UV lamping and airplanes

Sun, 2010/05/30 - 07:15 — soertel

Hi all,

where do you place your UV lamp when flying? I studied regulations and found that any electronics in your drop-off luggage is forbidden. On the other hand I have a bad feeling about that lamp in my hand luggage. Any experiences there?

When I was flying to Island/Greenland and NJ I had the lamp in my drop-off luggage and no problems but it seems to violate the regulations.

Thanks,

Stefan

Chatter

Wed, 2010/09/01 - 03:04 — tgeho

Re: UV lamping and airplanes

Has anyone had any issues at all by the TSA with their UV lamps or battery packs? I wrote to the TSA main DC office asking if they were OK to bring on flights, but they said that each individual inspector has the right to determine if something is safe (allowable) or not. It makes me wonder if an unscrupulous inspector could conceivably confiscate an item and keep it for themselves or to sell even though all confiscated items are suppossed to be destroyed.

Tim

Sun, 2010/05/30 - 09:20 — minershop

Re: UV lamping and airplanes

Hi Stefan - I've not had any problems with my lamps when traveling to Greenland and Europe over the past ten years. I almost always pack two lamps - one in my luggage and the 2nd in my handheld. Examing TSA regulations I find that they do not want you to pack batteries in your checked luggage so I always hand carry them. But I have not found any restrictions on electronics (without battery). TSA usually inspects my luggage so make sure your lamp is easily inspected and can be put back in its protective carrier. Handheld - I always get pulled aside so they can examine the batteries and lamp - just expect it...

Regards
Mark

Sun, 2010/05/30 - 10:35 — soertel

Re: UV lamping and airplanes

Thanks, Mark! Strange info about the batteries - I thought they have to be but into the checked-in luggage. My LiPo's can discharge with 30C and have 5Ah. Short cut them would result in > 150 A (250 A peak according to the manual) and perhaps explode them. It would be a wonder if its allowed in the cabin. I heard that somebody lost his mineral collection in the hand luggage because you might scratch a window with it. (a diamond ring could do that, too...). Maybe I take the lamp in hand luggage and put the batteries in an self addressed parcel in the checked-in luggage. They are too expensive to get confiscated, I do not know if you get them back from TSA (flying from Geneva to Stockholm btw)

Cheers,

Stefan

Sun, 2010/05/30 - 11:00 — minershop

Re: UV lamping and airplanes

Hi Stefan - you are very correct about the potential problems that high current batteries pose. The theory behind the TSA recommendation is that if you pack them in hand carry and there is a problem, it can be addressed. If they are packed in checked luggage and they short out there's nothing anyone can do about it when in the air.

Regarding specimens - this seems to be hit or miss, depends on who you get as an inspector. I generally recommend that all of our Greenland Geo-Tour members pack their finds in checked baggage as it is likely someone will question rocks at some point in the trip. But - recently it's not been much of a problem as Greenland is reallly tightening up on restrictions for hand carried minerals out of the country anyway - just as an export restriction.

Regards
Mark

Fri, 2010/08/06 - 08:07 — soertel

Re: UV lamping and airplanes

Just re-found my postings here - I am back since some weeks. Having the lamp in the hand luggage was no problem. In Geneva the batteries caused some mild panic and a search of my luggage. Then I had some delay because airport security passed them around to all others there to show them "the bomb" - laughing. On the way back I took them out and in a separate box for scanning. No problem this time, they just ask what it is.

Cheers,

Stefan

FMS - The Fluorescent Mineral Society

Lot 28

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