Filming on board aircraft

Post by **Actor** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:06 am

I'll be traveling by air this Thanksgiving and would like to do some shooting out the window of the plane. Has anyone here in the U.S. had any experience with air line personnel letting you do that? Or will they even let you take the camera on the plane?

I figure there's no way that a wind-up Canon Zoom 8-3 is going to interfere with the avionics of the plane. There's only the light meter and it's a DC instrument; no RF. But the airline people may not see it that way. If I'm going to get any kind of hassle I'd rather just check the camera, or leave it at home.

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:23 am

Oh, I'm fairly certain you will be hassled. Probably even if you leave the camera at home

If you just need to shoot for a few seconds, wait until the plane is in the air and do what you need.

Post by **mattias** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am

Don't ask, just shoot. Sometimes they will politely ask you to stop, then just stop. My experience from europe and pre 9/11 north america at least. /matt

Post by **Angus** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:17 am

I've not tried it since the latest shenanigans with hand baggage security, but I've flown around a lot including the USA (transatlantic and internal) and Europe and nobody has ever questioned me or stopped me filming or photographing. That includes pulling out large super 8 and medium format cameras from my hand baggage (the latter requiring assembly of the finder and lens to the body) mid-flight.

Best not to try to hide what you are doing, that creates suspicion. Be open about it, answer any questions if you are asked. Don't try it these days during take-off or landing...only when they advise you that use of "portable electronic devices is now permitted"...I know w clockwork camera doesn't count but there's no need to push things. If you start getting out equipment while the flight attendants are strapped into their safety seats that might arouse suspicion...we all know how jumpy passangers and staff can be these days.

Post by **mattias** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:15 pm

Angus wrote:Don't try it these days during take-off or landing...

yeah, that's when i've been stopped. a polite "i'm sorry" has always been enough and i always managed to get some nice footage before that. ;-)

/matt

Post by **Bru** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:55 pm

I used my Canon 8-3 last October, on two AA flights inside the US. No problems whatsover (apart from running out of spring tension just before lift-off.. ) in the plane. Only hassle was during check-in, when the supervisor had to be called to identify my 'unknown' optical device.

Post by **Patrick** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:49 pm

'unknown optical device.'

haha!

Post by **super8man** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:05 pm

This past week I flew out of Burbank; there you can board either the front or the rear of the aircraft directly from the tarmac (sp?). So, while I snapped a few stills, here comes a guy with full Canon GL2 type camera (should holster, etc) filming a couple and their two kids all along the walkway up the rear stairs and into the plane. And I was worried about a few still shots...jeesh.

He did not shoot in the plane (at least I could not tell if he did) but as soon as the plane landed, out came the camcorder and he filmed their entire exit from the plane into the lobby.

Post by **vidwerk** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:31 pm

Angus wrote: Best not to try to hide what you are doing, that creates suspicion. Be open about it.

Agreed, Assuming you can take your gear aboard.
I've filmed on aircraft many times post 9/11. I always notify the crew before hand. I've also filmed during take-off and landing with no problems.

vidwerk.

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:32 pm

The footage you can get outside of a standard window is not that interesting - frankly, I'd be more inclined to get interior/location shots to use if I ever had to make a project involving a cabin interior. A while ago I went up in a small plane with my R10 and got some decent aerial footage.

Post by **idrawthings** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:12 pm

Last May I got off a few shots landing in Hawaii on my Nizo. I didn't tell anyone, but I did my best to telegraph that it was just a camera. Fumbled around with a lightmeter and NDs for 5 minutes - no hassles at all.

Post by **steve hyde** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:50 pm

...I would go the "don't ask - just shoot".... I recently travelled internationally with cameras and film in my carry on bags and could have easily shot out the window if I had wanted to.... You want to film during take off and landing right? That is when you have the most noise and all the flight attendents are buckled down...

Steve

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:00 pm

I recently travelled internationally with cameras and film in my carry on bags

Did the film come out OK? Did you let them X-ray it?

I'm trying to work out a way to get some 16mm footage in Japan this summer. Super 8 carts were easy enough to get through the metal detector, but the metal daylight spools for 100' loads will probably set it off, and 400' has a metal can anyway. I really don't want it to be X-rayed twice, and I'm not sure if hand inspection will be guaranteed feasible.

Also, getting my large tripod and the Kinor there would be tough... I might have to settle for the Kiev and a monopod.

Post by **steve hyde** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:15 pm

I brought a Beaulieu, a Filmo, , lenses, 20lbs of film, a scrim, the Marantz and mic along with other normal carry on items (no liquids) in the cabin with me. (split between two of us) Tripods, boom poles and other items went below in checked baggage. I was very anxious about travelling with so much film stock, but as you will see in my post below, it never got x rayed and it all worked out fine.... (I haven't seen the footage yet. It is at the lab now)

here is the text from my post at Cinematography:

..I'll add my experience to the list here.

Just got back from travelling Seattle -> Toronto -> Lima Peru and back with unprocessed films: 16mm daylight rolls and super 8. I explained that I was carrying professional films and in most cases they tried to persuade me to send it through the xray. I found a polite "no"goes a long way. They usually responded by asking me about film speeds. (is it faster than 800 etc) I responded by telling them firmly that "I have to have a hand inspection". Sometimes this request was met with some resistance and a bit of gentle argument usually resulted in a manager coming over to talk to me. In more than one instance the manager told me "the hand inspection will take a long time". When I asked how long in both instances they responded with "five to ten minutes". I told them this would be fine. The hand inspection did not require opening any of my films. They simply swabbed the outside of the films to check for dangerous substances. I was most concerned with travelling back through Lima, but Lima security was very accomodating.

It was no problem.

Steve

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:31 pm

Sounds good. I was only worried about the security in our 'great country,' as in Japan the workers tend to be more efficient/knowledgeable and I have never had an issue with either film, paint, or replica guns.

I probably should get a tripod case... I'm sure TSA or the bag monkeys will find some way to snap off or destroy all the levers and knobs.

How many feet was 20 lbs of film?