Travel With Your Heli Just Got More Difficult

[MikeV]

The TSA announced the following this morning: This notice is to explain why passengers may notice additional security measures related to remote control devices. In view of the period of strategic warning discussed in the National Intelligence Estimate on Homeland Security released in July, TSA is carefully monitoring information developed in the law enforcement and intelligence communities related to methods of possible attack.

While not associated with a specific threat at this time, TSA is aware that remote control toys can be used to initiate devices used in terrorist attacks.

Accordingly, Transportation Security Officers have trained on this possibility and travelers may encounter additional screening when bringing remote control devices in carry-on baggage.

[Shawn K]

Beautiful. Don't you just love increased government intervention?

Just one more benefit to living east of the Mississippi, where most of the heli activity is. I just drive to events. :p

[schwa]

it was only a matter of time

[AaronS]

I just went through this morning with no problems, I checked my helis and brought my radio carry on, they didn't even take a second look at the radio. I would suspect that in the future, as long as you check everything, including the transmitter it will be the same as what I experienced today. Also, Seattle, which is where I heard this started, is notorious for super tough security.

[ozzyman]

Beautiful. Don't you just love increased government intervention?

Just one more benefit to living east of the Mississippi, where most of the heli activity is. I just drive to events. :p


One man's security is another man's pain in the butt.

[redlegtu]

All that one needs to make sure is that ALL batteries are removed from the Heli and TX.

I am currently out here in Florida for a little vacation, flew down here from Alaska with my T-Rex 450XL. Had no problem with TSA. I was there at the screening to ensure if there was any problem that I would be present when they opened the case. This is as checked luggage, I am sure that carry on will go through with a little more scrutiny.

I am debating now if I should fly back with my Heli as checked luggage or mail it home.
The big risk that one has when checking baggage is that the TSA worker will shift things around as they conduct their "check".......would they place everything back the same way????? Guess one would find out at destination.

[schwa]

its a catch22, if you check your stuff, you run the very real risk of it getting stolen, but if you take it as carry on it could become its own problem.

they had a story on it on cnn, and they made it sound like this is targeting more "kmart brand" type rc stuff

[ozzyman]

They made it sound like this is targeting more "kmart brand" type rc stuff.

This is not 100%. TSA is looking at ALL RC stuff.

As for as carry on, it comes down to the x-ray operator expertise and / or how it's packed; what's on top and bottom of it. If I was going to carry a T-Rex on a plane. I'd run all the RC equipment seperatly in bins.

Just my toughts.

[schwa]

i understand that, that is the way cnn made it out to sound like.

[ozzyman]

Understand. :)

[team222badbrad]

I guess everyone will have to buy real helis and planes to transport their goodies!

I pick this one!

http://www.innovator.mosquito.net.nz/mbbs2/index.asp :D

[vapochilled]

combine this with taking my shoes off, and I feel safer already!

[Rappy1]

What about the remotes on your keyring for your car i bet thats not an issue for being able to transmit yeah right!! People will always find away around it if they try. I just thought that up while reading the post so just think of how many other ways there are. unless we all butt naked in a stainless steel tube with no fittings or anything there always going to be a way for them

[DVS]

What about cell phones :confused: will they be next. :eek:

[R50]

Just another way the MAN is trying to controll your freedoms. Terrorism is making all the honest people pay, it's bullfeathers...... you know what i mean!

[WiscHeli]

it really is not that bad in the USA when it comes to flying around the states you can still have a gun in your check bags . When i am flying back from Manila Phillipines I am body checked 1-2 times and carry on bags checked by hand after the Xray machine 2-3 times every time. every passanger Hong Kong and Bankok are about the same as here

[vapochilled]

it really is not that bad in the USA when it comes to flying around the states you can still have a gun in your check bags . When i am flying back from Manila Phillipines I am body checked 1-2 times and carry on bags checked by hand after the Xray machine 2-3 times every time. every passanger Hong Kong and Bankok are about the same as here

