flying, film and X-rays

"Craig" wrote in message ...
What would be the best way to present the film in order to make the
TSA more likely to agree to hand inspection. ... leave the film
in the sealed cardboard boxes? ... clear ziploc bags ... lead pouch

why not check with the experts. can you spell google? I knew you
could!!!!!

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from: http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?co...0005198006eedf

Other Tips and Precautions:

If you plan to request a hand inspection of your film, you should
consider carrying your film in clear canisters, or taking the film out
of solid colored canisters and putting it into clear plastic bags, to
expedite the screening process.

If you are going to be traveling through multiple X-ray examinations
with the same rolls of undeveloped film, you may want to request a
hand-inspection of your film. However, non-U.S. airports may not honor
this request.

If you plan to hand-carry undeveloped film on an airplane at an
international airport, contact the airport security office at that
airport to request a manual inspection.

Consider having your exposed film processed locally before passing
through airport security on your return trip.

We recommend that you do not place your film in lead-lined bags since
the lead bag will have to be hand-inspected. If you have concerns
about the impact of the X-ray machine on your undeveloped film, you
can request a hand inspection.

You may still consider bringing a lead-lined bag if you are traveling
through airports in other countries as their policies may vary. Check
with your airline or travel agent for more information on foreign
airports.

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from: http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/su...l/xray4P.shtml

HAND-CARRIED BAGGAGE

Carry-on baggage inspection conveyors using low intensity x-rays, used
at security checkpoints in US airports, usually do not affect film.
However, these machines may now be supplemented in some cases by high
intensity machines that will fog all unprocessed film. Travelers
should be wary of all scanners at foreign airports.

Travelers should politely insist on hand-inspection of their film.
Carry a changing bag for use by the inspector. Demonstrate how it is
used, with a can of fogged film as an example. However, there is no
guarantee that your request will be granted by local inspectors, who
may insist on x-ray inspection. Hand inspection may not be permitted
in some airports outside the US.

2. US MAIL STERILIZATION
The United States Postal Service is installing new equipment to
sterilize items sent through the mail. For security reasons, they are
not disclosing whether this process will be limited to letters, or if
parcels and other packages will also be included.

Until further tests are conducted, it would be wise to assume that the
high energy beams used in the sterilization equipment will fog or
damage all film - processed or unprocessed, exposed or unexposed,
negative or print. In addition, photographic prints, slides, DVDs,
picture CDs, CD-ROMs, video tapes and even the CCD sensors in video
cameras and other products may be affected. Because those materials
often contain valuable - and sometimes, irreplaceable, images - Kodak
recommends that you err on the side of caution until more information
is available.