Worry about Hobart Security

[garyjohn951]

Two weekends ago I went to Hobart from Melbourne on QF. I am 8 weeks into recovery of a knee replacement, so I went thru and yep as I was told would sound the alarm. Not problem, do the scan etc, show them the scar and off to lounge. On return at Hobart airport, I went thru the right hand security and NO ALARM. I said, I think your machine is not very accurate I have metal knee. Reply, off you go - you didn't register.

Now to the Anzac weekend just gone and am off to Hobart again. Same in Melbourne, alarm bells etc. On return in Hobart, went thru the Right hand scanner this time and AGAIN NO ALARM. Again I said it should have gone off, again - could not care less.

Amazing

 

[tuapekastar]

Two weekends ago I went to Hobart from Melbourne on QF. I am 8 weeks into recovery of a knee replacement, so I went thru and yep as I was told would sound the alarm. Not problem, do the scan etc, show them the scar and off to lounge. On return at Hobart airport, I went thru the right hand security and NO ALARM. I said, I think your machine is not very accurate I have metal knee. Reply, off you go - you didn't register.

Now to the Anzac weekend just gone and am off to Hobart again. Same in Melbourne, alarm bells etc. On return in Hobart, went thru the Right hand scanner this time and AGAIN NO ALARM. Again I said it should have gone off, again - could not care less.

Amazing

Quite apart from the potential security implications, the inconsistency can be frustrating. My belt 'never' sets anything off, but just on that very odd occasion it does. Maybe your knee is right on the cusp of setting off or not, and there is just a small difference between the MEL and HBA scanners you went through? (though I really have no idea).

 

[Cynicor]

Scanners can be set for different sensitivity. Go to Fiji and you'll set it off at 5 paces...

 

[BAM1748]

Or go to some airports in Mexico and you'll never set anything off. I tried to take off my steel cap boots and was just waived through without an alarm.

 

[garyjohn951]

Yes, overseas you get all difference, but I would have thought they would have a standard in Australia.

Do people realise that the amount of metal in a knee replacement is the same as a hand gun, no small amount.

 

[RooFlyer]

Broadening the thread a bit, can anyone say if there is an Federal Govt regulation or 'standards' for walk-through and bag-scanning machines?

For instance allowed settings for various makes; absolute ability to detect X mass / density etc etc? I imagine there must be some standardisation, maybe having a range of acceptable settings for different makes and ages of machines? Newer machines probably able to be more finely tuned whilst older ones probably more a 'blunt instrument'.

The HBA set-up is new as of last year ...

 

[BAM1748]

Broadening the thread a bit, can anyone say if there is an Federal Govt regulation or 'standards' for walk-through and bag-scanning machines?

For instance allowed settings for various makes; absolute ability to detect X mass / density etc etc? I imagine there must be some standardisation, maybe having a range of acceptable settings for different makes and ages of machines? Newer machines probably able to be more finely tuned whilst older ones probably more a 'blunt instrument'.

The HBA set-up is new as of last year ...

I didn't bother searching, but there will be an Australian Standard.

 

[BAM1748]

Yes, overseas you get all difference, but I would have thought they would have a standard in Australia.

Do people realise that the amount of metal in a knee replacement is the same as a hand gun, no small amount.

The technology used at airports wouldn't be mature enough yet but you can scan for different types of metal.

 

[straitman]

Broadening the thread a bit, can anyone say if there is an Federal Govt regulation or 'standards' for walk-through and bag-scanning machines?

For instance allowed settings for various makes; absolute ability to detect X mass / density etc etc? I imagine there must be some standardisation, maybe having a range of acceptable settings for different makes and ages of machines? Newer machines probably able to be more finely tuned whilst older ones probably more a 'blunt instrument'.

The HBA set-up is new as of last year ...

When I worked for ExxonMobil I 'owned' the scanners heliport scanners and they were set to whatever we wanted not to anyone else standards.

 

[jb747]

There was one in Perth that was set up over an expansion joint in the flooring. It went off if you thought the wrong things. They're a very blunt instrument, and are generally set way too high. I suspect you've found the only one in the world that is set correctly. They should not be giving false alarms all the time. In some parts of the world they go off on a counter, or randomly, to give an excuse for a pat down.

 

[Franky]

I have two replacement knees, and suffer in airport security everywhere I go. However, when I depart thru Perth International where they have one of the later Xray type machines, they always show me the pic afterwards, and it only shows one knee with an implant. I've often thought whether my surgeon dudded me with a plastic implant in my right knee!

 

[TomVexille]

The "alarm" is only an audible indication of the machine detecting something, and like most machines that make noise, the volume can be turned up or down.

 

[adam15]

Just as I was about to board JQ7 from MEL last September when I reached into my pocket for something and noticed my swiss army knife. I had owned it for 20 years and had intended to check it. As I was flying *class I went through priority screening. Obviously no issues. I got much thinking done in a short period of time shortly after I made the discovery! I wonder what others would have done?

 

[travelislife]

It is quite funny how ridiculous it is in a way. Similar my belt never sets off anything, though once through Adelaide in the 'underground' security when you transfer from mining flights it went off and I said to the guy, it never goes off in any other capital city airport in Australia. They seem to get really affronted when you challenge them like that.

 

[cgichard]

I've had an underwire bra set off a scanner in Georgia (the country not the US state) but nowhere else, although I've read that they commonly do so in the LOTFAP.

 

[Simo]

I have found MEL the worse... I am generally ver y careful remove everything out of my pockets but will still get the beep...