-RAY AND ADVISES THEM TO REMOVE ALL X-RAY, SCIENTIFIC AND HIGH-SPEED FILM FROM CARRy-ON AND CHECKED ARTICLES BEFORE INSPECTION. THIS SIGN SHALL ALSO ADVISE PASSENGERS THAT THEY MAY REQUEST THAT AN INSPECTION BE MADE OF THEIR PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT AND FILM PACKAGES WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO AN X-RAY SYSTE....IF REQUESTED BY PASSENGERS, THEIR PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT AND FILM PACKAGES SHALL BE INSPECTED WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO AN X-RAY SYSTEM."

Bottom line: if requested, security staff at the airports MUST inspect film by hand without running it through the x-ray.

Like Senor, I have a lead-lined bag which I've used in the past, and if I recall correctly I've never had security request that it be inspected (it went through the x-ray, no questions asked). I'll bring it with me on this trip, but only for use when boarding the ship (Disney obviously isn't regulated by the FAA, so they don't have to hand inspect film if requested - anyone have an idea if they do?). At the airports, my film is going into that clear plastic bag which will I will insist (politely, of course) hand inspection of.

 

[smorowski]

we kept our film in a ziploc and asked for hand check--it took at least 20 minutes. . .they took each roll out of canister and used a cloth to try to pick up explosives. . .took for ever--almost didn't make it to the plane. . .go digital!!!!

 

[taswira]

Reply to mikeymars: I am well aware of what the sign says. What I have run into at a variety of airports is that there is NO actual standard procedure. A checker at LAX said high-speed is 1600, nothing less. In Minneapolis this month, they hand-checked my 800 but not my 400 (which went through the machine). In Paris everything (100 to 800) was put through the machine. As I said about MCO, they appeared to be hand-checking it at my request, but then set it on the belt and sent it through x-ray. So the gist of it is - yes, ask politley (I always do), but you can't count on anything as it seems to change from day to day and checker to checker. It's better to at least have a good digital as a back-up if you really need/want good pictures.

As for DCL, they DID hand-check my film and barely glanced at it. But the bottom line is that you can't count on anything. All you can do is, as you said, politely ASK.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by taswira
What I have run into at a variety of airports is that there is NO actual standard procedure.

Bingo, and I'm aware of that problem. As you are likely aware there are several web pages with large discussions of people's various post 9/11 experiences asking for hand inspection of film. I spent a decent amount of time this morning reading them, and in American airports, the worst case scenarios (only a few) I saw were people who ended up demanding a manager, who was shown a copy of the FAA rules by the passenger (yes, I'm carrying a copy with me to the airport) and then politely told "as you are aware, this is the Federal rule, and it is in the manuals you refer to in running this operation. I am asking your staff to comply with those rules and hand inspect my film. If they do not, I will file a formal complaint against this operation with the FAA."

If you think that doesn't get action, think again. I've run into problems in the past with airline staff (about child seats, of all things), and the moment I mention filing a formal complaint with the FAA, trust me, they listen. Most of the time. One pilot challenged me to file a complaint. I did, AND HE AND THE AIRLINE ENDED UP BEING FINED BY THE FAA.

Again, I'll be polite when asking, but if some local yocal tries to force my film into the x-ray, I'm more than willing to go down the "go ahead, make my day" path.

 

[Chris in Boise]

Mikey - I want YOU to be in front of me in the security line. Give 'em hell!

Do you have a web link where I can print out the official FAA page with that info?

Thanks!

 

[mikeymars]

Chris, my intent isn't to give anyone hell, but if they idiotically rush to that door, I'm not going to get in their way. As for the link, I'll dig it up and come back to post it.