flying lifejacket

[Blue Fox]

Friday I will fly to St Maarten (Carib) to crew on a sailing yacht bound for Portugal. I have to bring my own inflatable lifejacket. With the present strict control at the airport, can I expect trouble with my CO2 firing mechanism? Or can I just put it in my check-in luggage?

 

[jwilson]

I rang an airline last year and was told that if carried in hold baggage it was OK. As there are probably 300 of them on the plane anyway any other response seems illogical, but I was not confident that logic would operate on the day. As it happens I had no problem.

 

[dt4134]

The CAA advice I've seen is that it should be carried in hand baggage and not hold baggage, but unfortunately they leave the final decision to the airline and that's where the confusion starts. Most seem simply baffled.

BA are the only airline where I've been able to get a sensible answer. They allowed me to carry a 275N lifejacket plus spare cylinder, although both times I was stopped at the baggage search for a few minutes whilst the security people checked with the airline.

The feedback from them at the time was that it was because it was a 60g cylinder rather than a 33g cylinder. Apparently, the main concern was that the cylinder could leak and become a CO2 powered projectile that could puncture the aircraft skin.

I've not got a sensible answer from a number of other airlines, including one where I insisted so much they went as far as the Technical Director. I am often not convinced they know what a life jacket is.

I know people who often pack lifejackets in the check-in baggage but there's not much of a leg to stand on if caught because of the advice the CAA give out.

If it's a 150N lifejacket it's probably just as easy to take your jacket without the cylinder and buy a new 33g cylinder over there for such a long trip. Could be cheaper than the phone calls to discuss it.

 

[Malish]

get confirmation in writing from the airline for both inward and outward journeys. We flew with easyjet a few years ago; no problems leaving from Luton (after having checked with the airline) but return from Athens much more problematic - ultimate decision left to the aircarft captain who said no because there was no FAA (IIRC) logo on the lifejacket and hence, as far as he was concerned, they were not approved for flight. Had to leave the lifejackets behind in Athens.

 

[jorgen]

We have done it a lot. For your own convenience, unscrew the bottle from the jacket, so it wont inflate. If you have a choice, don't bring one that releases on pressure. Use the water tablet version.

Happy travels.

 

[franky]

I tried to take a lifejacket (manual) and a 32g CO2 cylinder to Spain last year.
Ryanair will accept it as cabin baggage according to their website but security at x-ray took cylinder away as compressed gas is not allowed in cabin.I now can see the sign on the wall.Luckily I had spare on the boat.

 

[dt4134]

The advice I got from the security people at Heathrow was that you shouldn't unscrew the bottle as it is the potential for the cylinder to become a projectile that they're most worried about. They made the most fuss over my spare cylinder and at one stage were threatening to confiscate that whilst allowing the lifejacket with attached cylinder through.

I think the variety of experiences described in these posts underlines the confusion that seems to exist amongst the airports and airlines.

 

[pyrojames]

Similar experience to mine flying easyjet home from Belfast. Was refered to the Captain in the end, who approved. My plight may have been helped by the fact my wife is also an EJ captain...

 

[stephenh]

International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) Dangerous Goods Regulations.

"Goods acceptable with operators approval as baggage :-

Non-flammable gas cylinders fitted into a life jacket.

Not more than two small cylinders per person , containing carbon dioxide or other suitable gas in Division 2.2. , fitted into a self inflating life jacket for inflation purposes plus not more than two spare cartridges."

(IATA Dangerous Goods regulations 45th edition Sect 2. Para 2.3.4.2)

I have this printed out and show it at check in - they are usually amenable when you can quote the actual rules. I think there is a later edition but it has the same wording.

good luck