Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/10/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]We had a very similar experience with my wifes watercolour paints once - evidently they contain a similar chemical to some explosives, but it caused a few problems at the time! Gerry On 01/10/2007, G Hopkinson <hoppyman@bigpond.net.au> wrote: > Wow, was this exposed Velvia? Can't wait to see your next posted images. > Dare I say they must be dynamite? > More seriously good to hear that it was handled politely and > professionally. > Stand by for when I fly next month with a bag full of Provia! > > Cheers > Hoppy > > -----Original Message----- > Subject: [Leica] What happens at Airport Security when..... > > Time and place: Kauai Airport, September 29, 2007. > > OK. I had about 15 rolls of film. Mixed, 35mm, Tmax100, Fuji 100, 200, > HP5+. It was all in a clear plastic baggie, just like always. I asked for > hand inspection, and a nice Lady TSA agent escorted me to the chemical > sniffer ( Specialized Mass spectrometer for you techie types.) She > informed > me it would take a while as she was instructed to test each roll of film > separately with the wipey thing and then a run each sample through the > equipment. She is both polite and professional as we talked cameras and > film vs digital as she worked. > > Everyone has seen these things, they have a place for the wipey, a CRT > screen with a display of mass vs spectral composition. When you put in a > wipey, the machine sniffs it, checks things out, then produces a display > that says.. all GO, no problem. > > Usually. > > We hit roll #7 or so when, out of nowhere, the machine declares: > EXPLOSIVES > DETECTED in really big letters, and starts beeping. > > I was surprised that Velvia could do this to me, but what do I know? She > calls over her supervisor ( I was glued to the floor, with a polite but > embarrassed look on my face. Not nervous.) who looks at me first, figures > that he will follow procedure and makes sure I am still glued to one spot, > and will not move. The nice lady is watching me constantly. > > He apologized as he took the one roll of film and put it through the metal > detector, which, of course, I allowed without comment. > > Then I meet a male TSA person that was instructed to tap me down.... ( I am > wearing shorts, so it was a top level checkout only). Twice. > > As the tap down is happening, the nice lady is writing something in her > official looking notebook, with my name included. > > The metal detector found film inside the cartridge, nothing more. The film > was returned to me, I was apologized to for the delay. And sent on my way. > > So that is what happens when the sniffer finds a sniff it does not like. I > thought you should know..... > > Frank Filippone > red735i@earthlink.net > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Gerry Walden LRPS Web: www.gwpics.com Stock: www.stockuk.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)23 8046 3076 Skype: gerry.walden (uk)