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As a corporate pilot I don't fly the airlines to much, when I do I usually am leaving the corporate plane somewhere and catching an immediate flight home so I don't worry about taking a weapon or I will leave it on the corporate bird.
Well today I am going to Wichita to train for three weeks and had to check my weapon at IAH (Houston) I was expecting the ticket agent to walk me over to TSA. She said each terminal is different, checked with the TSA and they had her check the weapon for proper packaging and empty.
To say the least the first clue that she hadn't been around weapons is when I opened the case carefully pointed the gun barrel down in the case and racked the slide, boy did she flinch, I took the mag out to show her and she flinched again, showed her the proper packaging on the ammo closed and locked the case,placed it in my suitcase, asked the TSA if I could tie wrap the case, he said yes, end of story. Very surprised that TSA had ticket agent check the weapon.

When I flew SWAir to Phoenix, the gate agent looked the case over and we were done. When I flew back, the TSA agent came over and walked me through it then ran everything through the scanner. Both SWA, different airports, I guess - but no big deal either way.

I've found it varies by airport. I've only flown once from IAH with firearms; I had to wait for a TSA agent to come over from another terminal to check my luggage.

I usually fly from Hobby because I prefer SWA. HOU is much easier than IAH--you declare your firearms, sign the card, and send it on down the baggage chute. No demonstrating they are unloaded; the X-ray machines there are supposed to be able to see the chamber is empty.

TSA aren't supposed to handle the firearm. It is the responsibility of the Airline.

Thanks for all the good input
Gun safely arrived

As long as you aren't part of an Israeli protection detail you should be fine.

Interesting. Only time I've ever flown with one, they just asked me. I said yes, and we went on with life. No opening the case, no working the slide, nothing.

74novaman wrote:Interesting. Only time I've ever flown with one, they just asked me. I said yes, and we went on with life. No opening the case, no working the slide, nothing.

Which airline? Seems this is more likely airline policy than TSA.

So what are the rules?

philip964 wrote:So what are the rules?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also check with your carrier...they can have other proceedures. Concider as well where your flight might get diverted to in an emergency or weather related issue. (Do not take possesion of your bag with a checked handgun in New Jersy for instance....make them keep it until you get to fly out. Search this forum for the sto ries)

blackdog8200 wrote:

philip964 wrote:So what are the rules?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also check with your carrier...they can have other proceedures. Concider as well where your flight might get diverted to in an emergency or weather related issue. (Do not take possesion of your bag with a checked handgun in New Jersy for instance....make them keep it until you get to fly out. Search this forum for the sto ries)

thanks for that link.

CompVest wrote:TSA aren't supposed to handle the firearm. It is the responsibility of the Airline.

NOBODY is supposed to handle the firearm, except maybe the owner to demonstrate to the ticket agent that it is clear.

blackdog8200 wrote:

philip964 wrote:So what are the rules?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also check with your carrier...they can have other proceedures. Concider as well where your flight might get diverted to in an emergency or weather related issue. (Do not take possesion of your bag with a checked handgun in New Jersy for instance....make them keep it until you get to fly out. Search this forum for the sto ries)

Good point

CompVest wrote:TSA aren't supposed to handle the firearm. It is the responsibility of the Airline.

I'll have to check again, but the last time I printed their regulations, it states that you have to wait for TSA to clear the bag. However last time I flew, out of Austin and Back from Detroit, TSA was not involved, signed the card locked the case and went away.

Seabear wrote:

CompVest wrote:TSA aren't supposed to handle the firearm. It is the responsibility of the Airline.

I'll have to check again, but the last time I printed their regulations, it states that you have to wait for TSA to clear the bag. However last time I flew, out of Austin and Back from Detroit, TSA was not involved, signed the card locked the case and went away.

TSA was involved somewhere in the process, even if behind the scenes. Your checked bag was screened, and if they didn't call you down to open it for them, then it passed screening, which it should have done with a firearm in it.

It is NOT TSA's responsibility to check firearms, nor are they even supposed to cheeck for illegal drugs. (I hate to tell you how many baggies of pot I saw go by when I was with TSA) The only time TSA would want anything to do with your gun, ideally anyway, is if the xray would not pass your bag due to the gun blocking its view. Then TSA would open the bag and see if they could identify the "threat" and if they had to open your gun case, you would have to be present.

There is one, and only one, method of procedure TSA is supposed to follow, nationwide and in the territores and protectorates, with no variations allowed. Practically though, variations in practice occur because everyone interprets the words differently, and some TSA agents like to set themselves up as little tin gods. I worked for just such a person, briefly, and we were never so glad as to see someone get fired.

If you find a TSA agent not following TSA's rules and procedures, report the agent. If that seems to accomplish nothing, escalate! There is no excuse for TSA not following their own system wide standards.

That said, different airlines do things differently, and in some places they will, more for your convenience than anything else, escort you to TSA to expedite the screening procdure if they should happen to have to open your bag. In other places, where screening takes place in a widely separate location, thet's not so easy, but believe me, your bag got screened by TSA.