freakyrat 1 #1 February 16, 2006 I just want to updated the Forum on the outstanding experience I had with TSA at the Jacksonville, FL International Airport yesterday afternoon. I was bringing my new Mirage G4 back from the factory. ( I had to have the MLW resized) I was very polite with the screeners and asked them if they wanted me to run it though separately like they asked me to do on a previous trip. I took the rig and ran it through in one of those grey plastic trays. After passing through the metal detecter and waiting for everything on the other side of the X-ray machine the Supervisor ask's me for my x-ray (Cypres) card. I produced the card along with the TSA guidelines on Parachutes from the TSA/USPA websites and my USPA card. The Supervisor matched my Cypres card to the x-ray image and it came back perfect just like on the card. He showed the comparison to all the screeners who were watching the machine. They also did an EDS test on the rig and gearbag and they both came back clean. During this time the Supervisor and all the screeners were very polite and totally professional. This only took a little extra time to accomplish and it did hold up the line a bit. After all the tests were complete and the Supervisor gave me back all my Cypres card and all other related documentation, I proceeded to put my rig back in my kitbag etc. It was then that the Supervisor informed me that he had made about 12 jumps in the military and was familiar with skydiving rigs etc. and even though they can request a jumper to open his rig up they have NEVER had to do so and all jumpers who have produced the new colored Cypres card have had it match up perfectly with what the screeners were seeing on the machine. I don't know if that having someone on staff that is familiar with parachutes had anything to do with it but it sure made a difference to me. In conclusion, TSA has a critical job. These TSA folks in JAX were well trained on procedures relating to screening of Parachutes and were totally professional in the execution of those procedures. Chris Chrzan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #2 February 16, 2006 Good to hear that you had a positive experience, and it's always good to emphasize that being polite and patient can go a LONG way with folks who are just trying to do their job. I detailed a recent experience I had in this thread. It wasn't quite as smooth as yours but the outcome was the same... I got to carry my rig on board, and I hope that it was an educational experience for the agents. I wish the supervisor I'd had to deal with had been as proactive in making it a learning experience as the one you met."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rasmack 0 #3 February 17, 2006 Quote... all jumpers who have produced the new colored Cypres card have had it match up perfectly with what the screeners were seeing on the machine. Hmm... I have a Cypres 1. The x-ray card I got from Airtec is the old red 'n' white one. It looks nothing like the new one for the Cypres 2. Does anyone know if I should expect more problems with the old card?HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #4 February 17, 2006 Concerning the old Cypres card, I don't know. Cypres (SSK) will probably mail you a new one if you ask for it. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rasmack 0 #5 February 17, 2006 When I wrote to them, they sent me an old one...HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #6 February 17, 2006 A picture of the new one was also posted on Dropzone.com a litttle over a year ago I think Andyman posted it but I'm not sure of that. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #7 February 17, 2006 I would think that traveling with the one with an image that matches (as closely as those images can, of course, since it's not an actual scan of a Cypres in *your* rig) would make sense - whether that's the Cypres 1 card or the Cypres 2 card. When I first bought my Vigil they didn't have the cards yet, but I've since downloaded one from the Vigil site and I'm glad I had it in the experience I mentioned above in Boston. Given how many screeners there are at every airport (and I think it's a fairly high turnover position) I don't think any given screener is likely to have seen too many cards, so I doubt there would be an expectation for what the card is supposed to look like."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #8 February 17, 2006 QuoteA picture of the new one was also posted on Dropzone.com a litttle over a year ago I think Andyman posted it but I'm not sure of that. Chris old one ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rasmack 0 #9 February 17, 2006 Mine is an old one and it looks nothing like that.HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #10 February 17, 2006 Thanks for posting those pictures for our friend in Denmark. Here is a link to the Cypres2 manual which has the same picture in it. http://www.cypres2.com/userguide/CYPRES_2_users_guide_english.pdf Folks, you can copy and paste it in your browser and I think the x-ray picture is on page 26. Blue Skies Chris PS. Remwa looks like we fly the same canopy combination. I have the 120 Stiletto in the G3 and a 124 Pilot/PD126R combination in the Mirage G4. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agent_lead 0 #11 February 18, 2006 dam i have an old vector 1 container that is a loaner from someone who prolly dosent have the card anymore... im leaving for eloy on sunday... chances of me getting on the plane with it?