rigs at airports

[psf 1]

I will be taking a trip soon, and wondering what I need to do to get my rig on a plane without them undoing my reserve. any help would be appreciated.

ignorance is not bliss

[Remster 30]

do a search. its been talked abouy many times.

Remster

[skyjules 0]

Are you checking it? There's no way they're going to let you carry on.

***Free bird Forever

[justinb138 0]

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Are you checking it? There's no way they're going to let you carry on.

***Free bird Forever

Yes they will.

[Orange1 0]

From the USPA website:

USPA Clears the Airways for Parachutes (12/19/02)
Due to cost and personal security of a parachute rig, many skydivers prefer to carry their rigs onto commercial flights. At this point, USPA knows of no U.S. airline that prohibits parachute rigs as carry-on items. However, jumpers may find it easier to carry their equipment in a protective equipment bag. It is always advisable to present a good profile to inspectors, who are trained to observe numerous external passenger traits and characteristics.

At USPA's request, the Transportation Security Administration is providing information to its screener agents about rigs and computerized automatic activation devices installed on most parachutes. This information should reduce the necessity for a detailed, hand-inspection of a rig, which otherwise could include the opening of a reserve container. (Most skydivers are not authorized to reclose a reserve parachute.) It should also reduce instances of a jumper with a parachute being turned away from the gate area.

Checked Item
Beginning January 1, the TSA requires all checked items to be inspected before being placed on an airplane. The TSA is advising passengers not to lock checked bags so they can be opened for inspection. Tests involving USPA and TSA officials at the TSA facility in Atlantic City verified that AADs do not trigger explosive detection equipment used by airport security. TSA officials assured USPA that a hand search of a checked item should not occur if the item successfully passes through security systems that airports have installed.

Skydivers should be prepared, because isolated problems getting parachutes through security may still occur, typically requiring better communication with airport security personnel. Jumpers should carry and present USPA membership cards and/or FAA rigger certificates in the event their parachute is flagged. USPA advises jumpers to remain patient, cooperate and to provide USPA with the date, time, airport, and details of the problem, including whether the parachute rig was being transported as a carry-on or checked item.

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[skyjules 0]

O.K., so maybe canadians don't have the same flight regulations.

***Free bird Forever

[Remster 30]

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O.K., so maybe canadians don't have the same flight regulations.

***Free bird Forever

They dont share the same regulatory body, but they allow rigs as carry on too, but with no official line, so ist not as much of a sure thing.

Remster

[skyjules 0]

We'll i'm flying westjet, and they clearly state that it's never aloud. So, i'm wondering, which airlines are o.k. with it, just so I know for next time.

***Free bird Forever

[skycat 0]

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We'll i'm flying westjet, and they clearly state that it's never aloud. So, i'm wondering, which airlines are o.k. with it, just so I know for next time.

***Free bird Forever

I've never had a problem on Contiential, they actually helped me get it threw security the one time I had a problem.

Fly it like you stole it!

[AndyMan 7]

Pretty much all the airlines south of the border allow them, and Air Canada does too.

Do you have a reference for WestJet? Parachutes are not listed on their list of prohibited items: http://www.channelgroup.org/wjpassengers/main_search.htm

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[tigra 0]

I took mine (w/ cypres) to Mexico as a carry on to and from. No problem what so ever- no one even batted an eye. (Of course, there were other skydivers on our flight, and our rigs were probably old news by the time we went through security since we were the last to board both times!)

[Scrumpot 1]

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Are you checking it? There's no way they're going to let you carry on.

HUH?????

I travel ALL THE TIME, and carry mine on... well....
ALL THE TIME!!

Feel free to PM me if you would like any direct, pertinent and ACTUAL experience or advice.

-Grant

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[AndyMan 7]

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We'll i'm flying westjet, and they clearly state that it's never aloud.

Your comment surprised me, so I went to the source. Here was the response I got to my enquiry at www.westjet.com.

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Hello,

I am glad that you have taken the time to ask this question. Is this information you requested?

PARACHUTES - clarification
AADs (Automatic Activation Devices) are used for the sport
parachuting. AADs are not considered dangerous goods and do not pose a concern for our aircraft and if accidentally activated would not cause any harm. AADs are used to deploy a parachute at a specific altitude, especially for beginner divers. The AAD can be rendered inactive for travel and then reprogrammed for professional or recreational diving.

The AAD is incorporated within the parachute and can be accepted as carry on or checked. If accepted as carry on we need to be sure it will be able to fit into the sizing device. There is always the caveat that security may need to inspect the contents of the chute for any hidden concerns and could be denied as carry on.

Please let me know if I can provide you with any further information regarding parachutes.

Thank you for choosing WestJet.

Toby
Service Specialist
WestJet Customer Care

This policy is consistent with other airlines I've found...

