[Collins] Not only Collins but any radio & Airports

[Zeljko Willy Curkovic]

This is off the topic but I would like to share my thoughts.
Recently I was assigned on mission to Albania. I decided to take my ham
gear with me. At Tirana airport, the customs were checking my baggage
and when they saw the IC-725 there were questions what, why, papers
etc. Then the costumer saw the morse key, and I could see the spark in
his eye. He called someone on  the phone and few minutes latter there
was an officer with many stars and stripes on his shoulder. He was
asking many questions. Who am I ? What am I doing ? They have been
looking for all the papers for just about everything I was carrying. Finally,
after almost one hour after thousand questions  I was allowed to
proceed while all other passengers caring their laptops and cellular
phones had quick passport check, and allowed to proceed.
Nowadays, with all electronic advantages when 99 % of
communications is done with computers: Internet, e-mails and mobile
phones, still, if you show up at the airport with radio station and old
fashion morse key, you are suspicious and specially treated.
Anyhow, I was on the air with callsign za/9a4na and I would do it again.
73
Zeljko
T98N at the moment :)