Ok guys i have a ??. I am heading down to florida soon to do some wreck diving and i would like to take my pony bottle with me. I am flying so what are the precautions i need to take? Can i take the valve off and stoe it in my gear bag or do i have to contact the airlines? any help would be good. And yes i am sure i want to take my pony with me.
Airplane and Tanks
- Thread starter DudleyNMU
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mike_s
Contributor
They used to let you carry a tank if you emptied and removed the vavle.
Apparantly not any more.
from the TSA press release
http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2004/press_release_0457.shtm
Sporting Goods – Scuba tanks are not allowed on commercial airlines for safety reasons. Ship scuba tanks or consider renting a tank at your destination
I also found this on TSA's website
Transporting Scuba Gear
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1190.shtm
Also see Traveling with Compressed Gas cylinders
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/compressed_gas.shtm
Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked baggage or as a carry-on ONLY if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). The cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside.
Our Security Officers will NOT remove the seal or regulator valve from the cylinder at the checkpoint. If the cylinder is sealed (i.e. the regulator valve is still attached), the cylinder is prohibited and not permitted through the security checkpoint, regardless of the reading on the pressure gauge indicator. Our Security Officers must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside.
Prohibited Items list
http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/prohibited_and_ permitted items_2-8-07.pdf
This above list shows compressed gas cylinders as a NO.
As you can tell from the above, there is confusion within the TSA site on what you can and can't do. The low IQ security inspector will have no clue most of time either. So chances are you'll get hassled taking it with you. Consider shipping it or renting when you get there.
Apparantly not any more.
from the TSA press release
http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2004/press_release_0457.shtm
Sporting Goods – Scuba tanks are not allowed on commercial airlines for safety reasons. Ship scuba tanks or consider renting a tank at your destination
I also found this on TSA's website
Transporting Scuba Gear
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1190.shtm
Also see Traveling with Compressed Gas cylinders
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/compressed_gas.shtm
Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked baggage or as a carry-on ONLY if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). The cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside.
Our Security Officers will NOT remove the seal or regulator valve from the cylinder at the checkpoint. If the cylinder is sealed (i.e. the regulator valve is still attached), the cylinder is prohibited and not permitted through the security checkpoint, regardless of the reading on the pressure gauge indicator. Our Security Officers must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside.
Prohibited Items list
http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/prohibited_and_ permitted items_2-8-07.pdf
This above list shows compressed gas cylinders as a NO.
As you can tell from the above, there is confusion within the TSA site on what you can and can't do. The low IQ security inspector will have no clue most of time either. So chances are you'll get hassled taking it with you. Consider shipping it or renting when you get there.
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mike_s:
The document you linked to was several years old. I actually called them last year, and they said that if the valve was removed, it was no longer considered a "pressure vessel" and could be transported.
However, no matter what you do, some airlines won't allow it (JetBlue for one).
I finally gave up and bought one and left it in Florida. A whole tank is only a little over $100, and I don't have to bother with it anymore.
Also, since they lowered the baggage limit, even if you could bring it, it cuts down on other stuff you might want.
Terry
mike_s
Contributor
well I wasn't sure but just showing their own published policies contridicted themselves. They seem kinda clueless.
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mike_s:
It's too much of a PIA to deal with, since no matter what they say, the airline ca tell you "no" after you get to the airport, leaving you with the option of tossing a tank into the trash, or missing your flight.
For a while, I was UPSing it to Florida, but that adds up pretty fast.
Terry
mike_s
Contributor
Not sure where Dudley is going in Florida, but I'm sure he could find a Scubaboarder who would give it a good home as a foster parent if he wanted to leave one down there.
birdwrasse
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this one is correct!
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/compressed_gas.shtm
one of the tsa guys tried to give me a hard time on this once! print the sheet and bring it with you! don't let them tell you to put it in your bag!
have fun!
--c
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/compressed_gas.shtm
one of the tsa guys tried to give me a hard time on this once! print the sheet and bring it with you! don't let them tell you to put it in your bag!
have fun!
--c
It's better to put a "bottle" in your checked baggage.
Remove the valve, put a note in the bag to TSA, explaining that this is "life support equipment" and the "bottle" is empty.
Never refer to it as a cylinder or tank, always a bottle.
That should solve any problems.
Jeff
Remove the valve, put a note in the bag to TSA, explaining that this is "life support equipment" and the "bottle" is empty.
Never refer to it as a cylinder or tank, always a bottle.
That should solve any problems.
Jeff
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