TSA regulations for Air Travel with film

PSA Journal, July, 2004

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issues tips for air travelers, which can be found at www.tsa.dot.gov/public/index.jsp.> For photographers, there is a subheading in the Travelers & Consumers section under Air Travel>Transporting Special Items titled "Transporting Film and Photographic Equipment" (www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198006ce43). The following information was obtained directly from this site on May 18, 2004: "WARNING: Equipment used for screening checked baggage will damage your undeveloped film.

Traveling with Film

* Never place undeveloped film in your checked baggage.

* Place film in your carry-on baggage or request a hand inspection.

* Carry-on screening equipment might also damage certain film if the film passes through more than 5 times.

None of the screening equipment--neither the machines used for checked baggage nor those used for carry-on baggage--will affect digital camera images or film that has already been processed, slides, videos, photo compact discs, or picture discs.

General use film

You should remove all film from your checked baggage and place it in your carry-on baggage. The X-ray machine that screens your carry-on baggage at the passenger security checkpoint will not affect undeveloped film under ASA/ISO 800.

If the same roll of film is exposed to X-ray inspections more than 5 times before it is developed, however, damage may occur. Protect your film by requesting a hand-inspection if it has already passed through the carry-on baggage screening equipment (X-ray) more than 5 times.

Specialty film

Specialty film is defined as film with an ASA/ISO 800 or higher and typically used by professionals.

At the passenger security checkpoint, you should remove the following types of film from your carry-on baggage and ask for a hand inspection:

* Film with an ASA/ISO 800 or higher

* Highly sensitive X-ray or scientific films

* Film of any speed which is subjected to X-ray surveillance more than 5 times (the effect of X-ray screening is cumulative)

* Film that is or will be underexposed

* Film that you intend to 'push process'

* Sheet film

* Large format film

* Medical film

* Scientific film

* Motion picture film

* Professional grade film

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 air 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.

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.