Segway Fails Airport Security

[mister_bigtime]

I have flown many times with my Segway without problems. Over thanksgiving I flew out of Newark. The Segway had problems getting by airport security. They are using a new system that involves wiping the object in question (the segway) with a special cloth then analyzing the cloth (for explosive residue). It never passed the test. Bells kept going off. Finally a supervisor was called and he manually overrode the system. But the Segway never officially passed.

The only accessory I have is a power coated carrier from Wayne. I'll check with him to see if it might have been the carrier.

[Zorba9]

I hate it when your HT doesn't pass the explosives test! :)
When I flew my Dad's P home earlier this fall the airport security had a electronic "sniffer" they used to check the HT with - after it went thru the x-ray machine. Delta then went on to crush it in the cargo hold to the tune of $800 worth of damage which I got a check for a month later. Mr Bigtime you don't have L-ions do you, remember the exploding L-ion cell phones a while back? :)

KOG

Zorba9.....

[Dragan]

There are a number of things that give false positive readings on the the EVD's...perfumes, some hair sprays and deodorants,
certain types of pencils (????) medication (nitro patches and tablets), aspirin, etc.
The systems are incredibly sensitive, and some of the elements used in these non-threatening products are similar chemically to
stabilizers used in commercial explosives. Security screeners have a fairly large list of items, and it grows all the time
Wayne

Segway of Alberta - Calgary
www.mysegway.ca

[cariocaloca]

My Segway was denied passage either as cargo or gate check by Hawaiian Airlines on Nov 18th in Honolulu! They claim it is "hazardous!" Yet, I have made over 30 airplane trips in the last 3 years with it, and do not have the lithium batteries. What other experiences and/or resoulutions does anyone have?

jilda

[sombody]

Six months ago- flying out of Dulles DC I had the exact problem at the Jet Blue screening- swabbing and scanning the paper and checking of any residue which will include amonium nitrate- found in most fertilizer on lawns- kaboom ...They told me most golf shoes dont pass.

[n1das]

If at first you don't succeed, then bomb defusing is not for you...

David Sterrett, N1DAS
Nashua, NH
Midnight Blue i170

[ian purvis]

Jilda how does the gate check work? I just got a price to take mine from New Zealand to Australia for xmas. Almost $700 each way.

[Murray Fisher]

I have been reading articles for some time that the manufacturers of our Lithium batteries now claim they are safe to fly. Does anyhone know if the airlines have picked up on this yet or any prognosis on the subject>?

quote:Originally posted by Zorba9

I hate it when your HT doesn't pass the explosives test! :)
When I flew my Dad's P home earlier this fall the airport security had a electronic "sniffer" they used to check the HT with - after it went thru the x-ray machine. Delta then went on to crush it in the cargo hold to the tune of $800 worth of damage which I got a check for a month later. Mr Bigtime you don't have L-ions do you, remember the exploding L-ion cell phones a while back? :)

KOG

Zorba9.....


Murray Fisher

[ashley]

I have sent 1 set of Lithium Ions back from Las Vegas and as we speck a second set is in transit from LA to New Zealand by air using Fed EX hopefully I should have then in 3-4 days. They transport them on their cargo planes I believe.

Good Luck
Best Toy I ever owned

[QuadSquad]

quote:Originally posted by Murray Fisher

I have been reading articles for some time that the manufacturers of our Lithium batteries now claim they are safe to fly. Does anyhone know if the airlines have picked up on this yet or any prognosis on the subject>?

quote:Originally posted by Zorba9

I hate it when your HT doesn't pass the explosives test! :)
When I flew my Dad's P home earlier this fall the airport security had a electronic "sniffer" they used to check the HT with - after it went thru the x-ray machine. Delta then went on to crush it in the cargo hold to the tune of $800 worth of damage which I got a check for a month later. Mr Bigtime you don't have L-ions do you, remember the exploding L-ion cell phones a while back? :)

KOG

Zorba9.....


Murray Fisher


Murray,

While they may be safe, they are still prohibited. Until RSPA approves this specific type of battery containing the quantity of lithium that it does it will be ill legal to transport them aboard passenger aircraft.

Of course that doesn't mean that you can't illegally transport them. Just because it's illegal to do something it doesn't keep people from doing it.

If you are shipping lithium-ion batteries, by air and not identifying them as such to the airline, cargo shipper, etc. you're breaking the law.

According to Segway Inc. if you're shipping them not installed on your Segway, by ground, sea, or air, and not identifying them as hazardous materials to the shipper, you're breaking the law.

So if you put your lithium-ion batteries in a Federal Express box, trot down to the dropbox and drop them off and don't notify Federal Express that the box contains hazardous materials, you're breaking the law.