Explosive residue is me!
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: May 1998
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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Posts: 1,292
Explosive residue is me!
As we were cavorting at Snowbird today the subject of explosive residue came up. The ski patrol uses a lot of dynamite and even artillery shells in their avalanche control efforts. The stuff doesn't just disappear when it explodes, it leaves, well, residue! We frequently ski over and through it. It appears as black snow or granules. I haven't skied and then flown in the era of heightened security but I'm anticipating a ski trip which involves a flight. If they sniff my ski gear they -will- find residue! Do I need a note from the ski patrol or something? SLC's aiport may be versed in dealing with this but what about other airports? Hmmmm.
Jim
Jim
#4
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: New York, NY, USA
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Try flying out of an airport without a sniffer (eg. not SLC or DEN). I don't recall seeing one at EGE (Vail/Eagle Country Regional). This is probably the busiest of the mountian airports, so I bet most of the others don't have them.
#5
Original Poster




Join Date: May 1998
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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MoreMiles, I don't eat black snow or yellow snow for that matter. I'll also try and avoid face shots before I fly. I will not, repeat, not, f*rt at the security checkpoint.
Jim
Jim
#6
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M




Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
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Actually, dynamite will give TNT (trinitrotoluene) traces. Explosives may give nitrate traces. The scanners at the airports can detect both (as well as drugs and other substances).
#7
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: RB CA, Bellevue WA
Posts: 207
While waiting for SFO to open last Weds, I was watching some program on CNN or similar, and the commentator was saying that all kinds of common household items can set off the sniffer.
Basically, anything with high nitrates, such as fertilizers or bologna (!) can give a false positive for explosives. So don't walk across your lawn or eat a sausage sandwich before flying. Or walk through piles of bologna.
Basically, anything with high nitrates, such as fertilizers or bologna (!) can give a false positive for explosives. So don't walk across your lawn or eat a sausage sandwich before flying. Or walk through piles of bologna.
#9
Original Poster




Join Date: May 1998
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Programs: DL 2MM/PM, HH LT <>, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,292
RocketGrrl, I believe bologna uses nitrItes as a preservative. Any explosive effect is probably due to the combination of grease and garlic! Just to be safe I'll try not to ski through any bologna patches. ;-)
Jim
Jim
#11
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Texas AA EXP 4.5 mm, United Gold, Marriott Plt, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 962
A friend of mine worked on a project at a Chicken operation. The nitrogen levels were high enough that he constantly set off the sniffers. So he carried a letter covering his situation to explain to security........ after a through search each time he said
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AA member since 1981
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AA member since 1981
#12


Join Date: May 2001
Location: Research Triangle Park, NC
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Jim Quan:
RocketGrrl, I believe bologna uses nitrItes as a preservative. Any explosive effect is probably due to the combination of grease and garlic! Just to be safe I'll try not to ski through any bologna patches. ;-)
Jim</font>
RocketGrrl, I believe bologna uses nitrItes as a preservative. Any explosive effect is probably due to the combination of grease and garlic! Just to be safe I'll try not to ski through any bologna patches. ;-)
Jim</font>
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UAL free since the last millennium - and planning to stay that way!

