VERY IMPORTANT: New TSA directive on flying with tanks and paintball equipment.

[manike]

Guys, I know this is a bit different and may be a bit of a pain to do the first time but please take this into consideration when flying to events or World Cup etc. Especially in the states.

It's good that they have recognised the need to work with us on paintball equipment. I always flew with regs off my tanks anyway...

Originally posted by JoeyM@PB2X
From Paintball 2Xtremes Magazine

For Immediate Release

Sewell, NJ - Historically the transportation of compressed air cylinders via commercial aircraft required you to empty the cylinder before checking it. This was true for paintball and SCUBA cylinders. Over the past couple of months the rules have changed. One interpretation of these rules required paintball markers to be treated as firearms and another would have allowed SCUBA tanks in overhead! In an exclusive interview with Ron Sokolov, TSA's Executive Director of Customer Service and Education, Paintball2Xtremes has learned that effective immediately, the rules are as follows:

Transporting Paintball Equipment

Some paintball gear can be transported on-board the aircraft. Please refer to

the guidelines below:

Eye Protective Devices used in the sport of paintball are acceptable as checked or carry-on baggage.
Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked baggage ONLY if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). The cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside. TSA Security Screeners will NOT remove the seal/regulator valve from the cylinder at the checkpoint. If the cylinder is sealed (i.e. the regulator valve is still attached), the cylinder is prohibited and not permitted through the security checkpoint, regardless of the reading on the pressure gauge indicator. TSA Security Screeners must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside.
Markers (aka Paintball Guns) are prohibited from carry-on luggage. These items should be packed in checked luggage. These are not considered a firearm and may be transported in unlocked, soft or hard sided luggage.
If you plan to fly with your cylinder you must do the following:

Have a properly trained and qualified person remove the regulator/valve from your cylinder.
Go to http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1745.xml and print four copies of the page.
Using a rubber band place one copy around your cylinder.
Place your cylinder without the regulator/valve in your checked baggage.
Give one copy of the page to the person where you check in at the airport.
Keep the other two copies for the flight home.
Please note that this is a brand new change for TSA and the airlines. There may still be some risk that your cylinder will be confiscated, so make every effort to inform the screeners and airline personnel. If it looks like they will not allow your cylinder to be transported, you should ship it to your hotel. Please forward this to as many paintball players as possible and feel free to copy and paste it in it's entirety on paintball newsgroups and forums.

 

[Eddepet]

Isn't it a frikkin pain to take a reg off a preset airsystem?

EDIT: Oh wait up.....it is only compulsory to take the reg off the bottle if you want to transport it in your hand luggage?

EDIT 2: Never mind, in need to learn to read more slowly.

 

[manike]

Originally posted by Eddepet
Isn't it a frikkin pain to take a reg off a preset airsystem?

Yes, the first time. After that it is easy.

But it's more of a pain to lose your tank and have to buy a new one isn't it?

 

[Eddepet]

Originally posted by manike
But it's more of a pain to lose your tank and have to buy a new one isn't it?

Can't argue with you on that one. I do not use a preset, but I am / was thinking about switching to one. But when you say that it's only hard to off the preset reg the first time, a few question marks rise. Let say, you take off the reg, fly over to wherever you're going, and you have to use your airsystem again. You would have to use lock-tite on it. When you fly back again, you'll have to get the preset reg off again....how will this be any more easy than the first time?

The article also says that you have to let a properly trained or qualified person take off the reg. So....I have to take one with me wherever I go? Because I don't think anyone can guarantee there will be a qualified person anywhere I go.

So what do y'all think? Will this safety rule (which I think is a good and necessary rule) keep a lot of Euro players out of the US because of all the hassle with their gear?

 

[Bolle]

Do you really have to apply loc-tite when screwing the reg back. I didnt think so, none of my airsystems are loctited. Properly trained or qualified person to remove the reg? How can they tell if its been removed by a trained person or you did it yourself?.

 

[chunk]

Originally posted by Bolle
How can they tell if its been removed by a trained person or you did it yourself?.

prob find they are only coverin their own ass so if they say dat to u , chances r every1 will now say yea

 

[Eddepet]

Originally posted by Bolle
Do you really have to apply loc-tite when screwing the reg back. I didnt think so, none of my airsystems are loctited.

The bottle on my Conquest hasn't been treated with lock-tite either...but I can think of a few reason why perhaps you should use lock-tite on a preset reg. After all, a preset airsystem screws in and out....what if you screw out the reg in stead of the whole airsystem?

Originally posted by Bolle
How can they tell if its been removed by a trained person or you did it yourself?.

By the scratches....

 

[psyder]

Couldn't someone come up with a safe for travel dump for screw in bottles? basically the same as a bottom line but orange with "safe" written on it or something?

 

[Bolle]

After all, a preset airsystem screws in and out....what if you screw out the reg in stead of the whole airsystem?

Is that even possible with air in the bottle? If thats a concern just use a strapwrech on the reg when unscrewing it. Using a strapwrech is also a great way to avoid getting scratches on the bottle or reg

 

[Gibbsey]

Couldn't someone come up with a safe for travel dump for screw in bottles? basically the same as a bottom line but orange with "safe" written on it or something?

Its not just the pressure prob, they want to know you aint got any naughty things stashed away in there.