Recent experience with TSA, soaring type parachutes, and commercial airlines?

Much older story; back in the mid-70s I delivered an Air Force T-33a from
Fairbanks to Anchorage for wing spar modification. They didn't have TSA
then, but the security dorks popped my bailout bottle and wouldn't allow the
parachute in the passenger cabin.


"son_of_flubber" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, December 1, 2012 2:40:48 PM UTC-5, Mike the Strike wrote:
I'm not sure that many TSA agents would know what a parachute looks like!

TSA ignorance is exactly what I'm concerned about. TSA employee have been
know to open parachutes to look for contraband.

I guess I could ship the parachute via UPS.

On Saturday, December 1, 2012 6:57:05 PM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
Much older story; back in the mid-70s I delivered an Air Force T-33a from

Fairbanks to Anchorage for wing spar modification. They didn't have TSA

then, but the security dorks popped my bailout bottle and wouldn't allow the

parachute in the passenger cabin.





DB Cooper was still fresh in their minds. Any chance the return trip was an Alaska Airlines 727?

Frank Whiteley

In fact, the return *was* on an Alaska Airlines B-727. Also, by chance,
there was a bomb threat telephoned to the airport that morning and they
unloaded all flights and had us each walk out separately, identify our
baggage, and board the flights. I was wearing an orange flight suit and I
identified my parachute and the baggage pod from the T-Bird which
concidently looked somewhat like a torpedo. Both went back into the baggage
compartment and the flight departed without further incident.

About 5 years after that incident, I received a rejection letter from Alaska
Airlines. It was delayed due to being in the baggage of a National Airlines
B-727 which crashed into Pensacola Bay.


"Frank Whiteley" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, December 1, 2012 6:57:05 PM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
Much older story; back in the mid-70s I delivered an Air Force T-33a from

Fairbanks to Anchorage for wing spar modification. They didn't have TSA

then, but the security dorks popped my bailout bottle and wouldn't allow
the

parachute in the passenger cabin.





DB Cooper was still fresh in their minds. Any chance the return trip was
an Alaska Airlines 727?

Frank Whiteley

On Saturday, December 1, 2012 6:57:05 PM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
Much older story; back in the mid-70s I delivered an Air Force T-33a from

Fairbanks to Anchorage for wing spar modification. They didn't have TSA

then, but the security dorks popped my bailout bottle and wouldn't allow the

parachute in the passenger cabin.


I remember hopping in KC-135's and noting there were only enough parachutes on the wall for aircrew, not PAX.

Frank