TSA procedures for private jets departing overseas...

AirbusA340_Freak

AirbusA340_Freak

Well-Known Member
I had always heard that rich VIPs traveling overseas internationally can actually travel without having to endure the headache of stressful TSA searches...
Do VIPs or rich clients traveling overseas via private jet (i.e. a non-stop flight from Teterboro Airport, New Jersey to Executive Flight Support, Nassau, Bahamas) have to pass through any TSA checkpoints of some sort before they board the plane? If so, how does the process work?
 
AirbusA340_Freak said:
I had always heard that rich VIPs traveling overseas internationally can actually travel without having to endure the headache of stressful TSA searches...
Do VIPs or rich clients traveling overseas via private jet (i.e. a non-stop flight from Teterboro Airport, New Jersey to Executive Flight Support, Nassau, Bahamas) have to pass through any TSA checkpoints of some sort before they board the plane? If so, how does the process work?
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No. You have to clear customs though. In fact you can bring guns if you want. There's obviously some rules on that though.
 
z987k said:
No. You have to clear customs though. In fact you can bring guns if you want. There's obviously some rules on that though.
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I wouldn't necessarily expect that they wouldn't be confiscated on arrival.

Even the Air Marshals generally have them confiscated and kept in "protective custody" on arriving in the EU. I'm sure John Q. Public would at least experience this.
 
Derg said:
I wouldn't necessarily expect that they wouldn't be confiscated on arrival.

Even the Air Marshals generally have them confiscated and kept in "protective custody" on arriving in the EU. I'm sure John Q. Public would at least experience this.
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Depends on the country. For example it's not difficult to bring long guns to Canada.
 
Derg said:
Could you find out and get back to us? :) (kidding!)
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You would be surprised how many places you can bring a gun internationally. With piracy as it is, I would guess around half the sailboats travelling the high seas are armed these days, talking to the sailors around here. Some impound them, some don't.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
You would be surprised how many places you can bring a gun internationally. With piracy as it is, I would guess around half the sailboats travelling the high seas are armed these days, talking to the sailors around here. Some impound them, some don't.
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Well there's armed, then there's armed...

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z987k said:
No. You have to clear customs though. In fact you can bring guns if you want. There's obviously some rules on that though.
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Hi, Thanks for the info about the firearms... what I am trying to find out is the TSA process for VIPs or the super wealthy traveling by private jet from the private/exclusive FBOs, to overseas countries (i.e. Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Tiger Woods, Donald Trump... ). Do they have to go through bag searches... or are they allowed to board their planes without being questioned or given a 'look over?' I assume they would have to fill out some kind of paperwork, at the very least, right?

Thanks...
 
AirbusA340_Freak said:
Hi, Thanks for the info about the firearms... what I am trying to find out is the TSA process for VIPs or the super wealthy traveling by private jet from the private/exclusive FBOs, to overseas countries (i.e. Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Tiger Woods, Donald Trump... ). Do they have to go through bag searches... or are they allowed to board their planes without being questioned or given a 'look over?' I assume they would have to fill out some kind of paperwork, at the very least, right?

Thanks...
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There is no requirement whatsoever for you to be searched by TSA to get on your own airplane. There is kind of a requirement for charter, but again, you can almost bring anything you want anyways.
It would be like getting searched to get in your own car. Are you going to hijack yourself? I'm pretty sure you can already go where ever you want.
Personally I'd be beyond livid if there was any type of search. There's absolutely no reason for it.
It seems like you're framing this for the uber rich, but it's also us not as wealthy that operate aviation things out of FBO's. There's nothing exclusive about any FBO I've ever been to. They sell fuel, a place to park and maybe some other services depending. It's like a full service gas station. Maybe even self serve.

This is how a domestic flight goes. Airplane is sitting ready 1-.5 hours before client gets there. Client gets there, throws the bags on, gets on, and the airplane leaves in a couple of mins. Internationally you have to throw in the customs paperwork, but it's pretty much the same. CBP can search everything, but they're looking for drugs not lawful guns.
In charter they're names are screened before hand against the no fly list. If they own the airplane... well they own it and can do whatever they want.
So in short, no TSA searches at all, and why would there be?
 
987K I am curious what you mean when you say that passengers leaving the US outbound have to clear customs. Could you please clarify?
 
g550driver said:
987K I am curious what you mean when you say that passengers leaving the US outbound have to clear customs. Could you please clarify?
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When we go to Canada we have to do the whole eapis thing way ahead of time, I guess we don't clear customs until we get there.
 
Simplest format from exactly what z987k is saying:

There are no TSA screenings or checkpoints for private aircraft of any kind.
Customs and Boarder Patrol runs the searches of bags and aircraft for hazardous and illegal materials on international flights so still don't go trying to smuggle stuff into the country on a private plane if that is what you are trying to get at.
 
There is always the treat of getting Officer Jackass when coming back to the States. Although I don't have any personal experience, I have heard of a lot of problems with rogue customs guys putting guys through the wringer when coming back.
 
mojo6911 said:
There is always the treat of getting Officer Jackass when coming back to the States. Although I don't have any personal experience, I have heard of a lot of problems with rogue customs guys putting guys through the wringer when coming back.
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Canadian customs - Oh hey how ya doing, eh? Enjoy your stay. Or - lets get you guys out of here real quick.

US Customs - Sir we need to violate every god given right known to man to ensure the security of this country. Please come over here and wait an hour while we toss the entire airplane. Never mind that there is someone in the back literally dying, they might be a terrorist and smuggling bombs, despite the fact that they are intubated and will probably die today... they could um, blow stuff up while in a trauma induced coma. That's probably all a ruse for drug/bomb smuggling, never mind that you are an established business that does this daily certified by eleventy billion agencies, TSA/FBI background checks for the whole crew and you saw me yesterday doing the same thing.
"Do you know you're carrying narcotics?" Um, ya, that's what we do. You think the nurses just blow kisses the whole flight?
/rant
 
g550driver said:
987K I am curious what you mean when you say that passengers leaving the US outbound have to clear customs. Could you please clarify?
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You do have to clear customs outbound and file an outbound declaration, but 99.9% of the time customs never comes out to the airplane. It's only happened to me once on an outbound MEDEVAC flight and customs searched the entire airplane.

.
 
A typical flight from the US - Bahamas - US has three customs events. It starts with EAPIS, or the passenger manifest before you leave. When you arrive in the Bahamas, you have to clear customs in to the Bahamas, then when you are ready to leave clear out of the Bahamas and then clear customs back in the States.

As far as wealthy and elite, they still have to clear customs every where. Although overseas generally speaking, a handler has been hired to handle paperwork and a fee is usually paid for the customs agent to come process the arrival at the plane. Then the guest can depart the aircraft and get in their ground transportation without going in to the customs office.

Once back in the States, no special treatment. You may get lucky and the customs officer may be a fan of your celebrity passenger, but CPB still has the same work to do. Even though you may have just seen the Customs officers the day before, or on a regular basis.

Hopefully this helps give you some information about overseas travel.
 
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