Airplane Travel with Paintball Markers

[deathstalker]

I wouldn't want to fly with my gear simply because I don't trust anyone screwing with my gear without me present. When I flew to play, I shipped it ahead of time to a business owned by my friend's father.

Makes me think that maybe we should form a network of AO'ers who can be trusted to receive and ship back your gear. I'd be more than happy to help out during the Chicago tournaments, big games, and scenarios (Shatnerball!).

[thejesus]

Here's a question: How do the pro's travel with their tanks? Do they all ship them to the hotel they are staying in, or do they go by the "unscrew the reg, look inside the tank, there's nothing in there method." The only thing is, in most preset tanks it's not easy to take the reg off...

[rich4man]

Here is a word to the wise. If you own a PMI Pure Energy Tank you should definetly ship it instead of trying to bring it with you. The radioactive looking symbol will attract some attention. I'm planning on flying to Austin for Thanksgiving and I will be shipping my tank to my sisters house. The mag I will be taking with me.

[Coray]

My freind travled with his mag... he just had to drain the co2 tank

[Evil Preacher]

I fly 5-6 times a year with paintball gear for scenario games around the country. The only time there is concern was with my HPA tank. Now I remove the fill nipple from the tank before leaving for the airport. I explain to the inspector that it is open to the air and that by the airlines rules is allowed.

Now I have been lucky to have an inspector that has played paintball and knows what it is, and I have had the same inspector over a few times.

ATA airlines is the only one I know that has problems with air tanks. I have heard they wont even allow tanks that don't have regs in them and are open to the air.

If in doubt and you have someone you trust to ship to, go a head and do it. But in 4 years of flying with gear, I haven't had a problem.

Heck one time I was able to fly with 4 cases of paint bundled up into 2 pieces of luggage.

[Hasty8]

TSA Prohibited items list.

According to the TSA prohibited items list

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_8_23_2004.pdf

"compressed air guns" can be transported in checked baggage and not in carry on. Compressed air canisters cannot be taken on at all. OF course, if you take your reg off and show that there is a huge gaping hole in the bottle it should not be a problem.

What is intersting to note is the list of Sharp Objects:
Box Cutters
Ice Axes/Ice Picks
Knives (any length and type except round-bladed, butter, and plastic cutlery)
Meat Cleavers
Razor-Type Blades, such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors
SabersSwords

You know they are only there becuase at one time or another someone actually tried to carry these items on board.

[Hexis]

Then again on the TSA site there is this:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1190.xml

A compressed gas cylinder is allowed in carry-on or 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.

The safest way is to call ahead.

[Empyreal Rogue]

What about keeping the on/off on (releasing all air pressure) and removing the fill nipple? I see that Ed has had that work but what about for us average Joe's? On my Flatline, will I have to remove the entire regulator? I'm kind of confused. >_<

[Hexis]

The cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside.

Seams pretty clear to me. Take the entire regulator off to assure they can see inside the tank and make sure there are no nasties in there. It's not just a pressure thing.

[davidnj]

I fly often and do both scuba and paintball. I tend to avoid the issue with the tank and ship it ahead if Im going out to a friends or rent if Im going someplace where it might be difficult to ship. There is enough potential stress with all the airport security w\o having to worry about all the TSA compressed gas tank rules and regs. So yeah...just avoid it if possible and rent or pre-ship it.

[thejesus]

I doubt that removing the fill nipple would work in the scenario where you had an ultra-paranoid TSA Agent. Sure, you could see into the top neck of the tank, but you could still have some C4 stuffed in the bottom for all they know...

Basically, if you can unscrew the tank, you're fine. Otherwise, mail it. BTW, if you're reading this homeland security, i don't intend to detonate a plane with my dye throttle. She's my stubby baby!

[Empyreal Rogue]

Seams pretty clear to me. Take the entire regulator off to assure they can see inside the tank and make sure there are no nasties in there. It's not just a pressure thing.

Well I understood that but there are a lot of contradictory statements in this thread. I see what TSA says, but what TSA says isn't always what Airport Security does.

[Creative Mayhem]

The thing with the TSA is they state "NO COMPRESSED AIR CYLINDERS" Doesn't matter if it is SCUBA tanks or Paintball tanks, if it is empty, how can it be compressed? Not to mention, if the tank has no valve/reg it cannot hold air, hence no pressure differential to worry about.


KTHNX BYE

[rpm07]

http://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?t=156022

[MayAMonkeyBeYourPinata]

http://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?t=156022

beat me to it