Flying with Tanks

[skubah]

Can someone tell me what you have to do when flying with your own scuba tanks? If they have to come apart, what has to be done when they are put back together? Do they need to be serviced after flying?

 

[scubasean]

Assuming you are talking about flying with a commercial airline....

I've read that you need to depressurize them and remove the valve.

When you get to the new destination, they'll require a vis.

Then you do it all over again to get home.

I cannot see a reason to take tanks on a commercial airplane unless the destination has no place to get a decent rental.

 

[jbm]

skubah once bubbled...
Can someone tell me what you have to do when flying with your own scuba tanks? If they have to come apart, what has to be done when they are put back together? Do they need to be serviced after flying?

It varies from airline to airline, and, unfortunately, from check-in agent to check-in agent within the same airline.

The agent is the wild card here as occasionally( read....more often than not) they are not totally familiar with the air carrier policy regarding travel with scuba cylinders.

You will run into agents who 1) insist you open the valve to prove cylinder is mt 2) insist you remove the valve 3) insist you prove the cylinder contains no more than 40 psi 4) insist you travel without your tank.

It is best to travel with a hard copy of the particular air carrier's carriage policy so you can clarify any differing opinions with the particular agent you are dealing with.

Note that I am in Canada, and we only have to deal with the airline involved. For travel originating in the US, you have another wild card to deal with...the TSA. That may be a bit more challenging!!

Also, when having my tanks filled at destination, a simple explanation as to why the tanks are empty, generally satisfies the operator and no VIP is required.

Best regards; jbm

 

[DandyDon]

JBM is right on there - for a tank inside a checked bag. There may also be an additional charge if the tank is not so packed, although I can't imagine how else one would want to check one.

I've traveled with my 19 cubic foot Pony R/T to Roatan using American and Sol, then LAX on Delta, then Raliegh-Durham on Delta, and so far no problems. I took the valve off for the first part of the trip to Roatan, but haven't since. I also taped the seal on the tank myself when I took the valve off, and put the valve back on; since I was confident with my tank security, and I was the one intended to breath the Pony if needed, I did not have it re-vized.

So, why do you want to fly a tank...?

don

 

[Compressor]

Hope you don't want to fly with the AL 80s!! No reason unless the trip is long.

 

[NJDiveGirl]

I just empty the tank and pop the valve off... I've never had a problem... Ok. never yet...

 

[Axeman]

techinicaly you are supposed to get it vised once you get there. then when you get back.

pain in the butt....

why do you want to bring your tank?

 

[peterw]

I had a couple AL80s at my parents place in Massachusetts and wanted to bring them home to California. On my way to Massachusetts I checked with the people at United Airlines to find out the official rule for when I brought the tanks back to California. The official rule is the tank must contain 40 PSI or less, no valve removal necessary.

Knowing a pressure guage would probably be hard to come by I drained the tanks completely prior to bring them to the airport.

When I showed up at the airport carrying two cylinders duck taped together I had the attention of everybody within eyeshot however I had no problem checking the tanks in and flying them to California.

In short a tank must be drained to 40 PSI or less to travel on a commercial airline.