I’m planning a trip from Phila to Orlando via Southwest Airlines. If permitted, I would like to monitor railroad frequencies during the flight. I’ve read the TSA’s online info and FAA Advisory Circular “AC 91.21” regarding Portable Electronic Devices aka “PEDs.” The permissibility of any particular PED has been left to the discretion of the Airline. Basically, if the airline feels the device won’t interfere with flight operations, then they can allow its use, but they don’t have to. Does anyone have advice concerning taking a portable scanner in my carry-on luggage? Have you monitored railroad radio during flight? Have you been hassled or blocked from carrying or using a scanner? Part 2 of my question concerns what types of portable scanners would raise a red flag. The particular scanner I’d like to take happens to be a 14-channel Bendix-King 2-way radio (LPH5142). It can transmit if so programmed, but it won’t be programmed to transmit. Part 3 of my question is, “If I’m not allowed to operate its receiver during flight, then would I still be able to have it with me so I could use it in FL? How does one transport portable 2-way equipment via airline?” Is it reasonably “safe” against loss in checked baggage? How about transporting it disassembled from its battery and/or antenna? Thanks in advance for any experience-based advice. A scanner is not the kind of thing you can toss in the trash if they stop you at the gate.
You can carry scanners,two way radios and cell phones in your carry on but you will not be allowed to use them in the plane during the flight. I have carried them in carry on luggage on both domestic and international flights and never had difficulty as long it stays in the bag.Smart phones and such must have their radio functions disabled to use them on the plane.
I often use the scanner and ham radio transceiver in the airport and pack them away when we board the plane.
As for bringing them in your checked luggage, that works too. Loss of luggage is way over rated and you will get your bag back at your destination.
Take the train. You can use your phone, scanner, two-way radio and everything else during the entire trip.
OK, Thanks!
Lou
I flew with United Airlines in 2005, and used my scanner with an earpiece during the whole trip. On one of the legs, the attendant asked me to turn it off during the approach. I turned it back on upon touchdown. I had all the frequencies programmed that our pilots used during the flights. That was fun and informative.
As they say: Your Milage May Vary
If you do put it in your checked luggage, keep your batteries in your carry-on. You would not appreciate finding the TSA note informing you that the batteries have been removed because they are not allowed in checked bags.
Don’t count on using your scanner in flight. In most cases airlines will not allow the use of any radio signal transmission devices in flight because they interfere with critical navigation instruments; at least this has been my experience on most of the commercial flights I have taken. You can take your scanner on board on your carry-on luggage, and you don’t have to remove its batteries or its antenna. Don’t put your scanner in checked luggage because if your luggage is mishandled, and the scanner is damaged the airline will not be responsible.
As noted, it varies. You certainly won’t be allowed to have the thing on if transmit is enabled and the crew knows about it – although it has always astonished me how often when travelling I see people happily blathering away on their cell’ 'phones despite the crew’s request to turn them off. It is possible that the crew may ask you to leave it off completely, as some types of receivers effectively ‘transmit’ on some intermediate frequencies, and can potentially interfere with the electronics in the aircraft.
From the standpoint of pure self-preservation: consider that if you are flying in an aircraft manufactured by Airbus, the aircraft is completely controlled through a set of computers except for a very very limited ability to control the rudder and stabilator trim manually. I myself would be somewhat uncomfortable transmitting potentially interfering signals to those computers…
Hello! I’m back from my trip. Thanks for your informative responses. Here’s the outcome. Your results may vary:
The security level was Orange on the return flight. I didn’t take note of the level on the outbound flight. As advised, I kept all batteries in my carry-on, although I later discovered there was a forgotten 2 x AA Maglight flashlight in my checked suitcase. (It went through without a hitch.) I was able to carry my Bendix-King LPH5142 portable radio/scanner through TSA out and back (Phila to Orlando) with zero problems. Even though in preparation I had unprogrammed all transmit capability, nobody questioned whether my radio could transmit. [Meanwhile, my sister-in-law got nabbed (as you would expect) for a 6-oz metal hair spray and my nephew’s new snow globe that she didn’t realize he had bought. The TSA agent allowed her to return to the airline desk and check the bag containing the offending items and then she returned through security with a fast pass to the front of the long line.] On the plane, nobody even blinked when I got out and listened to my B-K through an earphone with the unit and its duck antenna sticking up in plain sight from my lap. The scanner received very well at a window seat just behind the wing on the way down in the morning around 10AM-noon, with lots of yard talk, especially near cities. Due to weather we took a slightly inland course. I was able to recognize major cities and coastline features as far down as the Jacksonville area. I heard Amtrak 89 early in the return flight (departed Orlando at 7:50 PM). That’s the kind of recognizable talk I had hoped to pick up. On the return trip I was in a middle-of-three seat 6 rows from the rear and the activity I heard was minimal. I theorize that was caused by a combination of lower traffic, poorer reception and a flight path close
I have not flown for a long time, so I would not know off hand. But, I am a newly licensed HAM, and in my studies it was said about the carrying and use of a HAM Radio on aircraft, which I assume could relate perhaps to scanners, it is up to the pilot of the aircraft. A scanner is a part 15 device, which says if it can or does cause interference it has to be turned off. On the safe side I would have it turned off, and kept off while in the air.