EPIRB on a Plane?

[Laser310]

Has anyone here ever taken an EPIRB on a plane in their carry-on luggage?

Was it okay?

I guess they should not be in checked luggage, as they have a lithium battery.

But I am a bit concerned that they look a little too suspicious...

 

[LittleSister]

Is this a sequel to 'Snakes on a Plane'?

 

[harvey38]

Call the airline and discuss.

Ryan air, for example, don't mention anything remotely related apart from Lithium batteries in checked luggage, OK in carry on.

My old outfit, American Airlines, used to prohibit any PED that was capable of transmitting on any frequency if self powered, in case it was inadvertently powered up. I think an EPIRB transmitting on an aircraft may cause at least one radio call to the aircraft to check all is OK onboard

 

[Iliade]

I have carried them all over the place in my hand luggage with only one issue, when Delhi airport security insisted on our putting several lithium powered ones into my checked in luggage, which the check-in desk permitted...

 

[wonkywinch]

I've taken mine on several airlines in hand luggage without any problem.

It won't be the airline that will be an issue, just some over zealous airport security operative as they are recruited from the pool of failed traffic wardens. If it's removed from you at airport security, insist on seeing the manager.

 

[Stemar]

they are recruited from the pool of failed traffic wardens

I can't think of a worse insult.

And our safety depends on these people.

IIRC, the US equivalent missed over 90% of threats in a test a while back

 

[LittleSister]

I can't think of a worse insult.

And our safety depends on these people.

IIRC, the US equivalent missed over 90% of threats in a test a while back

But maybe their presence, and detection of a few, probably deters over 90% of potential threats?

 

[wonkywinch]

But maybe their presence, and detection of a few, probably deters over 90% of potential threats?

I spent 30 years as a commercial pilot, I don't agree. My attitude towards the jobsworths is because they never applied common sense or even stuck to their own rules. I could walk through the scanner stark bollock naked and still crash the plane even though they'd taken my nail scissors off me.

 

[penberth3]

I spent 30 years as a commercial pilot, I don't agree. My attitude towards the jobsworths is because they never applied common sense or even stuck to their own rules. I could walk through the scanner stark bollock naked and still crash the plane even though they'd taken my nail scissors off me.

I hope you and your attitude are now retired?

 

[wonkywinch]

I hope you and your attitude are now retired?

My attitude borne from first hand experience and shared by my colleagues I'm afraid. Our airline even had a delay code for the crew being held up by security. The airline had it's own dedicated crew security area so the screening was only for crew. The cabin crew were issued written warnings if they were caught with a bottle of water in their bag.

 

[Slowboat35]

And despite having hands-on control of the aeroplane and a stonking great fire-axe behind your seat the crew-"security" bullies still took great and obvious delight in confiscating water, nail scissors, cutlery or anythng deemed 'liquid' - ie risotto in one notorious case - lest they present a flight safety hazard! Not a jot of intellighence of common sense was ever applied, and yet when they eventually noticed the leatherman tool that lived in my flightbag they made an immense scene about it, and flatly refused to believe I'd been carrying it (and that they'd missed it) every day for the previous seven or eight years - which I had. Useless beyond belief, and the remark about failed traffic wardens is absolutely spot-on. "What do you suppose I'm going to do with it? Hold it to my throat and shout fly to Cuba you bastard?" cut no ice at all.
They were above the law, beyond criticism and completely untouchable no matter how blatantly they bullied aircrew with such obvious enjoyment - which everyone experienced on almost a daily basis.

 

[billskip]

I could walk through the scanner stark bollock naked and still crash the plane even though they'd taken my nail scissors off me.

This maybe true, but most of us don't get to sit in the driving seat...and Ryan Air don't offer it as an extra...

 

[wonkywinch]

And despite having hands-on control of the aeroplane and a stonking great fire-axe behind your seat the crew-"security" bullies still took great and obvious delight in confiscating water, nail scissors, cutlery or anythng deemed 'liquid' - ie risotto in one notorious case - lest they present a flight safety hazard! Not a jot of intellighence of common sense was ever applied, and yet when they eventually noticed the leatherman tool that lived in my flightbag they made an immense scene about it, and flatly refused to believe I'd been carrying it (and that they'd missed it) every day for the previous seven or eight years - which I had. Useless beyond belief, and the remark about failed traffic wardens is absolutely spot-on. "What do you suppose I'm going to do with it? Hold it to my throat and shout fly to Cuba you bastard?" cut no ice at all.
They were above the law, beyond criticism and completely untouchable no matter how blatantly they bullied aircrew with such obvious enjoyment - which everyone experienced on almost a daily basis.

