Disarming a spinlock deckvest

[SteveSarabande]

Monarch tell me I can take a lifejacket on board my flight but it has to be disarmed (co2 bottle removed).

On my hammar spinlock deckvest it isnt so easy, the caniater is inside the bladder. Has anyone got one and know how to make it safe?

 

[Daedelus]

On my hammar lifejacket (admittedly not Spinlock) you have a special tool (tool - it's a bit of pressed steel about the size of an old penny, with a couple of lugs on it) which you insert into the outer part of the whole thing, twist and the hammar bit undoes and you can then get at the gas cylinder and unscrew that. IIRC you get one of these bits of metal when you buy a new arming kit. Worth asking Spinlock if they have a spare as I've always found them very helpful.

 

[DJE]

I've not done a deckvest but I have re-armed other Hammar-equiped lifejackets. Not difficult! Good video instructions here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrjLskVoZjA

 

[Stooriefit]

I've not done a deckvest but I have re-armed other Hammar-equiped lifejackets. Not difficult! Good video instructions here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrjLskVoZjA

+1 - really easy

 

[prv]

Worth noting that new Hammars have the cylinder glued into the inflator, to eliminate the risk of it unscrewing. So you'll have to leave the whole inflator in pieces rather than just unscrewing the cylinder and reassembling.

Pete

 

[marklucas]

A 20 pence coin will act as the lever if you don't have the tool.

It's total rubbish isn't it - Hammar mechanisms require increased pressure to set off - not something you're likely to see in an aircraft hold. And what is below your seat - oh a life jacket with a CO2 cannister in it. I appreciate that a deployment in the cargo hold is undesirable, but other than the possibility of splitting your bag and sending your clothes out, what's the problem - the cost to the airline sorting it out of course, and in the low cost environment ...

Anyway, most people wouldn't understand the issue / how to check so I wouldn't worry.

BTW, mine has been to the Med and back multiple times.

 

[FWB]

The life jacket under your seat, although not automatic, has a CO2 cylinder. Can't see why they have told you to disarm yours. My recollection is that life jackets are permitted onboard, plus one spare cylinder.
Perhaps things have changed since I retired?

 

[nigelmercier]

I have queried this with Monarch, their reply (not the best English I have seen):

You can carry one life jacket per person with [two] CO2 cylinders in them, you also carry two additional cylinders per person.

These must be in the hold.

 

[SteveSarabande]

In the email reply i got it says I can take one lifejacket in hold or hand luggage, but thecylinder should be disconnected to stop activation.

With my deckvest the cylinder is stuck to the hammar device, so it looks like the best I can do is try to disconnect the whole hammar assembly from the bladder.

Thanks for all the replies

 

[nigelmercier]

In the email reply i got it says I can take one lifejacket in hold or hand luggage, but thecylinder should be disconnected to stop activation...

Whoever told you that is wrong. I have had long discussions with them about this, while trying to get them to admit that they were abiding by the letter of the CAA ruling, but not the spirit. I wanted to bring back 8 life-jackets, my email was as follows:

There is a Civil Aviation Authority ruling on this, which is based on the scenario of someone carrying their own life-jacket and some spare cylinders, it says: "... one of the exceptions to the regulations which forbids the carriage of dangerous goods in passengers' baggage is for no more than two small carbon dioxide cylinders fitted into a self-inflating life-jacket for inflation purposes, plus no more than two spare cartridges..."

This scenario is limited by the wording, rather than the intent. As you can surely see from the above, it follows that I should be allowed to bring back four cylinders per bag (two plus two), and as many life-jackets (with cylinders removed) as will fit in my weight allowance (as I said, the jackets themselves are benign). It is always good practice to remove the cylinders for transportation anyway.

Note the wording from the CAA: ... no more than two small carbon dioxide cylinders fitted into a self-inflating life-jacket..."

 

[lustyd]

Monarch tell me I can take a lifejacket on board my flight but it has to be disarmed (co2 bottle removed).

On my hammar spinlock deckvest it isnt so easy, the caniater is inside the bladder. Has anyone got one and know how to make it safe?

Do you still have the little DVD that came with the jacket? It contains videos of everything you need If not they are on the website but the one you want seems to be unavailable at the moment.