Airband radios and airport security

[Half a Mexican]

I’ve got a friend who is off to South America for a business trip. The poor chap has mistaken me for someone knowledgeable and asked me if it would be OK to take his Airband radio scanner on board to listen to ATC etc. I left him with a “probably” and said I would find out more.

I can’t see why this would be too much of a problem. But then airport security seems to be on a mission to confiscate just about anything they deem unsuitable to have on board.

Anybody know if they would have any objections?

Cheers,
--
HaM :}

[Bealzebub]

He cannot use his portable radio on board ! I am sure he can take it with it him though. you are probably right and it will attract attention from security. Radios in baggage do tend to do that these days.

[spekesoftly]

Seem to recall a similar thread on this subject quite recently. General opinion was that most Airlines would not permit the use of an Airband Scanner on their aircraft.

Frankly, I suggest that it would be wise to not even ask the cabin crew. (And don't even think about trying to use it covertly!).

[Wannabe Flyboy]

I took mine on a BA LHR - MAN - LHR - MAN flight recently and had no problems with security; I didn't use it on board though.

(of course, I never use it - it's just to look at).

[Kiwidan]

I did a flight from SYD-MAN via Tokyo and had my AR108 (not so good mini scanner) with me in my hand luggage. I took it because I had an 8 hour wait in Japan and though it might be interesting to listen at the bar while watching the aircraft. I never used it on the planes and wasnt questioned either. 3 weeks later when I returned ...same !

[Charlie Zulu]

I only take mine to the States if I am intending to hire an aeroplane or take a flight training course. Otherwise it stays at home.

There is a US airline (United?) that pipes ATC through to channel nine on the in flight entertainment system which is a lot more interesting than the **** the airlines normally put on. Shame there isn't any British airlines that do the same or more of the US airlines doing so.

Best wishes,

Charlie Zulu.

[seacue]

United's ATC on channel 9 is at the discretion of the captain. I don't travel a lot on UA, but it's not been activated on a number of my flights.

[PAXboy]

Half A Mexican: If you search for historic threads on this topic, you will find that the main reason for preventing on-board use is that the scanner also radiates a signal - small but it does.

The tuning unit has (if memory serves) a frequency generator and this emits RF and that is deemed bad for all concerned.

If your pal wants to be sure - they should contact the carrier in advance.

[FinalsToLand]

And of course as we all know it is actually illegal to listen to air traffic on a scanner without holding an R/T Licence.

F.T.L

[Half a Mexican]

Thanks for the replies.

He called the airline concerned was told that anything with an aerial is not allowed to be used at any stage of the flight.

He still plans to take it with him to use in the terminal as he has a long wait for a connecting flight. After asking around he is pretty sure that security in the relevant countries won’t have too much of a problem with it.

Cheers,

--
HaM

[rotornut]

A few years ago - before 911 - I used my portable scanner on an Air Canada flight. The f/a saw the the earphone in my ear and asked me what I was doing. I told him it was an aircraft band scanner and he politely told me I couldn't use it. Nowadays I don't think they would be so polite!

[radeng]

It will be interesting when hearing aids have radios built into them (as they soon will have) for various reasons. How will anyone except the user know if the thing is transmitting?

Fortunately, the power will be low enough that there shouldn't be a problem - you can see that a non functioning hearing aid has the potential to be quite dangerous in an emergency situation. Of course, the one piece of electronics that passengers aren't told to switch off is the pacemaker! (A CAA guy I know said that this was because the paperwork at the CAA would be too much if it happened!)

[Wot No Engines]

Been amazed at what security have let through with no questions, especially in the US.

Flights last year from UK via US to OZ, carrying emergency parachute, GPS, Glider flight logger, Handheld airband radio, miles of cables to connect + laptop and usual business bits. All as cabin luggage. Was asked at LHR what all the kit was, and no problems. In the US, no comment at all, but I got the full service treatment.

And no, I didn't war the parachte, but it was tempting ;)

[FJJP]

Reminds me of a glorious story from WW2. Auxiliary crews ferried aircraft from US manufacturers across the pond to the UK. Some flew the ac to the East Coast, from where they were flown on by relief crews. The original crew were then flown back to the factory by scheduled carrier. It was an unofficial practice for these crews to have their parachutes carried in the hold free of charge of XS baggage, a sort of 'contribution' by the internal airlines to the war effort.

Anyhow, a ferry crew pitched up at the check-in desk of an internal carrier (wearing flight suits and carrying their cases and parachutes) to return out west. they were informed by an over-officious clerk that they would have to pay XS baggage for their parachutes. On inquiry, they were told that they could carry the parachutes on board as hand luggage to avoid the XS charges.

Said ferry crew shrugged their shoulders and said 'OK'. They were rapidly intercepted by senior management as they made their way across the tarmac towards the aircraft wearing their 'chutes!. The parachutes went in the hold, free of charge!