I'm helping a friend move his plane down to Florida for the winter
and will be flying back on the airlines. Since I'll be bringing my flight
gear(headset, handheld radio, GPS, flight bag, etc..), is there anything
that I should avoid bringing so the TSA doesn't finish their Christmas
shopping with all my gear? I'd hate to be told, "nope, you can't take this
GPS, or this handheld radio". "Hmmm...bubba sure gonna like these
presents...". ; - )

Any help would be appreciated.

Pete


I've traveled with my flight gear bag as my carry on bag several times. I
forgot about my leatherman knife down in the bottom of the bag once and the
screeners caught it and took it away. But other than that, they had no
problem with my headsets, kneeboard, fuel tester or anything else. I've
traveled before with bubble-wrapped panel mount nav/coms, transponders, and
flight instruments in my carry on luggage a few times when going to pick up
an airplane. I got the special search and questions about what it is, but
they let me go on with it. I think the metal round case of the turn
coordinator set them off, they seemed real interested in that. People
bring their handheld GPS on commercial aircraft all the time, and depending
on the airline you may even be able to turn it in flight.

Three months after 9-11 a friend of mine had a sudden change of plans and
showed up at the airport with only his flight gear bag, no other luggage,
and bought a one-way ticket at the check-in counter at the airport. He got
the special treatment by the screeners but otherwise nothing unusual and he
flew right on home. So don't get too uptight about carrying your flight
gear with you.