Topic: microphones and airport security???

[Since85]

I just brought my gear to Chicago. All went well except for my SLA battery. They didn't like that much. Basically they said it would cause me to get my bag inspected everytime I brought it through security. Sure enough they checked me both ways because of the battery.

A workaround for you guys,

Put your SLA's in a different grey bin (that goes throught the x-ray conveyor belt) than any other equipment (taping gear, laptop, etc.). Security does not like SLA's because of the density of the material inside, they can't see throught it, thus they might assume it contains explosive material. This way, they will just reinspect the batteries without having to go throught the enitre bag it is in. It will save you time and effort in getting through security.

Good luck!

[Tall Adam]

i flew to FL with my gear. shipped my stand with other stuff going down (for work) via UPS so that was no issue). my gear bag i brought carry on. went through the Xray machine, the operator stopped it and said loudly "i need a good pair of eyes!" i knew what that was about . my bag and me got pulled to the side. i passed through the detector just fine so i didnt get searched but they did my bag a one over with the bomb wand thingy, unpacked my bag a bit, looked around, let me go.

way back they stopped the belt, came over to me with it in the Xray and said "what kind of electronics do you have in your bag?" i said, "audio recording equipment and a digital camera." they looked at the xray again and let it through no problems.

I dont have SLAs but i do have walmart dvd batteries. all in all rather painfree

[morningdew]

I just got back from flying Chicago to Dallas.  On the way down I had a UA-5 stuffed down on the inside of my carry on.  I thought they were going to go ballastic when they scanned it.  Sure enough they pulled me, my bag and two security agents aside after it went through the tunnel.  They opened up my bag, slowly unpacked it and just set the UA-5 to the side.  They were only interested in one thing.  My breathing machine (I have sleep apnea).  They guy said "These breathing machines are one of those items that will always get some attention so you may want to consider packing it so it is more easily accesable.  It makes no difference to us, but then we just wouldn't have to go through your whole bag to get to it and it wouldn't be so much of an inconvience to you."  He was very nice about it.  I said "Actually, I thought that would gather the most attention." Pointing at the UA-5.  "Nope, we see all kinds of electronics.....The breathing machines just don't scan well so we have to personally inspect them."

On the way back, I didn't have the UA-5 and bags went straight through with no questions asked.  Breathing machine and all.

I now have no fears about bringing my whole rig via carry on.  I don't think they'd even bat an eye.  I think they'd even let you bring a stand on but this could be a maybe.  They did tell one guy he couldn't bring a staff like looking thing on.  It was about 2 1/2' long and it looked like a cut off golf club.  I have no idea what it was though.  But hell they have to see a ton of photographers stands and I'm betting they'd be just fine with it.

[scb]

i actually had someone at LGA tell me that i couldn't take my 12 volt SLA on the plane because i could beat someone over the head with it.  yet they let me on with my stand....