And that's exactly why it IS bad in the US. It's a farce, a folly, whatever you want to call it, it is done to serve the ignorant, not the terrorist.
Back when I was single, I lived and worked(so flew) between Europe and the middle east and asia. I felt safer on an El Al flight than any other.
You know that every item, every person has been checked properly. Not just the odd passenger who gets pulled for a quick check at the gate, or every one in ten bags has been searched.
However!!!!!
So many people fly into and around the US each day, it simply is not practical to search each and every one. Also, the US flying public would not put up the "trauma" a bomb under your ass is more traumatic I agree but anyway,lol.
I just wish they'd either do it properly, or stop dicked people around, you only have to look at the TSA people at Newark to be afraid. I swear to god there's one chick there who's stuck to the ground from all the gum she chews!

[Rappy1]

I must say the asian countries sure no how to put you off doing anything that could be seen as out of the ordinary. getting off the plane and having a guard there with a machine gun and his finger resting on the trigger while he watches you every move sure makes them look like they mean business. haha get off the plane back here and there just 2 cops in customs which would be lucky if they had a pistol on them.

[vapochilled]

Thats really only a tenth of the story rappy, it goes so far beyond public perception of security. I'm not some conspiricy freak, honestly,lol

But the Average US public does not want security, I'll leave it at that as I don't want to get myself all worked up trying to explain what is only my opinion after all. lol

[Rappy1]

Good on ya vapo, we sure live in a crazy world.

[Shawn K]

But the Average US public does not want security

I disagree. I think the average American wants a feeling of "security" above all else, and will sacrifice their liberty to get it. Liberty and freedom require personal responsibility, and we live in a day in age where personal responsibility is the LAST thing anyone wants.

[vapochilled]

I disagree. I think the average American wants a feeling of "security" above all else, and will sacrifice their liberty to get it. Liberty and freedom require personal responsibility, and we live in a day in age where personal responsibility is the LAST thing anyone wants.

So your agreeing with me then, the average American does not want security, they want a "feeling" of security without any input or sacrifice on their part

We'll leave the liberty and freedom bit aside, as it's too easy to confuse them with security

[AaronS]

Vapo- if I am understanding you right, and please correct me if I'm not. I think you are trying to say the average American wants a feeling of security, but doesn't want to put up with the hassle (extra time, loss of personal liberties, etc), that it would take to have truly comprehensive security.
You also have a good point about the matter of the volume of passengers the US travel system must deal with.

[Shawn K]

You've got me confused now, too. When you say "the average American doesn't want security", it sounds to me like you're saying "the average American wants to be open and defenseless".

Perhaps I should clarify my own terms. When I say "security" (with a lower-case "s"), I'm referring to the feeling of security that comes from surrendering personal liberties to a distant and centralized government. Sort of a "let Big Brother take care of it, and all will be fine" mentality". Security like government checkpoints, government baggage screeners, governmental rules, and other governmental interventions of all ilks.

What I'm talking about it "Security" (capital "s"). By that, I mean the security that comes about as a result of taking personal responsibility. I'm talking about gun ownership, keeping government severely limited, realizing that nothing in life is ever fully "secure", and that type of thing.

So my point was, many people say they want security, but what they're really saying is that they want to not be afraid, and because of their fears, they'll hand over as much of their personal liberty as it takes to allow the Federal government to step in and make them feel secure.

I don't think you can leave the liberty and freedom bit aside, because they're interrelated. As Benjamin Franklin said, " Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

[vapochilled]

And Franklin would turn in his grave right now, as we are giving up freedoms and getting no "real" security in return?

Aaron, yep that's exactly how I see it atm.
I have had the benefit of traveling both living and working around the globe, I see how other countries "do it"
small s and big S aside ;) people all around this planet want the same things! they want a roof and a good standard of living with a future for their children.
Despite the US media, the rest of the wourld does not want to destroy the US, it actually could give a damn about the US.
When a country starts to affect the quality of life of another, it's pretty inevitable that people will revolt.
The token gestures for sSecurity we have, have little effect on any act of terror, they are in place simply to make people think that mother is looking out for us.
I really don't want to drag this off topic, so I'm stopping, but please , if you want to have a disscussion,PM me. I'm open minded and will try and be calm with my responses lol, all I ask is the same.