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Post by stonecutter on Mar 8, 2010 7:53:42 GMT -7
Whenever I attempt to go through the metal detectors at the airport, it (of course) always goes off and then the extra body search happens, sometimes with swabbing of surfaces, sometimes not... (I've actually 'failed' the swabbing test twice now. After asking me a few questions, they send me on my merry way). I don't know how I feel about this. This is an article from an article found on this local news site about my local international airport. Click here to learn what the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority has to say on full body scanners. I usually don't care about the amount of hoops I need to jump through to get on the plane - I'd rather the status of the plane and airport is actually secure, but when will enough be enough? Thoughts? |
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mitchee
Female Member 
LBKA - 2006
Posts: 55
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Post by mitchee on Mar 8, 2010 10:05:33 GMT -7
I don't mind the extra security. I usually fly only two or three times a year so the extra steps in the security process aren't an inconvenience. I also don't consider the security measures an invasion of my privacy because I see flying as a privilege and if I don't like the new security measures I can either choose to find alternative transportation methods or stay home.
I know that my views are probably much different from everyone else but I don't worry about my personal rights (right to privacy) when I am at an airport. My views would probably be different if I was harrassed by the TSA or if I was a frequent flyer.
I don't know when "enough will be enough." I think it's sad that we have to worry about terrorism. I also think that if someone wants to succeed with an act of terrorism that they will find a way to do so, regardless of how much security is in place.
Michelle
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ampgk
New Member
Posts: 42 
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Post by ampgk on Mar 10, 2010 5:30:38 GMT -7
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Post by snowyh on Mar 14, 2010 5:13:06 GMT -7
I think full body scanners are a good idea, and I hope their use soon becomes widespread. I haven't a concern in the world about security personnel being able to "see" how I look under my clothes. Nor do I have a problem if they wish to pull me aside for a pat-down or wanding; in fact, it makes me feel more secure when they do so. Now, onto my soapbox (on a related topic):
It's always bothered me to hear about amputee advocacy groups complaining that amputees shouldn't be subjected to additional examination of their prostheses* when passing through security checkpoints at airports. With folks in this universe willing to even kill themselves to perform a terrorist act, it doesn't seem like much of a stretch to imagine them undergoing voluntary limb removal so they could use a prosthesis to smuggle explosives onto a plane. I wouldn't be surprised if amputees are already being paid as mules to transport drugs, cash, jewels or other valuables for others, because asking to examine a prosthesis is met with such outrage. I don't think a full body scanner would reveal anything hidden inside a prosthesis, though, would it?
Helen
*which BTW I do not wear
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Post by allenuk on Mar 14, 2010 13:16:54 GMT -7
I quite agree, Helen. I find the 'special pleading' stuff of nearly all 'special' groups to be counter-productive and self-interested. I am a man. I am English. I am 60+, greying, and fat. Oh, and I am also an amputee. And if I WERE providing a full self-description, the bit about the leg would be WAY down the list!
Allen.
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Post by cherylm on Mar 14, 2010 16:15:32 GMT -7
I've not been through a full-body scanner yet, but I don't think I'd mind it. In particular, I wouldn't mind it if it meant that I did not have to undergo removing my leg. That's one that I would object to, Helen, although I do see your point of view. The difference may be that you're upper extremity and I'm lower, I don't know. For me, the thought of taking off my leg in a public place, most likely just sitting in a folding chair, without even a cane to be able to balance myself, makes me feel terribly helpless. It's not that I have any problems with people seeing me legless—I was out-and-about sans prosthesis right after my amputation and was fine with it—it's something about the fact that I would not be able to control HOW I was put in a legless position and that I would not have the means to be independent during that legless period.
Maybe someone who is good at getting about with crutches would feel differently about taking off their prosthesis for a security examination? I don't know. But I've never been able to function with crutches...and the usual TSA procedure seems to be to take away canes, walkers, crutches, etc., until after you've passed the screening anyway.
I don't mind the physical exam, the swabbing, having my shoes checked, or any of the rest. I've gotten used to allowing extra time for all of it. And if there were a way to inspect the inside of my prosthesis without me having to remove it, I'd be fine with that as well. But I have a real problem with folks taking my leg and walking away with it!
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Post by ann- on Mar 16, 2010 0:23:00 GMT -7
Well I also have no real problem with the body scanner.....I definitely though wouldn't want my legs taken out of my sight and checked ....like Cheryl says that situation in the context of a busy airport would make me feel quite vulnerable ... and we all know how many times luggage goes missing at airports..... I also wonder how they would search my prostheses ... yes, the socket can come in out, but its covered in foam and presumably that could conceal hidden items...so would they be removing the foam?
Like everyone else though I want to be safe and my family to be safe whilst travelling so maybe have to accept some inconvenience.
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mitchee
Female Member
LBKA - 2006
Posts: 55
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Post by mitchee on Mar 16, 2010 16:22:02 GMT -7
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Post by stonecutter on Mar 17, 2010 9:30:27 GMT -7
Hmmm... I just don't know how I could feel happy about a security person insisting I remove my prosthesis.
As I alluded to in my original post, I've been swabbed a number of times - they rub a little patch of material all over the surface they are testing and run it through a machine looking for "stuff". I'm not sure what exactly the machine looks for, but I've failed the swab test twice.
The first time it happened, I was at the Edmonton International Airport. I was asked the following questions after a swab of the inside of my large suitcase failed the test (my answers in brackets):
- Do you hunt? (Yes).
