Dreaded Airport Security BEEPS
Chris Johnson, CPI Engineering Director
Description
Collection
Title:
Dreaded Airport Security BEEPS
Creator:
Chris Johnson, CPI Engineering Director
Date:
10/21/1998
Text:
I do not have an answer for the below, but do have a general comment on
an issue I have to deal with sometimes. The issue of magnification of
one requirement over competing requirements or benefits.
The issue has really to do with design compromise. All designs are a
compromise, being the net result of many competing factors, like cost,
weight, appearance, function, etc. Something I have observed some of my
fellow amputees do is to focus very strongly on one requirement to the
detriment of other considerations.
One fellow recently wanted a VERY soft toe response and extreme
dorsiflexion, then complained of reduced durability in his DynaFlex foot,
as he had cut away much of the anterior bumper!
Many go for cosmetics as a primary consideration to the detriment of
function. Better to be maladjusted with a change of heel height (can't
get at that distal tube adapter `cuae it's burried in that delicate,
pretty cover).
I too set off airport alams and travel a lot. It does get irritating,
but I usually deal with the insecurity folks by simply pulling up my
pants leg to show my pylon and I say, prosthesis. While this evokes a
euphamistic male pat down, at least I don't get grilled to remove every
bit of metal on my body, including my fillings, before I can pass though
the detector. Sometimes I have fun with this by swinging my right foot
in and out of the detector field and waving my arms and raising my
eyebrows to a BEEP! pause BEEP! pause BEEP! You gotta have humor in life
sometimes...
Anyway, as a designer, I know full well the pitfalls of competing design
requirements. To remove metal from a prosthesis in order to meet one
requirement (not setting off alarms), would have a deleterious effect on
function, such as loss of pin-type 3S liner, and severe restrictions on
component choices.
I have found airport scanner sensitivities to be utterly unpredictable.
I suppose some could be set off by presence of a prosthesis with no metal
but a foot bolt.
You prosthetists have a difficult job...one of satifying the desires of
amputees when sometimes we are not so reasonable, knowledgeable, or
balanced. Nevertheless, I suppose it does not hurt to reach for the
skies (without that BEEPING noise).
Chris (CJ) Johnson, Engineering Director
College Park Industries, Inc. ( <URL Redacted>)
Home Office (616) 664-4173 at CPI (810) 294-7950
<Email Address Redacted>
Ah, it's just a scratch...
Scorpa 250/Fantic 305/Gas-Gas 160/Three Yamaha 650s
On Wed, 14 Oct 1998 18:14:36 -0400 Paul Edman < <Email Address Redacted> >
writes:
>I see a 38yo transtibial amputee who works as a sales rep and does a
>lot of traveling....
>Anyway, this prosthesis sets off all dectectors (except DFW?) His old
>prosthesis, from his description, sounds like an exo with
>supracondylar suspension, foot unknown. The airport tells me the
>dectectors use magnets to work. Patient states he would prefer endo
>but would go back to exo if necessary. My question is how much metal,
>and what types can I get away with. Foot bolt, Shuttle lock, Flex
>foots attachment bolts. How much is too much. I understand each
>airport sets its own sensitvity but any ideas?
>
>Paul Edman, CP
an issue I have to deal with sometimes. The issue of magnification of
one requirement over competing requirements or benefits.
The issue has really to do with design compromise. All designs are a
compromise, being the net result of many competing factors, like cost,
weight, appearance, function, etc. Something I have observed some of my
fellow amputees do is to focus very strongly on one requirement to the
detriment of other considerations.
One fellow recently wanted a VERY soft toe response and extreme
dorsiflexion, then complained of reduced durability in his DynaFlex foot,
as he had cut away much of the anterior bumper!
Many go for cosmetics as a primary consideration to the detriment of
function. Better to be maladjusted with a change of heel height (can't
get at that distal tube adapter `cuae it's burried in that delicate,
pretty cover).
I too set off airport alams and travel a lot. It does get irritating,
but I usually deal with the insecurity folks by simply pulling up my
pants leg to show my pylon and I say, prosthesis. While this evokes a
euphamistic male pat down, at least I don't get grilled to remove every
bit of metal on my body, including my fillings, before I can pass though
the detector. Sometimes I have fun with this by swinging my right foot
in and out of the detector field and waving my arms and raising my
eyebrows to a BEEP! pause BEEP! pause BEEP! You gotta have humor in life
sometimes...
Anyway, as a designer, I know full well the pitfalls of competing design
requirements. To remove metal from a prosthesis in order to meet one
requirement (not setting off alarms), would have a deleterious effect on
function, such as loss of pin-type 3S liner, and severe restrictions on
component choices.
I have found airport scanner sensitivities to be utterly unpredictable.
I suppose some could be set off by presence of a prosthesis with no metal
but a foot bolt.
You prosthetists have a difficult job...one of satifying the desires of
amputees when sometimes we are not so reasonable, knowledgeable, or
balanced. Nevertheless, I suppose it does not hurt to reach for the
skies (without that BEEPING noise).
Chris (CJ) Johnson, Engineering Director
College Park Industries, Inc. ( <URL Redacted>)
Home Office (616) 664-4173 at CPI (810) 294-7950
<Email Address Redacted>
Ah, it's just a scratch...
Scorpa 250/Fantic 305/Gas-Gas 160/Three Yamaha 650s
On Wed, 14 Oct 1998 18:14:36 -0400 Paul Edman < <Email Address Redacted> >
writes:
>I see a 38yo transtibial amputee who works as a sales rep and does a
>lot of traveling....
>Anyway, this prosthesis sets off all dectectors (except DFW?) His old
>prosthesis, from his description, sounds like an exo with
>supracondylar suspension, foot unknown. The airport tells me the
>dectectors use magnets to work. Patient states he would prefer endo
>but would go back to exo if necessary. My question is how much metal,
>and what types can I get away with. Foot bolt, Shuttle lock, Flex
>foots attachment bolts. How much is too much. I understand each
>airport sets its own sensitvity but any ideas?
>
>Paul Edman, CP
Citation
Chris Johnson, CPI Engineering Director, “Dreaded Airport Security BEEPS,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/210876.
