AIRPORT SECURITY NOTICE : FILM

[Simon R Galley]

ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Dear Apuggers,

The very recent changes in airport security, especially on aircraft leaving United Kingdom airports, means that under the present circumstances films cannot now be carried on board the aircraft. However, as a reminder we DO NOT recommend placing film in checked luggage. Extensive testing carried out by the photo industry, and with the co-operation of the security authorities, has shown that all films, colour and black and white, stand a strong chance of being severely fogged after passing through the scanners currently in use in airports around the world used for checked luggage. As a result ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited technical services strongly advise our customers, wherever possible, to purchase their film at their destination and also to have it processed locally.

Rod Parsons, Vice President, Technical Operations :

 

[Andy K]

Looks like its continental driving holidays for me from now on.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Andy,

As it happens I am holiday from tonight for a couple of weeks...in the UK, first time
for years and looking forward to it.....

Simon

 

[Ian Grant]

Simon & Rod

Please could you give us more explicit information. I was made to have my backpack go through the checked luggage last month and my film and negatives suffered no ill effects.

Other manufacturers have tested the X-ray systems and stated that modern airport security X-ray machines will have no significant effect with slower films up to and including 400 ISO, even passing through two or three times. However recommending fast films, 1600 ISO upwards, be carried in hand luggage.

Ian

 

[Andy K]

Dear Andy,

As it happens I am holiday from tonight for a couple of weeks...in the UK, first time
for years and looking forward to it.....

Simon

Good for you Simon! We live in one of the most beautiful countries, and yet millions don't realise that and think they MUST travel abroad for a holiday. Personally I have always preferred holidaying within the UK, even though I have travelled most of Europe, Australia, the US and Malaysia.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Ian,

You were lucky.......even very slow films can be affected, we were one of the companies involved in the testing of HOLD X-RAY machines THEY CAN AND DO FOG FILM.

Its safer to buy after flying and process before your return...why take the risk?, I know it can be more expensive...but thats a price you must pay for peace of mind I guess.

I know its sometimes difficult to find a good mono souper in a strange land...try ILFORD XP2 Super or KODAK CN and have it processed C41 in a good mini lab.

Simon ILFORD photo / HARMAN technology Limited

 

[tim atherton]

Ian, it's not the X-Ray machines, but rather that many major airports use what is basically a powerful CAT scanner (INVISION CTX something or other etc and various newer models) for hold/checked luggage - not all airports and not all luggage goes though it.

But if you film goes through it, it almost certainly will be damaged in one form or another.

http://www.i3a.org/pdf/ctx-5000sp-camera_films_report.pdf

You simply don't know if your luggage will go through - but depending on destination, airline and airport, they may be a good chance it will

 

[StephenS]

Fed Ex. Send it to your destination and send it home that way.

 

[Scott Peters]

I understand in the US it pertains to liquids and fluids, not film? Anyone know of the US restriction on film based on recent events?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

From the horse's mouth (or is it ass? you decide)

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[Helen B]

Ian, it's not the X-Ray machines, but rather that many major airports use what is basically a CAT scanner (INVISION CTX something or other etc and various newer models)...

Tim,

A CAT scanner is an X-ray machine.

Best,
Helen

 

[tim atherton]

that was meant to be "not the carry on X-Ray machines"

 

[dmr]

From the horse's mouth (or is it ass? you decide)

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Hmmmm ... they don't seem to mention cameras or film.

Does anybody know if they are still honoring requests to hand-inspect film? (I guess I'll find out in person in a few days anyway ...)

 

[thebanana]

After yesterday, there s almost no chance they will hand inspect film. On domestic flight in May I was able to convince a screener to hand inspect going one way, but on the way home there was no chance for a hand inspection. any more arguing on my part was going to guarantee I'd miss my flight.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

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(sorry for the long URL). Short version- cameras and other electronics are NOT affected by this new ban. I would take it to assume that film is not a controlled substance under these guidelines. Pre-mixed developer, however, would be.

 

[Uncle Bill]

Looks like more road trips for me.

Bill

 

[dmr]

On domestic flight in May I was able to convince a screener to hand inspect going one way, but on the way home there was no chance for a hand inspection. any more arguing on my part was going to guarantee I'd miss my flight.

At least here in the States, I've never had them refuse to hand inspect film even if it's regular speed. I do always have it out of the canisters and in a clear ziplock bag and very easy to inspect and I do ask nicely.

Usually they will just look at it, sometimes they will take it over to their nasty-stuff-detector machine and swab it off and test it.

The only memorable thing was that at LAS, one of the screeners decided to be a smart@$$ wannabe-comedian and looked at the film and then joked "you know I'm going to have to turn this over to the FBI" or something like that.

As I said, I'll find out next week. Maybe I should just phone the TSA and ask.

 

[pentaxuser]

Puts a real crimp on the 2/3 day fly breaks to Europe beyond Paris/Brussels when there really isn't time to have film processed. Even if it's a longer break then if you're a B&W(non chromogenic)person then forget it.

Still it could be worse. I could have all my assets in RyanAir stocks!

pentaxuser

 

[Gabe Racz]

Here's a link to the thread in the Geographic Location forum on this same subject: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

To summarize the current restrictions: No carry-ons of any sort are allowed on flights originating in the UK. British Airways also does not allow any carry-ons (aka "hand luggage") on flights to the UK originating in the US. Whether this will be relaxed in the future is anyone's guess, but many are guessing "no."

Since most of us (though not all) don't carry our emulsions in liquid form, current restrictions on most flights originating in the US shouldn't affect photographers. But you never know when the TSA will change their policy.

 

[Sean]

We might need to create a film network allowing us to all ship our film to an apug contact at a specific destination which we can pick up on arrival? For example if you are coming to NZ to shoot 8x10 you won't find much 8x10 film here so send it to me and pick it up when you arrive.

 

[roteague]

We might need to create a film network allowing us to all ship our film to an apug contact at a specific destination which we can pick up on arrival? For example if you are coming to NZ to shoot 8x10 you won't find much 8x10 film here so send it to me and pick it up when you arrive.

The problem with that is customs. Does anyone know how different countries would handle shipping film to yourself internationally?

 

[Jim Noel]

DMR you have been lucky. The few times I have flown I have never been successful in getting the XXXXXX to hand is=nspect my film, except for the one time the "Inspector" tried to open my sealed box of 8x10.
I have not flown since, and will not until we get rid of the fools in charge who over react to everything because of ignorance.

My car and AMTRAK get me everywhere I want to go.

 

[Sean]

The problem with that is customs. Does anyone know how different countries would handle shipping film to yourself internationally?

well if you shipped it to me as a 'gift' status there should be no customs, but I am not sure about other countries..

 

[Aggie]

Sometimes it is not the customs, but the country with the mail system in it. I know in Venezuela, you are lucky to receive a package with something of worth in it, and if it does arrive, it takes months to get it once it reaches the country. Same in reverse. You can post it from there, and it takes months just to leave the country.

 

[Sean]

Sometimes it is not the customs, but the country with the mail system in it. I know in Venezuela, you are lucky to receive a package with something of worth in it, and if it does arrive, it takes months to get it once it reaches the country. Same in reverse. You can post it from there, and it takes months just to leave the country.

very true