/?-------------------------------------------- www.facebook.com/agentlead Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #12 February 18, 2006 Quotedam i have an old vector 1 container that is a loaner from someone who prolly dosent have the card anymore... im leaving for eloy on sunday... chances of me getting on the plane with it?/? Chances are you're not going to have any problems. I've taken my rig through security maybe 15 times now and only once has someone looked at my card. I know people who have traveled a lot more than that who have never had to show their card. However, you can print one out from the web site. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lindell 0 #13 February 18, 2006 I have took several tips with rig and had nothing as far as paperwork, each time without any problems until recently at Clearwater Fl. coming back from z-hills. They sent rig thru x-ray and then wanted me to open it up so they could see the metal object that looked liked some sort of spring. I began arguing with them how they were the first airport I ran into that wasn't trained properly and if I opened the reserve area of the rig we would have parachute material all over the place and that I don't have a bag to put it in after that. So after arguing for a little while longer and involving three more airport officials, they made me check it to avoid inspections. After that I was panicking that my little child wasn't with me beings I just paid $4,000.00 for rig. To top it all off when I got in my seat I just happened to be sitting in the seat where they loaded luggage and got to watch them throw my rig like a football onto conveyor. O'h yea, at least they did bag it for me.Quote Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NWFlyer 2 #14 February 18, 2006 QuoteO'h yea, at least they did bag it for me. I know a lot of people have sucessfully carried on their rig without putting it into some sort of duffel/roller bag, but this would be a *great* reason to make sure it is inside another bag. People are forced to check stuff for various reasons - it could be as simple as you're one of the last on the plane and the overhead bins are full. I like knowing that if I *do* have to check my rig, at least it's protected within a suitcase. Glad yours got through okay despite getting tossed around. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freakyrat 1 #15 February 19, 2006 From my 37 yrs of working in the Govt. (military and otherwise) I know that they are just ate up with paperwork. The main thing that TSA likes is the colored Cypres card because when your rig goes through the x-ray machine the card matches up exactly with the pictures the screener sees and also with the pictures in their ops manual. My experience in JAX was just great compared to my trip out to JAX from Houston IAH (Terminal B, Continental Express the preceeding Sunday) . The screener was new and her and her trainer didn't want to hear any of my offers to provide the TSA paperwork Cypres card or anything, much like the experience you had. Fortunately I stood my ground and the lady who was training this screener was kind of grouchy and was trying to accuse me of trying to tell her how to do her job. The men that were with her were cooler though and the supervisor told her that as long as my rig etc passes the EDS scan (which it did) that it's OK to take on board. You would think that with the number of DZ's in Florida and the two DZ's in Houston that these screeners would be as excellently trained as the ones in Jacksonville, FL. Such is Life. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
NWFlyer 2 #14 February 18, 2006 QuoteO'h yea, at least they did bag it for me. I know a lot of people have sucessfully carried on their rig without putting it into some sort of duffel/roller bag, but this would be a *great* reason to make sure it is inside another bag. People are forced to check stuff for various reasons - it could be as simple as you're one of the last on the plane and the overhead bins are full. I like knowing that if I *do* have to check my rig, at least it's protected within a suitcase. Glad yours got through okay despite getting tossed around. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakyrat 1 #15 February 19, 2006 From my 37 yrs of working in the Govt. (military and otherwise) I know that they are just ate up with paperwork. The main thing that TSA likes is the colored Cypres card because when your rig goes through the x-ray machine the card matches up exactly with the pictures the screener sees and also with the pictures in their ops manual. My experience in JAX was just great compared to my trip out to JAX from Houston IAH (Terminal B, Continental Express the preceeding Sunday) . The screener was new and her and her trainer didn't want to hear any of my offers to provide the TSA paperwork Cypres card or anything, much like the experience you had. Fortunately I stood my ground and the lady who was training this screener was kind of grouchy and was trying to accuse me of trying to tell her how to do her job. The men that were with her were cooler though and the supervisor told her that as long as my rig etc passes the EDS scan (which it did) that it's OK to take on board. You would think that with the number of DZ's in Florida and the two DZ's in Houston that these screeners would be as excellently trained as the ones in Jacksonville, FL. Such is Life. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
