Rebreathers on airplanes

[FW]

Anyone travel with a rebreather? What sort of issues do you have with airlines? Can you take sorb? Tanks?

[Kelly Jessop]

Anyone travel with a rebreather? What sort of issues do you have with airlines? Can you take sorb? Tanks?

Side question,I wonder if TSA will want the MSDS for the sorb?

[Attchoum]

I travel with my rebreather... I take it with me in carry on. It's automatic that they will ask you to open it, and show them what it is. Apart for spending 20 minutes everytime without my shoes and my belt, it is not a problem.

Tanks need to be open with no valve, and in my own experience, need to be check in. When I travel with tank, I always print the sheet from TSA website that say that it safe to carry a tank.

Once in the airport of curacao, they ask me if it was a parachute

[FW]

...Once in the airport of curacao, they ask me if it was a parachute

You should have just said "yes", then you wouldn't have to explain anything else

[RebreatherPro.com]

Here's an article on the subject from my blog in 2008: http://www.rebreatherpro.com/2008/03...ing-wit-1.html

[sea2summit]

It's not too bad. They always want to swab it but other than that they never know what to do with it. Valves have to be off the tanks but that's too easy. I always put sorb in one gallon ziplock bags with the MSDS sheet taped to it and I sways have a nice note from TSA saying they searched my bags but so far have never lost any.

I got turned away from TSA one time in Seattle because the rebreather was "too heavy to inspect or be put in an overhead bin" but I think that TSA inspector didn't like males. I went to another TSA gate and got through no problem and I have never had any issues from the air carriers.

[FW]

Here's an article on the subject from my blog in 2008: http://www.rebreatherpro.com/2008/03...ing-wit-1.html

Great advice, thanks!

[kwinter]

There's plenty of info on RBW as well. Yes, put the MSDS with the sorb if you bring any. It also pays to have it translated into whatever your destination language will be unless you have no intention of bringing any back with you. I got stopped in Mexico for over an hour because they had no idea what it was and couldn't read the MSDS in English.

I repectfully disagree with Etienne about tanks. If you can, check the valves but bring the tanks as carry on. Put PVC plugs in the necks that have a small hole drilled so they can't hold pressure. Carry the TSA regulations with you about tanks being allowed on the plane so you can show the TSA agent and remove the plug. If you check the tank, you can not have anything in the neck or even have tape over it. So anything can get in the tank. Also, if the TSA agent isn't completely familiar with the regulations, he might just remove the tank as contraband and never tell you about it even if you have your cell number plastered on the tank. I would rather put the rebreather in a checked bag than the tanks.

Also there were reports of long needle probes being used and puncturing wings and CLs, but I've never seen that.

Ken

[RN]

Someone this weekend mentioned usually not having issues. However, on one occasion the TSA wouldn't let him take the sorb or lithium batteries with him. Fortunately, it was to a US territory and easily shipped. He had the MSDS with it. So, apparently, it depends on who you get at the security gate.

Although, Forrest, I think you would have more issues with getting your rebreather on the airplane than anything else...

[dgschott]

Anyone travel with a rebreather? What sort of issues do you have with airlines? Can you take sorb? Tanks?

We travel quite often with our rebreathers, tanks and Sofnolime. We prefer to ship it all via FedEx when possible, but we haven't had any problems either way. Just make sure valves are off tanks, Sofnolime is well marked with the MSDS, and I also put in a notice for TSA in every case.

ATTENTION TSA VIDEO EQUIP.doc

ATTENTION TSA SCUBA EQUIP.doc