[CTSARA] Radios on a plane

[Sander Pool]

Hi,

I often hear "carry your license" but does anyone have any first hand 
accounts that carrying a license made a difference? You do not need to 
hold an amateur license to own nor transport a ham band transmitter. You 
can even use it as a receiver without a license. If they have a problem 
with the equipment you're trying to carry on board I don't see how a ham 
license will help. Either they believe the equipment is harmless to the 
plane or they believe it's potentially harmful.

I've often carried my HT on a plane and it's never been questioned. I 
don't carry my license. No one but the FCC cares that I have one. As far 
as the TSA is concerned you have a piece of electronics in your carry on 
and it powers up on demand if it is battery powered. The airline reminds 
you it needs to be powered down for the duration of the flight.

My advise: pack your radio well and send it through the x-ray machine by 
itself. Politely answer any questions they may have about the equipment. 
Most likely they'll ignore it completely. It looks like a piece of AV 
equipment to them, nothing special. The x-ray will show it does not 
contain explosives nor hidden weapons. That's all they care about.

In case of doubt, contact the TSA directly but I'm afraid that won't be 
a pleasant experience.

73s,

     Sander W1SOP

On 12/5/2012 2:03 PM, O'Connor, Tony wrote:
> I travel regularly with my HT in carry-on luggage and never had a problem, even internationally, but I've never tried to carry on HF equipment. Have a copy of your license in your wallet and maybe take a HRO catalog and/or a QST so you can explain what you're carrying.