Is there a way to transport CO2 cartridges on planes legitimately? I have to fly to the majority of my races and I am sick of buying CO2 at the race then having to give it away to fly home - especially since I have never had a flat in a race anyway!
It would be nice if there was a ‘hire’ service - buy the CO2 at the race and if you return it you get 75% refund or so.
Otherwise I think I will go back to having a pump on my bike.
There is no legit way, Ken Glah operates a return unused system at Brazil, you only pay if you use it.
I always give them to local athletes when I leave town.
You cant put it in your carry on luggage, its considerd Hazmat so just put it in your toiletries bag in your checked baggage, as long as your going domestic its usually not a problem unless you show up looking like bin laden.
It is still banned under 49 cfr. I dont think it is an exception for minimum quantities.
You get caught you are subject to a fine or blah blah blah.
Is it worth it?
what happen if you take them with your bikecase? i have done that in every flight itake
CO2 is a HAZMAT no matter what piece of luggage you put it in. They’re metal, so they will show up on Xray, and will usually be found during any hand inspection. I know one guy that got caught with a couple; he had to go through a bunch of paperwork, and one form he signed said something to the effect of “if I get caught trying to transport these again, I’ll be subject to a $10,000 fine”. Nowadays, maybe that form could put you on a list for extra scrutiny on future flights?
I remember a B&L shop at one race had a 50% back deal. Try emailing the race director to see if they can set up a deal like this with one of the shops, especially if a good percentage of people fly in.
I’ve been told that you can go through an FAA-approved course to get licensed on HAZMAT transportation, and then you might be able to use special packaging to hold a couple of CO2 cartridges, but talk about overkill. Just grin and bear it.
The ‘punishment’ depends on the country of origin of your flight. Flying from USA with them leaves you liable to a work of shit if you are caught, most other countries just seem to confiscate them. I fly to Lanzarote with them and then leave them there (they search all bike boxes leaving Lanzarote).
don’t do it.
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/banned-list.htm
see Gases and Pressure Containers
I read an article a couple of years ago about a pro mtn biker who got caught with them going through the airport. don’t remember too many details, and I think he got out of it in the end, but he faced tens of thousands of dollars in fines and jail time. took lots of legal work ($$) and court appearances, so just the hassle is much more expensive than throwing them away.
I was caught simply trying to dispose of them at the airport, granted it was at the check in desk and was sent one of those letters.
I called some friends in DC, whom I worked with in the DOT and found out who to speak to and had the record destroyed. This was completely legit as the person that documented it did not know the law and misrepresented what I was trying to do. I was a hazmat packaging specialist they were not.
Domestic Flights are subject to IATA regulations which are for all intense and purposes the same as the US CFR Code 49 on the Transport of Hazardous Materials.
All flights leaving the states are subject to the originators regulations which for airlines are IATA and the CFR whilst there, and the arrival regulations once at the destination. In the case of Europe the rules for the purpose of this debate are exactly the same, it is illegal to transport pressurised cylinders without being an approved shipper.
The rules actually flying in to any country that is a member of the UN will basically have the same rules although there are some modal differences and distinctions made between for example the US and Europe. Europe do not recognise materials that are poisonous by inhalation, the US does, europe dont use “T” markings, the US does.
In Europe it could be even more serious as the only people that can approve the shipment are Dangerous Goods Safety Advisors, whether they supervise every shipment is a different matter. So if you are not trained and licensed to ship dangerous goods / hazmat, I’d just get cylinders at point of use, I say this not because it is a serious hazard but because if something goes wrong you can be prosecuted.
I don’t know the law in detail…the only thing I can tell is that I had no problems in carrying it in a domestic flight.
I wasnt’ sure if I could carry it, so I just showed it at the check-in desk, the answer I got was No Problem!
The only way you can legally carry CO2 cartridges on a U.S. commercial flight is in association with an inflatable life jacket (personal flotation device). The cartridge in the jacket and one spare are allowed.
I’ve carried my jacket and a spare on a number of occasions without a problem, including to and from foreign countries.
David
I got caught in Kona when they searched my bike case. This was a couple of years ago and I honestly did not know it was illegal. The girl who found them told me she had taken 80 that morning! I am sure none of her Big Island friends ever have to buy CO2 cartridges. Of course she said they would be detroyed. HHmmm, yeah, okay. 
Aloha,
Larry
That seems like the way to go and just substitute with your own cartridges, it kills me why they ban these on passenger flights when there are cartridges in every lifejacket just below your seat.
what happen if you take them with your bikecase? i have done that in every flight itake
I’ve also taken them in my bikecase with no problems. I also accidently had one in my transition bag(and a pair of scissors) which I used as a carry-on. They showed up going through the xray machine and they just took them out. No questions, no paperwork, no hassels.
Everyone carries them at their own risk.
It is not legal to carry them, if you do so you will probably just get a warning letter.
Like everything else it depends on whether you are caught and the person who catches you as to how the law is applied.
I shipped some over to Kona and up to Penticton(and back to NY) in a small tool bag inside my bike case via UPS. No problems. Leaving Penticton I got nailed going thru the metal detector. I forgot I threw an extra one in my backpack. Don’t really think it was worth the risk of having it show up on Xray and have customs manhandle my bike out of and back into the case. But them at the race site and donate them to somebody there.
Frank
"The only way you can legally carry CO2 cartridges on a U.S. commercial flight is in association with an inflatable life jacket (personal flotation device). The cartridge in the jacket and one spare are allowed. "
So, can I just buy a cheap life jacket and throw it in my bike box with my cartridges and be good to go? Or do I need to carry the life jacket and cartridges into the plane?
dt.
They’r eonly a few bucks - if it is really that much of an issue - mail them to the race location (lbs or hotel) and at race end - mail them home.
They’re only a few bucks a piece - donate to another local - leave them with a LBS - give them to a local club - or heck - ship them to the TNT guy from last night that is looking for all sorts of goodies.
Personally - not worth the risk or worrying about the cost of buying a few here and a few there.
You’d have to do it anyway if you flatted out!!
When I did IM Hawaii, I bought my cartridges at B&L and after the race they gave me a refund on the unused cartridges. At IM Canada this year, Bike Barn gave me credit towards the purchase price of the cartridges. I just bought a bunch of tubes with the credit. So my advice is, don’t try and fly with co2 cartridges.
When I’ve traveled with my life jacket, I’ve always checked it; I stow it with a bunch of other sailing gear that includes knives, which I couldn’t carry on. You are permitted to carry one on, however.
I also bring along a printout of the relevant information permitting a life jacket. You can find it here:
http://asi.faa.gov/Docs/HAZMATByPassenger.pdf
Since the regulation says “With the approval of the aircraft operator,” I also always tell the clerk when I check in. I’ve never gotten anything more than a “no problem.” (By the way, I note that the regulation now permits to spares.)
David