- Did you take this bag hunting at any time you went hunting? (I'm not entirely sure).
- Did you ever transport ammunition in this bag? (I don't think so, but it's possible, I guess - it's an old bag and has a lot of miles on it."
- Oh - you wear contact lenses - is that right? (Yes.)
- Do you transport contact lens solution in there? (Yes.)
"Oh, that'll be it..." he says, zipping up the bag. "You're free to go - have a good flight..." I immediately tried to find out what exactly a machine is "sniffing" for that's associated with both ammunition and a liquid I apply to the surface of my eye. He wouldn't tell me.
The second time, I was in Las Vegas, headed home to Canada. I was in shorts, and of course the metal detector went off. I was taken into a separate 'room' made of glass walls. Sat in a chair after a pat down, and the security guy got down and swabbed all surfaces of my prosthesis with multiple swabs, and then one swab on my right hand, and one on my left. The prosthesis came back clean. Both my hand swabs came back with a "hit". I was asked the following questions, again, my answers in (brackets).
- When was the last time you used the bathroom? (about 30 minutes ago.)
- Where? (at the MGM Grand).
- Did you wash your hands after? (Yes.)
- With soap? (Yes.)
- Did you use a liberal amount of soap? (Yes, I usually do...)
- Hmmmmm (Hmmmm indeed.)
- When was the last time you ate? (about 45 minutes ago.)
- What did you eat? (A hot dog... )
- Did you have anything on it? (Yes... ketchup, mustard and saurkraut).
- Oh - the saurkraut might do it... [ he asks another guy if it could be the cause of the 'hit.' The other guard says it shouldn't be].
- Hmmmm... (sigh...)
- Have you handled a lot of cash since the last time you washed your hands? (Yes, in fact, in the cab ride from the MGM Grand to the airport, I sorted out my wallet. The mono-coloured money is something that we Canadians aren't used to...)
- Did you handle bills that were $20 denominations or higher. (Several...)
- That would be the source of your 'hit' he says.
Again, I wanted to know what substance they found exactly that gave me the 'hit'.
"I'm sorry sir, I'm not at liberty to reveal that information. You're free to go, have a nice flight..."
So... I'm certain that with all of the little tests, shoe xrays, pat downs, sniffer tests, dogs sniffing at your luggage behind the scenes, there should be a way they can tell if you're carrying a something you shouldn't onto a plane.
I've been subjected through all of the above and also a machine in the Denver, Colorado airport that shoots compressed air all over you and then samples the air. - That was interesting... (Didn't fail that one!)
And now this new see-under-your-clothes viewer. It's getting pretty interesting... what will the come up with next? Fluoroscope scanners? You can see all the pins and replaced knees and hips...
I, of course actually don't mind any of the tests they put me through and devices they make me walk through. They just won't be insisting that I separate myself from my prosthesis without some argument!
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Post by allenuk on Mar 17, 2010 14:10:48 GMT -7
I've not been through an airport security scan system, as I don't travel that much, but it does remind me of an occasion in Northern Ireland 25 years ago when my wife and I drove up to a British Army checkpoint in an expensive-looking car. Two soldiers questioned me. One was keen on double-checking my details, the other said: "No, leave it out, they're just husband and wife on holiday, no need for checking."
The trusting one prevailed, and they waived us through. Now, we were firmly on the side of the peacemakers, but it did occur to us that a man and woman driving a big Jaguar could have driven through that checkpoint with a bootful of anything.
So, hopefully, modern scanning systems have got a bit more sophisticated!
Allen.
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Post by bluedogz on Apr 2, 2010 18:43:29 GMT -7
Stonecutter: I'm not sure what exactly the machine looks for, but I've failed the swab test twice.
Components of explosives, such as acids or ammonia. This is why your sauerkraut (vinegar) might have tripped it. Drives me nuts when they pull my otherwise-innocent suitcase that the cat peed on once, 'cause it triggers the ammonia-sniffer.
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Post by stonecutter on Jun 28, 2010 13:20:34 GMT -7
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ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
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Post by ann58 on Jun 28, 2010 17:04:54 GMT -7
That is terrible...I also would like to know where this happened.
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Post by cherylm on Jun 28, 2010 20:50:06 GMT -7
You know, the only time I've had a major problem with TSA staff since my amp (I had one really nasty experience pre-amp, when I was traveling in a walking cast with a frame walker) was in the Atlanta airport when I was on my way home from an Amputee Coalition of America conference. It just struck me as odd, since the TSA staff must have had more-than-enough practice at dealing with prosthetics due to the number of amputees flying in and out of the airport that weekend.
At any rate, the Atlanta TSA staff was NOT happy about having one more amputee to deal with. I was actually asked if I could remove my prosthesis and HOP through the metal detector! (They did NOT actually enforce that request...I just kind of hooted at them and declined to even consider it.) Eventually, they went through the "usual" amputee-with -prosthesis screening procedure...just with a rather sour disposition........
The experience of the woman in the story sounds pretty horrible...and rather like what I went through with my walking cast experience (although without the crying child, thank goodness). I wonder if she was used to traveling and screening procedures...I was not, when I had my similar experience, and it seemed to me, after the fact, that the TSA staff either took advantage of my lack of knowledge or made assumptions about my "status" based on my lack of knowledge and experience. But I think the story did mention she was wearing shorts, which normally indicates someone who's used to screeners.......
Lousy situation, that's for sure........
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