| Could these new, enhanced devices erase
| |
| | still have to go through scanning systems
|
| your data or are you just wringing your
| |
| | similar to those used for checked
|
| hands over nothing? While erasure is
| |
| | baggage. Can these X-ray systems cause
|
| highly unlikely, there are reasons to be
| |
| | data loss? Almost certainly not. To
|
| cautious, particularly if you are
| |
| | understand why, you need to understand
|
| transporting older tape formats or floppy
| |
| | how magnetic media is recorded.Data is
|
| discs.Check It In or Carry It On?
| |
| | written onto tape and discs by arranging
|
| According to new guidelines issued by
| |
| | metallic particles with a powerful
|
| the Transportation Security
| |
| | magnetic field. For tapes, magnetic
|
| Administration, or TSA, 100% of all
| |
| | energy is delivered by a recording head
|
| checked bags must be screened before
| |
| | that comes into direct contact with the
|
| being loaded.During the screening
| |
| | tape. For discs, the record head floats
|
| process, checked bags may go through as
| |
| | just above the surface. Both methods
|
| many as three types of scanners,
| |
| | deliver a great deal of magnetic energy
|
| including X-ray, and two different types
| |
| | in close proximity to a tightly confined
|
| of explosive detection systems. Still, it
| |
| | area.To scramble your carefully arranged
|
| is doubtful that these systems will have
| |
| | magnetic particles from a distance takes
|
| a negative impact on magnetically
| |
| | a tremendous amount of magnetic energy.
|
| recorded media. In fact, the TSA says,
| |
| | How much energy depends on the distance
|
| "None of the screening equipment...will
| |
| | and the coercivity of the media -- the
|
| affect digital camera images or film that
| |
| | magnetic force required to "coerce" it
|
| has already been processed, slides,
| |
| | into zero magnetism.Floppy discs have a
|
| videos, photo compact discs, or picture
| |
| | very low coercivity rating. In other
|
| discs."But the main concern for media in
| |
| | words, it doesn't take much magnetic
|
| checked bags isn't electronic damage -
| |
| | energy to scramble them. Ditto for
|
| it's physical loss. Airport personnel
| |
| | non-metal audio cassettes. Older
|
| have the authority (and the duty) to open
| |
| | videotape formats based on metal oxide
|
| and inspect any suspicious bag, including
| |
| | like 3/4 inch, VHS, and 8mm also have low
|
| any bag that is locked. (HINT: Leave your
| |
| | coercivity ratings.At the opposite end of
|
| bags unlocked or use a TSA recognized
| |
| | the scale are modern tape formats using
|
| locking mechanism.)With your bags out of
| |
| | pure metal particles or pure evaporated
|
| your control, the risk of damage, loss,
| |
| | metal formulations. These tapes, which
|
| or even theft is greatly increased.
| |
| | include DVCAM, MiniDV, Hi8, and Betacam
|
| Therefore, you should always carry on
| |
| | SP, have very high coercivity ratings and
|
| your tapes, discs, cameras, laptops and
| |
| | are the most resistant to
|
| any other valuable or irreplaceable item.
| |
| | erasure.Obviously, X-rays are not
|
| The TSA states that the "air carrier has
| |
| | magnetic and won't cause problems
|
| no liability for photographic equipment,
| |
| | themselves. There has been some
|
| computers, VCRs and any other electronic
| |
| | conjecture that magnetic energy created
|
| equipment including software or
| |
| | as a byproduct of producing X-rays and
|
| components...TSA HIGHLY recommends that
| |
| | even conveyor belt motors might give some
|
| you do not pack these items in your
| |
| | cause for concern. However, damage from
|
| checked baggage."But even if you carry on
| |
| | these sources has not been well
|
| these items, there are still dangers
| |
| | documented.Direct sources of magnetic
|
| lurking. Your laptop and video camera
| |
| | energy come from the walk-thru metal
|
| must be removed from their carrying cases
| |
| | detectors and handheld wands. While it is
|
| and placed in one of the TSA bins for
| |
| | doubtful that either of these devices
|
| security scanning -- down the belt,
| |
| | would cause problems, some handheld
|
| through the machine, and out the other
| |
| | wands, in theory, do generate enough
|
| side where everyone else is waiting on
| |
| | magnetic energy to corrupt data on
|
| their belongings.Tips from the TSA*
| |
| | low-coercivity formats. This is only a
|
| Transporting Film and Photographic
| |
| | theoretical possibility, however.
|
| Equipment* Security Checkpoint
| |
| | Practically speaking, security officials
|
| Procedures* Travel TipsAnd as most
| |
| | won't allow you to walk through the metal
|
| travelers know all too well, while your
| |
| | detector with metal, and that includes
|
| things are being thoroughly inspected, so
| |
| | recording media.Film:
|
| are YOU! You will be asked to remove your
| |
| | Unlike magnetic media, X-ray will most
|
| coat, and maybe also your shoes, jewelry,
| |
| | certainly ruin undeveloped film. While
|
| belt, etc. And if it's your "lucky" day,
| |
| | the TSA states that film below 800 ASA
|
| you could also be pulled aside for a
| |
| | ISO would be unaffected by passenger
|
| thorough frisking. Someone else
| |
| | checkpoint X-ray, it also says that the
|
| accidentally (or purposely) picking up
| |
| | cumulative effect of multiple passes
|
| your video camera, laptop, or other
| |
| | through these devices can fog even
|
| objects is not uncommon. So keeping a
| |
| | low-speed films.Conclusion:
|
| close eye on your personal items is
| |
| | According to the TSA, and based on
|
| vital.To minimize the time you are
| |
| | reports from customers, manufacturers and
|
| separated from your belongings, think
| |
| | our own personal experiences, it is
|
| ahead and dress the part: Check your
| |
| | highly unlikely that any of the scanning
|
| steel-toed boots and wear thin-soled flip
| |
| | devices in use today would corrupt
|
| flops instead. Unless you're willing to
| |
| | magnetically recorded media. Your most
|
| swap out your metal body piercings to
| |
| | likely source for trouble is damage or
|
| plastic or bone, that hidden belly-button
| |
| | loss from the hand inspection of a
|
| ring that makes your mama so proud will
| |
| | checked bag or carry-on items lost in the
|
| set off the metal detector - so take it
| |
| | hubbub of a security checkpoint. If you
|
| out ahead of time! And don't forget that
| |
| | do discover you are missing an item, the
|
| things like foil gum wrappers are metal,
| |
| | TSA provides phone numbers for airport
|
| too. So, empty your pockets into your
| |
| | lost and found departments.For complete
|
| carry-on bag before going through
| |
| | information on airport security and other
|
| security.Handheld Wands, Metal Detectors,
| |
| | travel tips, please visit TSA's web site
|
| & X-rays
| |
| | at
|
| Okay, so you're going to carry on your
| |
| | We'd love to hear from you. Give us some
|
| tapes (and hope you don't lose them!).
| |
| | feedback about this article or tell us
|
| But even carrying the tapes on, they
| |
| | about your recent airport experiences.
|