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[kingbunky 3]

thanks for sharing! i saw an email on the cspa chat list from someone in western canada (edmonton i believe) who said that security personel at the ariport wouldn't let rigs by, so it may be more of an airport security issue than an airline issue. maybe we need the cspa to get n touch with the security folks, much like the uspa did, and get some consistency in the enforcement.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[freeflyimpaired 0]

I went to Cancun in January. Through Omaha, Denver, Dallas, Cancun, and Chicago without any problems. But I didn't have a Cypress.

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

[firstime 0]

7 of us just came back from Arizona from JFK (NY).
WE all carried our rigs on board with no problems.
Coming back to JFK I was questioned briefly, then
showed the scanners the x-ray card that came with my cypress and all was fine. I also had the TSA article re: AAD but did not need to present it.

[jman 0]

I just flew Delta/Song & JetBlue with my rig as a carry on.
Put it in a duffle bag by itself with a copy of the TSA rules and my cypress card. No one even questioned it.

[dbattman 0]

Easy- put it in a 21" rolling pilot case (they make great gearbags and are cheaper than gearbags). Put it on the Xray belt and don't say anything.

If they open your pilot case, don't say anything. IF they confront you on the issue, ask them to refer to their procedures manual. For parachutes it involves a wipe test followed by open inspection IF they get a positive. Be aware that the glycerine in hand lotion can give a false positive.

[LearningTOfly 0]

I recently flew to the states via Air Canada, and carried my rig onboard. Heading out of Toronto I was selected for one of those random searches... talk about timing. Well after the body search (which wasn't bad, nothing offensive) another guard unzipped my duffel and saw the rig. She didn't quite know what to make of it- she poked it and asked "Is there something inside this bag?" I said "Yep" She asked "What?" I said "Two parachutes..." It seemed that she didn't quite catch that (english wasn't her first language) and asked with a confused look on her face "Sorry, what?" So I responded "Two sport parachutes" This time she got it alright and her eyes went wide as she said "Oh! Wait here, um, I need to talk to my supervisor" and she walked off. I took it that they didn't see rigs on a regular basis. She retured about thirty seconds later and said "Okay, you're fine to go" And that was that.

On the return trip from the states, the guards were much cooler- I'm sure that they see a few rigs go through every week, as it was in Florida- instead of giving me a hard time about the rig they tried to hasle me about the size of the duffel, but that was short lived.

If you fly with your rig, take your alti along and watch it... on takeoff, you'll descend about 400' Your cruising altitude will be 6500'

[SkiD_PL8 0]

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If you fly with your rig, take your alti along and watch it... on takeoff, you'll descend about 400' Your cruising altitude will be 6500'

Gotta love pressurized cabins.

Greenie in training.

[skyjules 0]

Thanks, I copied that info in case they give me some trouble. I think it's pretty sketchy though. When I ordered the tickets, I spoke with someone on the phone who told me it wouldn't be aloud.

***Free bird Forever

[freakyrat 1]

Flew back from PIA in Jacksonville, FL. on Southwest.
The only thing TSA wanted me to do was run the rig through separately from my kitbag. Easy and simple they even knew how to handle it without grabbing deployment handles. They did a wipedown after running it through the xrays as the pilot chute spring sort of set the screener off. No big deal though. The screeners were very professional and nice and it only took an extra few minutes to clear the rig. Just a non-event.


Chris

[nbblood 0]

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Are you checking it? There's no way they're going to let you carry on.

What? I'f flown a lot and carried on rigs. United, Delta, Korean Air, and Southwest off the top of my head and no problems whatsoever. I've flown internationally, no problems. I usually travel with two rigs and I check one and carry one due to carry-on restrictions. I've never had a problem either way. I do leave a note in checked baggage attached to the rig to please contact me prior to opening the container. Don't know if it'll ever help, but I figured it's worth a shot. I just can't carry on both rigs and have to check one when I take two. Oh yeah, I always carry on the better of the two!

I also carry the Cypres card that has an explanation to airport security, but I've never needed it or even taken it out.

Blues,
Nathan

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[freeasabird 0]

Just flew to Orlando out of small airport (Mid-America) near St. Louis. Funny...they did not allow the parachute to be checked-in baggage. Instead, they insisted it be carried on! Security was cool as hell. Ran my rig through x-ray 3 times for training while asking questions of me in order to train themselves for future reference. Only mistake they made was assuming that the Cypres image was some sort of ripcord or main deployment device. I wasn't about to reveal what its true nature was (i.e. "explosive" charge meant for cutting reserve closing loop).

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[Dyouz 0]

Check these two webpages. Don't know where you're from because I didn't bother checking your profile but I just got back from Florida with no problems carrying on. You also may want to check out the airline that you're flying online. Most of them mention parachutes on thier websites...just have to look for it. Good luck...hope this helps.

USPA-http://uspa.org/membership/travel/rigs.htm#tsa

TSA-http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1147.xml