Traveling with a CO2 cartridge

[jamiep3]

Off to the Domincan Republic on Saturday for the week. I'm taking my Seatec Sunfish BC to use with my Modern Mistral. Got to wondering what are the regulations about CO2 cartridges? I'm taking a blown one, but will this be a problem?

Anybody have any experience with CO2 cartridges and travel?

[SeaRat]

No, a blown CO2 cartridge is just a piece of metal. If it is not pressurized, then you have no problem. It may show up, and you may need to do some explaining, but that is about it. They may want to "sniff" it for explosives, and just let them do it--it's a piece of diving equipment that is used in vests, and also as very handy for taking off parts of a first stage regulator (the thread size is the same as a LP hose). It makes a good handle.

That said, an empty CO2 cylinder doesn't do much for you except keeping the water out of your BC mechanism. Why not take a full one? I don't think there is a problem with a full 25 gram CO2 cylinder either, as there is not enough gas there to do any harm. It should be a new one, with some stamp that can be used by officials to track it, but it should be okay otherwise. CO2 is not considered a hazardous gas, and I just googled "CO2 cylinder and airport security" and got this "hit" right off:

www.ussailing.org/News/2006/tsa.htm

You should copy this page, and take it with you, but you should have no problem with a full 25 gm CO2 cylinder.

John

[SeaRat]

Well, it looks like they have reversed that, and now CO2 cylinders are again banned, according to the US Sailing Safety at Sea website:

www.ussailing.org/safety/pfds_and_faa.htm

So, take the empty one, explain it if necessary, and let them sniff it. That's about all you can do unless you ship it like this website says. The other alternative is to call ahead, and get a few reserved at your destination LDS, buy them there, and dive them, then leave them when you return. Here is the DOT's explaination, as shown on that website:

The United States Department of Transportation explains that the cylinders have a potential for rocketing if the pressure is released in an uncontrolled manner. They may also have the potential of throwing fragments if they rupture in a situation such as a fire injuring crew, passengers and rescue personnel. An inflatable PFD may also cause damage if inadvertently activated in a confined space (overhead bin), or harm a baggage handler (causing luggage to shift around). The fact that they may be required on an aircraft installed on the PFD's found under each seat under FAA airworthiness regulations (which requires inspection by the FAA in order to have them on board), does not mean that they should be considered as not hazardous when carried as cargo or passenger baggage (where your cylinders are not inspected by the FAA inspectors). The USDOT cannot require an air carrier to allow hazardous materials on board as baggage or cargo, they can only allow a few hazardous materials to be permissible to carry at each airlines risk tolerance level.

This seems a bit far-fetched to me. I think that the reason is this explaination, again from the above website:

A cylinder manufacturer reports that the cylinders, used in other applications, are filled with gases such as Oxygen or Propane. It is their recommendation that CO2 cylinders not be allowed in carry-on baggage, because training security personnel at airports to know and identify the differences would not be cost effective. Accidentally or intentionally having Oxygen or Propane (both?) in the passenger compartment is too dangerous.

It says something about the state of our security when a non-hazardous gas in a very small cylinder that is used in a life-saving device is banned. By the way, while in the USAF as a Pararescueman, we carried sets of Underarm Life Preservers (LPUs) on every flight, and had them as high as 10,000 feet without incident in the 1970s. Each LPU had two large (25 gram) cylinders in it. I would recommend that everyone concerned get involved and follow the six steps onthis website to try to get this ban reversed. Get involved.

John

[william]

I just took an Commercial Airplane Ride and it has gotten worse Even now. In your Carry-On Bag, you can NOT carry over 3 & 1/2 Ounces Maximum in a container and I beleive even the Containers must be that size or less. You probably can carry 1 Ounce in 3 Different 1 ounce containers + 1/2 Oz in the last one, so I just need to find That Special Store that sells 1 Ounce Containers of all three of those and one that carries 1/2 Ounce of one more item, ha, ha, so I will have the Exact correct size Containers for a Max of 3.5 Ounces of any liquid in Total. So They threw away my new Toothpaste, Shaving Lotion, Hair Shampoo and my Deodorant too. Ridiculous & Simply Weird. ( I was able to carry 4 boxes of Matches though, ha, ha.) If it were me I would have a Check-In Bag and put the Empty CO2 Cartridge in it plus any Hygeine Items you need. I am Not sure but think you can do that and not worry about their sizes. They really should have those CO2 Cartridges just about anywhere you go though where there are Dive Shops, so you actually should not need to carry any filled ones I imagine. William

[duckbill]

I don't understand the problem. Why do you need to have an empty CO2 cartridge again? Are you going to a vintage meet and want to appear authentic? If it's just to keep the water out of a BC, why don't you just go to your LDS and have them set you up with a standard 3/8-24 LP port plug. Just be sure to take the BC with you to confirm the thread size.

[jamiep3]

Thanks, never made the connection with the plug.

That's what is great about this board.