Rigs on planes

[NBQ]

Just want to ask if anyone has brought their BASE rigs as hand luggage on any commercial flights lately? Especially through the US?
I am picking up a Rig in the US, and in my situation, i have no choice but to put it in my carry-on luggage. I know people who has brought their skydive rigs (w/o cypres) onboard without problems, but that was a while ago.
In these high-security days, will I have a problem?

Nikko

[Pauly]

I just returned on a flight from Nc to Wa and had no problem at all. A few friends of mine went to Az last month and one was questioned but I think it was more about conversation than security. You should not have any trouble.

c-ya
Pauly

[Faber]

I had my new rig brougth from US ,last christmas,and to me by a freind.he had no problems at all

[Nick_D]

Heading to Florida (in 1980-something) I had my BASE rig in a stash bag when a nice lady at the airport security gate asked about it.

"It's my parachute." I said.

"Oh," and her eyebrows went up.

"It's for jumping from bridges and things like that," but feeling I needed to add, "not airplanes."

"Oh," she said and smiled at me. "Sorry, you know it's the D.B Cooper thing . . ."

"Yes, I see," I replied. "But, D.B. Cooper was a criminal and," I couldn't resist it, "a skydiver . . ."

"Ok, have a nice flight, sir."

Nick
BASE 194

[NBQ]

Thanks guys.

Nice story there, nicK

[JJ]

Domestic and international since 9/11...no problems or questions.

[bps]

Hello --

Over 30 flights in the last year alone, both here in the US and internationally. Packed BASE rig in a stash bag, hand carried on at least 30 flights and not a single problem.

It seems that skydiving rigs sometime catch an extra glance or two due the CYPRES and the spring in the reserve pilot-chute. I speculate that since a BASE rig has neither, that is why I haven't had a problem.

C-ya!

Bryan

[base428]

Cinncinnati, Ohio - 2002
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After being "randomly selected" at the gate, one security punk ordered me to remove my shoes while the other was ripping my shrivel flap off. Luckily, my wife saw what was going down and screamed "NO!" just loud enough to scare everyone within a 200 yard radius. Barefoot, I made my way over to the second curious security punk and told him that "I'll" open the rig. They said they needed to inspect grommets and other metal in the rig. Thank God we stopped him in time.

San Francisco - 1996
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A metal detector dude tried to rip my shrivel flap off, but I again stopped him in time and explained what it was. No further inspection was made.

PS. After boarding the plane, I love to show my rig to the old lady sitting next to me and ask "why they didn't give her one when she boarded"?


Jason Bell (BASE428)
Email: jbell@vertical-visions.com
Web: www.vertical-visions.com or www.bridgeday.info

[cp]

My friend recently had much trouble with her skydiving rig at Denver International. They insisted she open it. She opened her main and laid it all out. Then they wanted to see what was in the reserve portion and asked her to show them the cypres. She carefully described why she could not, that the seal there was from an FAA rigger, and then showed them the cypres x-ray card etc... The whole bit and they didn't back down. She packed back up and then they made her check her rig in her baggage and told her they would be surprised if her bag would even be allowed on with the rig in it. She left, checked the rig through, and then returned - upon which she was told to unzip her pants while a woman patted her down all around her privys. she got the works and doesn't really seem like a typical terrorist. She's very clean cut, very caucasian, very open and friendly, also very educated.

I think nowdays it's a gamble about what the security force will do. Some are educated, some are not. Some know how to tell if you're a threat, others are not.

At least you can open up every part of a BASE rig if you have to. If they can see every part of the system, and if they let you explain why it wouldn't even work from a plane - then I'm sure you'd be golden. So I bet the worst case senario is you have yourself a packjob to do. Go early.

Good Luck,

CP