OT: Traveler's flute causes airport evacuation
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OT: Traveler's flute causes airport evacuation
Check out this article on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/01/14/ai ... index.html
- antstastegood
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- chas
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I don't sweat whistles, but the last few times I've brought a flute onto a plane, I have made sure that the flute's on top, and if they start looking in my bags, I tell them where and what it is, etc. A disassembled wooden flute probably looks an awful lot like three sticks of dynamite to a screener looking at the x-ray image. The only place they ever gave me a hard time about it was in Brussels, where, if you're en route to the US, the level of scrutiny is just incredible.
Charlie
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- glauber
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Bodhran players, on the other hand, are to be shot on sight!
I think this was one of the cases that people make out of large PVC tubes. They're cheap and very strong. Some Yahoo^H^H^H^H^H^Hpublic servant probably thought it was a pipe bomb. Another thing to remember not to carry when travelling, sigh.
This is wrong! This should be in the flute board.
I think this was one of the cases that people make out of large PVC tubes. They're cheap and very strong. Some Yahoo^H^H^H^H^H^Hpublic servant probably thought it was a pipe bomb. Another thing to remember not to carry when travelling, sigh.
This is wrong! This should be in the flute board.
Last edited by glauber on Wed Jan 14, 2004 2:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- lixnaw
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inside the u.s: you can use this. http://www.local1000.com/pdf/carryon.pdf
outsice the u.s: if you don't have a hardcase for your whistles,
you could notify the airport that you want to carry your whistles on board.
outsice the u.s: if you don't have a hardcase for your whistles,
you could notify the airport that you want to carry your whistles on board.
- Pat Cannady
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I don't get hassled by airport screeners about my pipes. They usually ask "Is that a musical instrument?" and want to take a look, but that's about it.Zubivka wrote::roll:
If this is the reaction to a flute, just imagine what the same screener would make of... an Uillean pipe!
He'd probably ring the nuke alert
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It turns out it wasn't a flute, it was an electronic bagpipe practice chanter. See http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/0 ... port.shtml for details and pictures.
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I heard a true story about a bluegrass band flying to a major festival. They had to buy a ticket for the base fiddle so it could ride in the passenger compartment. At first the base player didn't want to go because he didn't like to fly, but when he agreed at the last minute, a stand-by passenger had to be put off the plane to make room for the base.
Last edited by bozemanhc on Wed Jan 14, 2004 2:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Howard
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Like this: http://www.rickhellerflutes.com/20.htmlglauber wrote:I think this was one of the cases that people make out of large PVC tubes..
Hmm, that electronic chanter looks a lot like a bomb anyway, wires, batteries, switches, etc.
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- peeplj
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It looks like he got to keep his instrument, but elected not to take it on the flight with him. He left it in the trunk of his car.
I can see where an electronic practice chanter might look an awfully lot like a pipe bomb to a security inspector. (Wide part on each end, thin tube in the middle, and two wires.)
--James
I can see where an electronic practice chanter might look an awfully lot like a pipe bomb to a security inspector. (Wide part on each end, thin tube in the middle, and two wires.)
--James
- fluter_d
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Have a look here:peeplj wrote:Actually, I was under the impression that there is a specific law that requires that the airline allow you to bring your musical instrument onboard with you.
Can anyone confirm / deny / elaborate?
--James
http://www.folk.org/Advocacy/advocacy.htm
There's a printable document you can carry on, which is designed to explain to the security people what's allowed... :roll:
I've been flying a lot in the last 6 months, and I haven't had any real hassle. Sometimes the flute precipitates a search; sometimes I'm just picked at random ! I've been leaving my whistles in my checked luggage, though, because any metal tube-like things are almost guaranteed to cause a search, and I'm not a big fan of having someone go through all my belongings in public.
I'm glad I'm not the person who caused this article...
Deirdre
EDIT: Just tried the link from the Folk Alliance website to the printable letter, and it's not working. This appears to be the correct link:
http://www.local1000.com/pdf/carryon.pdf
D