Sounds like you were Manchester based? The most disliked security in the world, I was told off on the ramp during a walk round for not have my hi viz buttoned up. Didn't take kindly to being asked how on earth he managed to even spot me from a distance if my hi viz wasn't done up properly.

I can understand why penberth may think I have attitude but I was surrounded by some of the best professionals in the business from the ground staff, engineers, cabin crew, ATC etc etc. The worst part of my day was "interacting" with security. How wise they are deliberately trying to wind up pilots before they sit at the controls of a jet with x hundred passengers in the interests of "security". Everyone else I worked with worked with me to achieve a common goal. Except the jobsworths working as screeners. I cringe when I go through now, I can hear them at Heathrow shouting at the queue "laptops out of bags, belts off, shoes off, liquids in a bag". The little red, orange and green buttons on the way out that say "how was your experience?" long been disconnected from any data collecting system but the writing all rubbed off the red button.

 

[wonkywinch]

This maybe true, but most of us don't get to sit in the driving seat...and Ryan Air don't offer it as an extra...

Don't forget the Americans had the locked flight deck door policy long before Sept 11th. The current airport security system is mainly for show. The bulk of flight security is done by intelligence way outside of the airport environment.

 

[Graham376]

I've taken mine on several airlines in hand luggage without any problem.

It won't be the airline that will be an issue, just some over zealous airport security operative as they are recruited from the pool of failed traffic wardens. If it's removed from you at airport security, insist on seeing the manager.

I've requested supervisor at Manchester a few times when told I couldn't carry items, inverter, arc welder, life jacket cylinders causing problems, all of which were eventually cleared. Dublin however confiscated a fairly large soft cheese from my wife's bag, although it had cleared at Lisbon on earlier flight. Turns out we can only carry hard cheese

 

[Graham376]

Don't forget the Americans had the locked flight deck door policy long before Sept 11th. The current airport security system is mainly for show. The bulk of flight security is done by intelligence way outside of the airport environment.

Long gone are the days we could occasionally be allowed to sit on the jump seat

 

[Refueler]

And despite having hands-on control of the aeroplane and a stonking great fire-axe behind your seat the crew-"security" bullies still took great and obvious delight in confiscating water, nail scissors, cutlery or anythng deemed 'liquid' - ie risotto in one notorious case - lest they present a flight safety hazard! Not a jot of intellighence of common sense was ever applied, and yet when they eventually noticed the leatherman tool that lived in my flightbag they made an immense scene about it, and flatly refused to believe I'd been carrying it (and that they'd missed it) every day for the previous seven or eight years - which I had. Useless beyond belief, and the remark about failed traffic wardens is absolutely spot-on. "What do you suppose I'm going to do with it? Hold it to my throat and shout fly to Cuba you bastard?" cut no ice at all.
They were above the law, beyond criticism and completely untouchable no matter how blatantly they bullied aircrew with such obvious enjoyment - which everyone experienced on almost a daily basis.

I had a present from a grateful programmer - when I helped input ships data into the new compauters on a Chevron Ship. It was one of those tiny Swiss Knives about 5 - 6cms long .....
I had forgotten it was in pocket and airport security - Luton - refused to let me post it back home - threw it in the bin.
I get on the plane and I get served my meal .... metal knife and fork.
Glass bottle.

 

[Refueler]

Don't forget the Americans had the locked flight deck door policy long before Sept 11th. The current airport security system is mainly for show. The bulk of flight security is done by intelligence way outside of the airport environment.

Airport Security is such big business now - it will never stop - even if all terrorists / risks are stopped. The number of employees in an airport just on that detail is mind boggling.

 

[capnsensible]

My attitude borne from first hand experience and shared by my colleagues I'm afraid. Our airline even had a delay code for the crew being held up by security. The airline had it's own dedicated crew security area so the screening was only for crew. The cabin crew were issued written warnings if they were caught with a bottle of water in their bag.

Jaegermeister is a bit dodgy too.....

 

[boomerangben]

I think EPIRBs would be fine with who I fly with (considering I and my colleague fly with a PLB under our right armpits all day every day and let’s face it, you can have a watch with a PLB in it) even checked in baggage. Lithium batteries safely installed in the PED they are design to power are allowed in hold bags, so should be fine in carry on too but as said before check with airline.

As for security……… I have no bother with them. They are doing a job, following rules, just like we pilots do. I’m sure the pilots posting in here got grumpy when someone argued with them for following rules and perhaps made them even more hardover in application of rules just to because they could. I’m sure security staff would be the same and let’s face it, they get shed loads of abuse to do a job that no one likes and is poorly paid, being constantly monitored by CCTV. So let them get on with doing their job. If you forget that you’ve a weatherman/swiss army knife in your bag, that’s not their fault, nor is the fact the rules might not be logical. If a pilot gets stressed because of security, they are in the wrong job