…
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reminding anyone posting gifts by airmail, or travelling with presents on board an aircraft this Christmas, that certain items are prohibited for carriage by air. The CAA’s advice comes after incidents in the UK where people have posted potentially dangerous items either as gifts or as sale items from online auction sites, such as ebay. Recent cases include several attempts to post cigarette lighters, which have been responsible for numerous fires when carried improperly by air.
Lithium batteries are another on-going problem for airlines. Online retailers of lithium batteries ignore the fact that most mail companies, including Royal Mail, refuse to carry the items. They are also forbidden in international mail. Lithium batteries when installed in laptops or video cameras, rarely pose a safety problem in use, but pose a fire risk if not packed properly or if the equipment in which they are installed inadvertently activates. Counterfeit batteries, without the necessary inbuilt safety features, are also a serious concern.
Geoff Leach, Manager of the Dangerous Goods Office at the CAA, said: “A significant amount of mail, even that travelling relatively short distances, is carried on aircraft and so we are asking people to think very carefully before posting any items that could potentially pose a risk to the safety of an aircraft. Passengers should use as much common sense as possible and not burden airport security operations unnecessarily.”
Passengers should also ensure that forbidden Dangerous Goods are not packed as part of their luggage. In May 2010 a passenger’s bag was found to contain a chainsaw that was leaking petrol.
Geoff Leach said: “Whilst we are all made aware of the security restrictions imposed on us as passengers, we also need to bear in mind that some items that are relatively harmless in everyday use can pose significant dangers to aircraft in flight and so are restricted from carriage by passengers. Prompt action by the ground crew ensured the chainsaw did not travel, but had the leakage occurred during the flight the consequences could have been severe.
“International standards exist to ensure potentially dangerous items are carried correctly on board aircraft. These regulations, and the work of agencies such as the CAA, ensure that incidents such as these are extremely rare.”
Dangerous goods that must NOT be sent in the post or carried as baggage are:
- explosives, such as fireworks, flares, toy gun caps;
- gases, such as culinary blowtorches, camping or compressed gas cylinders, tear gas, mace or CS gas devices;
- flammable materials such as petrol, lighter fuel, paint, thinners, non-safety matches, firelighters;
- poisons, such as weed killers, insecticides; and
- corrosives, such as filled car batteries.
Goods that may be carried by passengers include:
- safety matches or a single lighter when carried on the person. One lighter per person may be carried through central search. Lighters form part of the passenger allowance permitted in the one litre capacity transparent bag and can either be placed inside the bag or screened separately. It is very important that passengers do not place the lighter into their cabin bag after screening – it must be carried on the person for the duration of the flight. Separate lighter refills are not permitted; a
- battery powered wheelchairs may be transported by passengers subject to certain safety conditions, including ensuring the battery is securely attached to the wheelchair, protecting the battery and chair from short circuiting, and ensuring that the wheelchair cannot become switched on during transport. Passengers should contact their airline in advance to check whether special conditions apply; and
- gas powered hair curlers (one per person), provided the safety cover is fitted at all times. Separate refills are not permitted;
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
