TSA wielding Magic Paper?
Jan 16, 2010 | 6:51 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
http://www.sita.aero/file/2419/Secur...18Mar2009.pptx
Jan 16, 2010 | 6:57 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Jan 17, 2010 | 1:30 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 9,998
Sounds like the TSA might soon be in the market for some Sniffex devices -- dowsing rods for explosives.
Notwithstanding the above, apparently they are still being used in Iraq by Iraqi forces.
Should be a perfect fit for the TSA.
"In a test by the U.S. Navy, Sniffex didn't register when two trucks passed within 20 feet, hauling a half ton of explosives." The Navy's counterterrorism technology task force tested Sniffex and concluded "The Sniffex handheld explosives detector does not work." Despite this, the military bought eight for $50,000.
Should be a perfect fit for the TSA.
Jan 18, 2010 | 11:07 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 381
pH test strips are dipped and react to the pH of the liquid, which is either acidic, neutral, or alkaline.
Jan 19, 2010 | 8:16 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,444
Since you seem to be in the know, can you tell us what chemical property these non-dipping test strips are designed to detect? I ask because, knowing the basic chemistry of hydrogen peroxide (which seems to be what they are all worried about), I dont see how it could be reliably detected with a non-dipping strip.
Jan 19, 2010 | 9:04 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,444
Jan 19, 2010 | 11:28 pm
#27
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 381
"Since you seem to be in the know, can you tell us what chemical property these non-dipping test strips are designed to detect? I ask because, knowing the basic chemistry of hydrogen peroxide (which seems to be what they are all worried about), I dont see how it could be reliably detected with a non-dipping strip."
Jan 20, 2010 | 2:17 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,444
Wish I could tell you, but I don't know. All I can report is what I have seen. I spent an hour googling for info one time but was unable to find any info regarding these. In this same thread, both Mr. Gel-pack and AngryMiller also had no success finding info on them. In another thread, I had asked TSORon about these and what liquid explosives they are designed to detect but he stated he could not divulge any info on them. The container for these that I saw was unmarked. If I look up any other equipment that TSA uses, there is plenty of open source info on these. However, to date, I have not found any open source info on the non-dipping test strips.
Jan 20, 2010 | 8:39 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Somewhere near BWI
Programs: DL DM, HH Dia, SPG Gold, MR Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,654
Wish I could tell you, but I don't know. All I can report is what I have seen. I spent an hour googling for info one time but was unable to find any info regarding these. In this same thread, both Mr. Gel-pack and AngryMiller also had no success finding info on them. In another thread, I had asked TSORon about these and what liquid explosives they are designed to detect but he stated he could not divulge any info on them. The container for these that I saw was unmarked. If I look up any other equipment that TSA uses, there is plenty of open source info on these. However, to date, I have not found any open source info on the non-dipping test strips.
Nobody from TSA is coming anywhere near my gear with some "testing" supply that comes out of an unmarked bottle. If I don't have the ability to locate an MSDS for a chemical product, it ain't getting in close proximity to me (sorry, too many years in the firehouse and too many HazMat classes).
Of course, my guess at the reason for the unmarked bottle - TSA knows some people will search for information, find out that it is more BS theater and post on the 'net.
Last edited by DevilDog438; Jan 20, 2010 at 8:45 am
Jan 20, 2010 | 8:42 am
#30
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
Wish I could tell you, but I don't know. All I can report is what I have seen. I spent an hour googling for info one time but was unable to find any info regarding these. In this same thread, both Mr. Gel-pack and AngryMiller also had no success finding info on them. In another thread, I had asked TSORon about these and what liquid explosives they are designed to detect but he stated he could not divulge any info on them. The container for these that I saw was unmarked. If I look up any other equipment that TSA uses, there is plenty of open source info on these. However, to date, I have not found any open source info on the non-dipping test strips.
So they must, indeed, be magic.