Read a thread over at basejumper.com about packing-clamps and the TSA when flying. I fly A LOT and I've never had problems with a rig or with clamps. Even hook-knives have made it through without incident.

Used to think I had the best/funniest story with my carry-on rig being the reason for a delayed flight when i was forced to consolidate camera and laptop bags into stashbags and carry my rig on as it was... And being met by the Federal Air Marshal on my flight when we landed in DC. That is, until Abbie refused to remove his shoes for security screening just because he had a long layover between flights.

Abbie, you need to tell that story, here. It's a good one!

-C.