Tanks, Rebreather
Bottles,
and Spare Airs May Be Confiscated
from the May,
2004 issue of Undercurrent
If you’re
packing for a dive trip abroad, keep in mind that the U.S. Transportation
Security Administration specifically prohibits scuba tanks “or
any compressed gas cylinders” from being included in carry-on
and checked luggage. This prohibition applies to pony tanks and rebreather
bottles as well. And in some cases even the small Spare Air.
Submersible Systems, the makers of Spare Air, interprets the TSA regulation
to mean that it’s okay to include a Spare Air in checked luggage
(never in a carry-on) as along as the valve is off so that the screeners
can see it’s empty of compressed air. Undercurrent, however, has
received reports that some screeners have confiscated empty Spare Air
cylinders, and Spare Air marketing assistant Keith Thomas confirmed
those reports. Thomas is aware of “15 or 20” Spare Airs
being confiscated, which he attributes to some screeners being “improperly
trained” by TSA. In another case, a passenger was told his empty
rebreather bottle was verboten because the screening equipment couldn’t
see through it.
And, keep in mind, when something is confiscated, you may not know it
until you get off the plane.
So far, the confiscations seem random, and many tanks sail through security
checks with no problems. Thomas even heard of a case where one diver
in a group had his checked Spare Air confiscated, while they allowed
others to check theirs.
Brett Gilliam, publisher of Fathoms Magazine, suggests that a friendly,
cooperative attitude may go a long way in dealing with screeners. Gilliam
travels six months a year, often with pony or rebreather bottles, which
he packs with the valves removed. He also packs a letter with his dive
gear addressed to the screeners, explaining what’s in his luggage
and asking that they check with him for an explanation of its use and
safety before removing it. So far his only problem has been explaining
his sophisticated camera equipment and strobes, rather than cylinders.
Spare Air’s Thomas has requested an interpretation of the ruling
from TSA, and although he told Undercurrent he’d received an oral
confirmation that empty tanks are okay, he’s had no replies to
his request for a written opinion. Until cooler heads prevail, one way
around this hassle is to ship tanks ahead to one’s dive destination,
if they can’t be rented onsite.
Besides the prohibition of carrying on a tank or spare air, other TSA
guidelines for transporting scuba gear include:
• Regulators, buoyancy compensators, masks, snorkels, and fins
are all acceptable as checked or carry-on baggage.
• Knives, spear guns, and tools must be packed in checked luggage.
Any sharp objects packed in checked luggage should be sheathed or securely
wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and security screeners.
– Ben Davison
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