Okay, Everyone knows the internet joke about the old lady that had her knitting needles taken away recently because they were afraid she would knit an Afgan, right?
Weeell… this actually DID happen… to a close friend of mine’s grandmother, of all people! And yes, she was really going to knit afghans(sp) for her grandkids’ christmas presents on the plane, on the way to see them…
The reason I bring this up is, has anyone had trouble with airport security now that security measures have been heightened so?
I mean, really, what would YOU think if you found a Generation with photo tack shoved in the fipple? It does remarkably resemble plastique explosives…
I’ve always been paranoid about airport security and my whistles, but now I’m not sure that when I finally get a chance to travel to Ireland that I want to take my whistles with me. Granted it may be a few years, but still…
Be safe,
Daniel
PS: Yes, it’s very late… yes… I have insomnia… yes… I’m going to bed. 'night all
Just cooperate with security. Having
flown lots in countries where there
is plenty of terrorism, I’m used to
lots of searching, frisking, and so on.
I dislike it more when they don’t than
when they do. Just stay friendly.
The prospect that you won’t be allowed
to take a whistle on the plane is
remote. If they don’t check the whistle
at all, report them.
I had an interesting experience flying back from the UK in late Sept. I was (literally) not allowed to take a fork (regular eating size fork) in my carryon, but after some discussion (and a short demonstration) of my Low D, was allowed to carry it on.
There is a mechanism by which you can ensure that something like this is carried on if you run into problems. The pilot can (at least on some flights) elect to take an item which you can sensibly claim is a reasonably carry on with him, to return it to you at landing.
How that works in current paranoic times is unclear. However, I can say that I have had problems wandering around with a Low D, but by being polite and firm have always succeeded in getting to a sensible resolution.
I have a part-time job were I work for one of the airlines. As I try to steal moments of whistle practice every chance I can get, I usually cary 4-5 whistles with me everyday as I go through security, and I usually go through security at least twice a day! In all these passings, I’ve been questioned about the whistles, maybe twice. Since none of them are pointed, and few outside of this board has heard of NWA, I suppose they consider them harmless. I’m just glad they haven’t heard me practice . . . they might change their minds!
Well, you might just buy a Sweet whistle (wood) or a nice set of Water Weasels. Not only are they non-metallic, but you wouldn’t have to mess around filling your mouthpiece with stuff to fix their sound.
I’ve always been paranoid about airport security and my whistles, but now I’m not sure that when I finally get a chance to travel to Ireland that I want to take my whistles with me. Granted it may be a few years, but still…
One obvious solution is not to take them with you, and buy a Generation when you get there - it will probably cost you no more than €10. Anyhow they don’t take kindly to expensive whistles in the pub sessions over there - if that’s where you intend playing. You fit in much better with a Gen.
My two favorites are two tweaked Generation brass Ds Playability on faster tunes is a very very nice thing, for my fingers at least… provided I don’t get ahead of myself! laughs
As far as carrying my whistles, I’m thinking packing them in one of my suitcases, but I don’t want them to think I’m carrying a bomb onto the plane or anything laughs Beyond that, as long as I get there and back, and my poor whistles get there and back (took a lot of work to tweak those things ) I’m happy
Anyhow they don’t take kindly to expensive whistles in the pub sessions over there - if that’s where you intend playing. You fit in much better with a Gen.
I’ve already determined that I’m not bringing a whistle over. More than likely, after 24 hours whistle-less, I’ll stop in to Shanna Quay and get one, but I doubt if I’ll play in session, especially if I get a sense that someone ‘wouldn’t take kindly’.
Pity that someone should care one iota what instrument another person is playing.
