Screening at the airport

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

The new x-ray (or Backscatter) imaging that TSA is using at airports is pretty disturbing. (For complete discussions visit the Flyertalk.com forum on Safety and Security to get some fuller picture of the danger of these machines. Go to Travel Safety/Security - FlyerTalk Forums )

Radiation used by unproven operators....yeah...I want that. Radiation that has to scan at minimum 1" deep over my skin...yeah, I want that too.

We have decided to reduce our flying as much as possible, and when we must fly, we will opt-out of being put thru the x-ray. This means, if we can use the regular metal detector machine, we will try to...otherwise we will voluntarily take the pat-down instead of the x-ray.


Here is a quick brochure about opting out: http://www.dontscan.us/files/5a.pdf (Don't click it if you are offended by the graphic photo of a full body scan.)


If I had a child with me, and we flew often, I would be pretty upset about what level of x-ray exposure he/she is getting over her/his young life. (And we all should be more fully informed about the TSA procedures and what choices we do have before accepting them.)

Additionally, the pat down procedures can be invasive, but that is a whole other issue. I am not trying to make this a political topic....I am just sharing some information that might be useful.

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

I regularly travel with medical equipment now, which causes me to be an automatic hand search. I don't know if I am treated differently or not, but I've found that the people who have to physically pat me down have been gentle, and have told me what to expect as they do various things. I've never had any problems.

One good thing about lugging extra stuff is I never have to take off my shoes any more. And if they want me to, they'd have to put them back on me (and you really don't want to touch my shoes )

Fern

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

The most agressive pre-flight search I have ever undergone was when I was non-weight bearing and in a cast. I must say Fern that I don't recall them removing my shoes either.

My son and I went thru the new equipment x-ray at LAX but not at JFK in February. We don't travel so often that it is a large concern for us. I figure they are trying to save me and others from being blown up.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I did some digging into this when the backscatter machines were introduced. As near as I can tell, the actual exposure to additional radiation is exceptionally modest. (The experience of the operator has little to do with it; they just push the "go" button, they don't also have to turn it off.) So far, I have not bothered asking for the manual search, but I only fly 1-2 round trips per month. If I were flying more often, I would probably worry a little more.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

The machines themselves don't scare me. I'm around radiation quite a bit. What scares me is the indivicuals running the machines.

I asked, just as a short test, what the radiation dose was from a scan. The TSA told me there was no radiation. Then went on to say it was safe because she stood next to it all day. Who can argue with logic like that?

We're also looking at more drive-to destinations and less flying but, we'll still need to fly a few times a year to vacation in some of the destinations we enjoy.

I think the bigger risk is that you can't have anything on your body. That means you're seperated from all your valuables, including money and credit cards. I'm not fond of either someone stealing on purpose or, some idiot just grabbing and going, picking up someone else's stuff either in additional to or instead of their own.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

What scares me is the indivicuals running the machines.

Sure. But, as I noted above, from the point of view of the scanners, it's monkey-push-button. The dosage isn't controlled by the operator.

(There are also two types of system; one uses milimeter waves, which are non-ionizing and hence "not radiation". The other is the backscatter x-ray, which does. So, it is possible she was "correct" if it was a millimeter wave machine.)

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

What is the deal with scanning or pat downs. Is it just random checking or what? My wife flew from Orange County ( John Wayne airport ) to Dallas 2 weeks ago on American. It was a 1 way flight as she drove back with our son.

She told me that the security procedure was the same as always with no scanning nor pat down.

It was the same when we all flew r/t from Ontario, CA to Texas last November. No scanning nor pat down in either Dallas or Ontario.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

I have had the whole body pat down and it is very invasive. I notice that the medium to smaller airports take more time to get through security than large airports. Maybe there's not much to do and they need the training.

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

Sure. But, as I noted above, from the point of view of the scanners, it's monkey-push-button. The dosage isn't controlled by the operator.

(There are also two types of system; one uses milimeter waves, which are non-ionizing and hence "not radiation". The other is the backscatter x-ray, which does. So, it is possible she was "correct" if it was a millimeter wave machine.)

These machines are VERY VERY safe, when freshly installed and Calibrated correctly...the problem is in 6months to a year when they are getting old and need maintenance...with they put out the money to have it properly done...Calibration and proper maintenance is VERY important with these types of devices...i'm not worried about flying in the next few months....But two years from now

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

Having flown nearly 1MM miles, much of it in/near the stratosphere, I'm pretty sure I've received more radiation exposure than I ever will from the nude-o-scopes. If they get their thrills looking at my parts, more power to them. My local has had the body scanners since early 2010 and is a TSA training site. I remember early on having to remove everything from my body, even my wallet, when transiting the thing. Very inconvenient. Gradually, procedures were streamlined.

I'd say that, about half the time I fly, the scanners at my local aren't being used, rather the old fashioned metal detectors. Hey, as long as the planes don't crash, I'm good to go.