Life Jacket Gas cylinders on Aircraft...

[Lizzie_B]

No , don't worry! This is not the usual 'What are the rules? Can I take them?' question. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I've just received some info from the states that might be helpful to those needing to transport the little devils Trans Atlantic.

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gifApologies if someone has already posted this info and I've not seen it.
I'm sure if that's the case someone will some come chuggin around to complain vigorously /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has revised the Federal Rules regarding CO2 cylinders used in inflatable life jackets. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

TSA rules are now " There is a compressed gas cylinder exception for both carry on and checked baggage that allows 2 compressed gas cylinders fitted into a self inflating life jacket and two spare cartridges."

In a typical bureaucratic fudge it has been left to individual airline operators to interpret the new rules. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

So far the following US airlines have fully accepted the TSA rules:
American, Southwest, United,Delta, Continental,and American Eagle and Air Tran. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

However, most have these have interpereted the rules to mean a limit of two cylinders in total per passenger. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

US Airways/America West have yet to set a clear policy. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif and so it seems to be down to individual ground staff's discretion

The only airline reported to be continuing to ban the cylinders is Northwest. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Presumably they are not confident of their staff's ability to differentiate between different categories of cylinder and have just decided to ban them all. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[jonlaw]

Do this !
Check your gear into the hold baggage.
Most airlines have rules that you can take this and that through check in and hand bagage.
But staff on the ground look at a life jacket and cannister as a bomb !!!!
So, check it in, say nothing, bobs your uncle !!!!

 

[dk]

Except if they don't like it they'll remove the whole lifejacket from your hold baggage! I nearly had my Seasafe jacket (with built-in gas inflation) confiscated at security because they said it would be too dangerous to remove just the cylinder. (I'd forgotten i even had it!) I removed it anyway, but they weren't happy about it and still looked upon the jacket with suspicion.

 

[chrisc]

yes usualy they remove anything with a gas cylinder from the hold area,the decision whether to allow it on board is ,ultimately,down to the captain(or chief pilot) to make the decision.

 

[chinita]

What I always do is employ two couriers (in case one falls overboard in a mystery accident) to carry my cylinders, first class on the Queen Mary II to New York. I then arrange for them to be met by an armoured Hummer to them drive to whatever port I happen to be enjoying my sailing. I find that, this way, I save myself the additional ten quid the cylinders would cost in a chandlery. Not going to let these jumped up airlines get the better of me!!

 

[Lizzie_B]

Not a lot of use if you have British /European Lifejacket in the US. It can be very hard to find a chandler over there that has a compatible cylinder for sale as the US threads are different to EU ones, and not many retailers import EU inflatables.