Airport body scanners

[Thrust]

The President of the APA is advising pilots not to go through body scanners but to get (intrusively) patted down instead. Something to do with the radiation emitted. There seem to be real concerns concerning the types of radiation and the lack of thorough testing on these machines, and a several other interesting and valid-sounding factors.

(See pprune, rumours, for recent thread and links)
http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/4...-scanners.html

Having been exposed to far too much radiation on international flights over the years I'd like to keep everything severely minimal. What are people's experiences so far? Can you refuse and ask for a pat down?

[TAZZMAXX]

Apologies Thrust for this bit of thread crapping but I remembered this from the Funny Posters Thread (it was one of mine anyway).



Well, at least it's on topic.

[Thrust]

LOL... Very sexy! hahahaha I love it!

[LozGT]

Be grateful that we don’t get to try the BOS chair (Body orifice scanner). This device comprises a chair with a probe one sits on… I'm not sure about the status of refusing pat downs. Try looking at the HPA website to see what work they have been doing on airport x-ray machines and the physiological effects...

[shakman83]

Originally Posted by Thrust

The President of the APA is advising pilots not to go through body scanners but to get (intrusively) patted down instead. Something to do with the radiation emitted. There seem to be real concerns concerning the types of radiation and the lack of thorough testing on these machines, and a several other interesting and valid-sounding factors.

(See pprune, rumours, for recent thread and links)
APA president advises pilots against using new body scanners - PPRuNe Forums

Having been exposed to far too much radiation on international flights over the years I'd like to keep everything severely minimal. What are people's experiences so far? Can you refuse and ask for a pat down?

I currently work as a security officer at heathrow and would like to confirm that if u are asked to go for a bodyscan, there is no way you can get out of it. Its either u have the scan or you wont be allowed to fly. As fo the radiation that u are exposed to, belive me it is very minimal. You get more radiation on a 9 hour flight then u do by having a bodyscan done.

[LozGT]

That's right. From what I understand the exposure is just a few micro seiverts. So nothing to worry about. Just to put it into perspective one potentially receives more exposure eating brazil nuts, drinking coffee and living in Cornwall....

[Thrust]

Many thanks for the feedback, esp shakman83, even if your car is a VSPEC. So, what you are saying is that not everyone is asked to go through it, but that if you are asked it's either all or you're out?