Taking tools on an aeroplane

[Norman Watts <Norman_Watts@zzzzzzz>]

Things may have changed very recently (for instance cigarette lighters
are now supposedly no longer allowed) but earlier this spring I took a
lot of rock climbing gear (including numerous metal cams) to
California, and last summer I took two large duffle bags of
mountaineering gear (including stoves, fuel bottles (empty), and two
dangerous looking ice axes) to Peru. Everything went into the checked
baggage. I took these items through the Dulles and National airports
serving Washington, DC. At Washington National the bags are X-rayed and
also opened right were you check in.  There was not so much as a
question from the inspectors. I would expect that security at these two
airports is at least as strict as those in the UK and Italy. When I was
in Ireland and Italy a week ago it seemed so to me.

n

Norman Watts, Ph. D.
National Institutes of Health
50 South Drive, Rm. 1509
Bethesda, MD 20892-8025
Phone: (301) 402-3418
Fax: (301) 480-7629