TSA and travelling

schford

Well I gues blowing up in the hold area would be so much better than in the cabin if it were a bomb!!!

JoeA

I had one friend bring a copy of the rules "saying to carry them on board" and he was told to "check the little bats" as they could be used as a weapon. He did, no problems.

Funny you would bring that up Paul. After going thru the X ray (in Boston) the guy says to me, did your dad just pass through here? He was carrying the same things. "Ya we're off to dive Bikini Atoll" I tell him. Then he sends me off to the hand inspection and that guy goes and gets his supervisor. "You're not bringing those things on MY plane", and "I don't care what those printed rules state" he says. "Yes sir". So off to check-in I go. I had to listen to Dennis the whole way to HI saying my bottles would end up in Alaska as he got on the plane w/ his. In a bazzar twist, Continental never got his re-breather to Hawaii, and I had my bottles and rebreather.

ROB DAVIE

Folks,

Here are the REAL rules. (Trust me on this one. It has been my business for over 30 years!)

(1) The rules are cast in stone. (...until the next revision, which may already be in force, but which has not been distributed to the field personnel...)

(2) The rules are not subject to interpretation. (...except by the guy that you are talking to at the moment, who generally is a "new hire", and does not understand them anyway...)

(3) The rules have been standardized as much as possible. (...except where they have been modified by translation into various foreign languages, made to fit local regulations, and interpreted by the new guy...see the note above...)

(4) If you are very obsequious in your behaviour, say "yessir" and "no sir' a lot, as approriate, you may be allowed to do what the copy of the rules that you possess says that you are allowed to do. (...this, of course, is NOT cast in stone...)

Now for the REAL specifics:

(1) Rule number ONE:
The device that you are carrying is "RECREATIONAL SCUBA EQUIPMENT". Repeat after me. It is "RECREATIONAL SCUBA EQUIPMENT"! It is NOT what you think it is, so STOP calling it that. Life will be much better if you learn this simple fact.

(2) Rule number TWO:
Your cylinders are best transported (if you must) in this fashion. Empty the tin. Remove the valve. Put a plastic threaded cap with O-ring into the neck, finger tight. Put a note on the tin stating: "This cylinder is empty. It may be visually inspected by removing the green cap. (Put an arrow pointing to the cap on the note.) Please replace cap after inspection." Put it in your checked baggage where it can be easily accessed. (Yes, I know what it says in the rules. See above.)

(3) Rule number THREE:
If you must carry kitty litter, be prepared for a real hassle. (Yes, I know, your buddy Cale just waltzed through and didn't do any of this stuff!) Carry it in the factory container if you can. Have a copy of the manufacturer's transportation safety statement taped to the side of the container, AND on the box the container is in, AND many copies in your hand. State politely and constantly that it is an "INERT SUBSTANCE" and hand out copies of the required transportation statement.

(4) Rule number FOUR:
If it ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAS TO BE THERE OVERNIGHT, you have started your planning WAY too late. Always remember the Six "P" Rule. (...have a back-up plan in place...ALWAYS!)

Good luck! Have fun! Don't forget....Pull the forelock!...Yassuh, boss!...No sah, boss!...
Repeat as necessary!

Rob

__________________
"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving WHEN PIGS FLY!!"--GI3

caveseeker7

JAWOHL, Herr Kapitänsleutnant!

By the way, folks, don't overdo the "...Yassuh, boss!...No sah, boss!..."
and ... that may be interpreted as a religous gesture these days ...

And go easy on the boss, cops will think you just walked out of jail.

__________________
Cheers
Stefan



"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority,
and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"

silent running

Oh boy, you people are killing me. Especially you mr. caveseeker, with that last bit about being mistaken for a recently released transgressor. You am is right- too much 'Yes sir!' will give the powers that be the impression that one is habitually noncompliant. And thus prone to a high rate of recitivism... Anyway, where can I get one of those threaded caps with an O ring? Last time I put in those non threaded caps that come with a new cylinder and they were not enought stop the condensate. What if they open the obviously un-pressurized threaded cap anyway? Can an O2 cylinder be easily dried out once exposed to humidity?-Andy

jradomski

I have had problems with the "caps with orings".. in one instance The TSA inspectors would not remove the plugs.. I had to leave the secure area and go back to where the bags were being screened and remove them myslelf.. They then took the cylinders from me and refused my request (once they havbe them back you cant touch them) to recap the cylinders.. They said they must remain open....
In another instance I had the caps (with each having a nice led 1 cel flashlight attached and a note, they did remove the caps but ignored the request that was taped to the tanks to reseal it....

The normal moisture from the atmosphere on an open cylinder should not be a problem.. if you have any condensate when you get to your destination simply dry out the insides with a blow dryer, or get a a cylinder and attach a reg with a whip and blow the moist gas out (I use a lp reg hose without a reg attached and insert all the way into the cylinder then controll the blast with the valve)

__________________
Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

silent running

Thanks for the tips Joe. I thought I was being careful with my tanks and moisture and I never had anybody open the plastic caps. But can you think of anything else which might cause moisture/corrosion to enter my O2 system? Does O2 ever contain water in any significant quantity?-Andy

jradomski

it depends on the oxygen source.. You CAN have moisture in o2 systems and thats the main reason why the specifications for avaiator grade are so much dryer than medical grade, but many suppliers fill all the bottles from the same source and just start with the "best" gas possible..

Oxygen made from fractional distilation is usually very "dry" but oxygen made from PSA systems can be wetter since they are made from large quantities of atmospheric air.. judging by your destination I would guess it was done by a PSA system.. if the oxygen was somehwere around 95%(or less) then it most likely was

__________________
Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

ROB DAVIE

Obviously you guys missed reading Transportation Safety Administration Rule #2:

(2) The rules are not subject to interpretation. (...except by the guy that you are talking to at the moment, who generally is a "new hire", and does not understand them anyway...)

So far, the threaded caps with O-rings have worked well for me. This is not to say that tomorrow I won't run into the one guy who is determined to apply his own interpretation!

Silent, I get my caps from my LDS. I wash and dry them, and lube the ring with O2 lube. This is obviously not required, but I do it anyway.

Cheers!

__________________
"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving WHEN PIGS FLY!!"--GI3

caveseeker7

Well, Schickelgruber, you got a pilot's license for the Big Berthas and a brass pass.
That ought to buy you some credibilty even with the most inept TSA screener.
I've been thinking about getting a "Friend Of And Approved By Rob the Cop" T-shirt to speed things up.

On a different note, do you think they mind if we use their x-ray machines to check Tavco Inconnels?
Might as well get some extra milage out of them.

__________________
Cheers
Stefan



"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority,
and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"