Posted by JimM on January 28, 2001 at 23:27:54:
I travel a lot on business and would like to take my SSP air pistol along for occasional practice and dry-fire training. I'd like some advice on what I have to do vis a vis the airlines to make this possible. Ideally I'd like to carry it on because a typical trip for me involves multiple flight segments that often have to be changed mid-trip, sometimes to different airlines, making advance preparation more difficult. But checking it would be OK if carry-on isn't possible (and I can see how it might not be.)
Can those of you who've flown with air guns give me some advice about how you managed it? Thanks.
jim
Posted by The Man on January 29, 2001 at 00:20:01:
Jim,
The FAA has very strict rules concerning the carrying of firearms (and yes, the FAA considers our pellet pistols to be firearms) in the cabin of commercial flights. The FAA requires that law enforcement officers have an immediate need for their weapon at their final destination. F.B.I. agents and U.S. Marshalls transporting prisoners are the exception to the rule and are always permitted by FAA regulation to carry. But I believe that the pilot also has a say and can deny boarding any armed passenger/officer/agent. As you might imagine, you will not be allowed to carry your air pistol inside the passenger compartment. Find a good hard-sided case (one that doesn't scream "I'm full of valuable tools, photo gear, or guns"), decent locks, and a rabbits foot. If you can put a good case inside a ratty-looking one, you will most likely avoid pilferage or outright theft. Also, bleed down the cylinders when they are part of your arsenal, per FAA regulations. When I do this, I put the empty cylinders in a zip-lock bag with a few packs of desiccant to keep them dry. So far, so good. I travel with firearms several times per year, mostly for work, and have yet to have a problem. So far, so good.
Good luck,
The Man
Posted by Richard Ashmore on January 29, 2001 at 15:36:13:
Special Agents of FBI and US Marshall Service are not exempt. The FBI and US Marshall Service are the only agencies that routinely send all their Criminal Investigators through the specified FAA training program that Law Enforcement personnel must complete prior to carrying a firearm on a plane.
Posted by The Man on January 29, 2001 at 18:19:04:
That's correct.
As far as the training, but they are the only two agencies that that have a standing policy that allows them to carry on board, whether they have an immediate need or not. The rest of us need the immediate need. As far as the training, it is a 30 minute computer-based course and multiple choice test for the rest of us Feds. As a firearms instructor for my agency, I have had to take it on more than one occasion, as a matter of training.
Fly right!
The Man
Posted by Marilyn on January 29, 2001 at 00:38:15:
I have frequently flown with both my air and powder pistols. As mentioned, they must be checked for most of us. The air/CO2 cylinders must be emptied. If you use CO2 powerlettes, they have been known to react unfavorably to the change in air pressure. (I believe one let loose in the luggage compartment of a plane in California within the last year.) As a result, airlines reject those.
As far as flying with either air or powder pistols, you declare them when you check in. The airline will give you a form to sign that the firearm in not loaded. Also, they'll give you a tag to place in your luggage where the gun is packed that the x-ray machine will detect and they'll know the firearm was declared.
My luggage is not hard sided, but I put my locked hard sided gun case inside. I have had some ticket agents want me to open up the suitcase and prove the gun is in a hard case. I've also had some ticket agents want me to open the gun case up as well to prove the gun is not loaded. (After one special occasion, I've learned to pack my underwear separate from my guns!!) Some airlines want you to store your ammunition in a separate lockable hard case. Some want your ammunition to be in its original packaging.
Most ticket agents are unfamiliar with the process and you should allow extra time at check-in for them to work through it, ask their supervisor, or whatever.
Marilyn
Posted by Mike McDaniel on January 29, 2001 at 10:01:35:
Aahh....Lucky you! I've been doing this sort of thing for the last five years (~400,000 miles worth) and have all the gouge.
First, put any thought of stuffing the air pistol into the carry-on luggage out of your mind. You will run into very nasty problems with security. Besides, the "refugee carrying everything" act is the hallmark of the wannabe, not the true hard-core professional traveler.
Second, stuff the air pistol into a lockable hard case. Since it is an SSP, you don't have to worry about venting the air tank. If it were a PCP gun, you would be legally required to vent the tank (FAA requirements, not my idea) before loading. I agree with the idea of putting the locked case into your hard-side suitcase if at all possible, both for greater protection and for concealment.
Third, declare the hardware when you check the luggage. You may be asked to remove the pistol and show that it is unloaded, but this is often waived. The ticket agent will hand you a card to fill out and put INSIDE the case. Under no circumstances put the card on the outside (The FAA used to require this, but found that the cards could as well have had "STEAL ME" printed on them)!
It really isn't a problem unless you are going overseas. If you are heading outside the US, have copies of all the relevant paperwork - one copy on your person, a second with the gun.
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