I've never had someone question the number of packs I've carried. So long as there in a hard case and the terminals are taped up all the normally want to do is swipe the packs with there testers
It all depends on the officials you encounter, I find that caring a copy of the lipos invoice as well as pictures of the lipos on the copter on the ground and flying helps to show the officials what they are, a must is also make sure all terminals are cover by electrical tape and perhaps go to the airport with extra time for the added delay back in the film days we had to cary motion picture film in cans the film is sensitive and could not be X rated most of the time the officials accommodate us by hand checking each can in a dark bag I carried but once in a wille I would find a wall of "no sr cant be done" I found that with time on your side and a lot of persistence, patients and politeness on the way I ask, I got trough, I alway thought that from the officials perspective the Lipos or the film cans look very suspicious they are just doing their job
You are only allowed in checked baggage if installed in the device it is to be used it IE: computer, cell phone etc. all other lithium batteries must be hand carried. A good guild. I carry a copy with me to show as I have had several security people tell me I needed to check them and then very nicely showed them the rules on carrying them. They confirmed on their system and everything was ok and thanked me for the information. http://forum.freeflysystems.com/index.php?attachments/airline_passengers_and_batteries-pdf.2088/
I read that paper before and it kind of shoots us in the foot if we show that paper to officials, it limits how many batteries we can carry obviously we need more than 2 Lipos....hmmm did I understand right ??
It says large lithos of 8 grams or more you are allowed only 2 8000s and larger . 6500s and smaller were under the 8 grams and those you can carry more. 6500s have 7.6 grams and I don't see a limit on smaller lipos as stated in the Q and A section The equation to figure out is in the beginning of this post from Andy Johnson Laid There is no limit to the number of consumer-size batteries or battery-powered devices that a passenger can carry. Only the larger lithium ion batteries are limited to two (2) batteries per passenger
I did ship with Fedex once in the US and it was just a little more paperwork to fill up it is better to ship directly at a Fedex or UPS center where the attendants know their stuff very well, the smaller UPS stores or Kinkos etc. may have attendants with less knowledge of the paperwork needed and could make mistakes that you pay latter, now shipping international may have many roadblocks and delays due to customs in the destination country.
Scott you are absolutely correct until humans who don't understand any of the regulations simply say NO. NO is easier than figuring it out.
Ok so officially you are aloud 2 8000.. mine are 8,5g that means we should have in our Lipo collection a bunch of 6500 that are less than 8g just in case interesting, how about to carry also a scale too so when the argument gets difficult you get it down to the specifics
But how do you measure that to determine what battery is over the limit, plus trying to explain that to a official is another dilemma, I say the paper is great but to use it only when everything else has fail
It's all in the formula from Andy I just looked at: http://safetravel.dot.gov/definitions.html My understanding is that you're not allowed to take Lithium batteries on board that have more than 25 grams Equivalent Lithium Content (ELC). To derive the ELC for a battery you can use this formula: ELC = Capacity_in_mAh / 1000 * Storage_voltage / 12.5 Simplifying that down: ELC = Capacity_in_mAh * Storage_voltage / 12500 So for a QC9000 ELC = 9000 * 14.8 / 12500 ELC = 10.656 grams (Oh, and by the way, you cannot take LiPo battery with a capacity of greater than 20,000 mAh -- should they be made!) Thus, these are classified as "Larger Lithium Batteries." See http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html The flight batteries will be classified as "Spare Batteries" as they're not installed in equipment. You may not pack "Spare Batteries" in your checked baggage, but you can have them in carry-on baggage. For "personal use" there is "generally no restriction on the number of spare batteries." http://safetravel.dot.gov/larger_batt.html "You are allowed one larger lithium battery installed in a device plus 2 spare larger lithium batteries." (This conveniently contradicts the "personal use" statement above.) Hope this helps. Andy.
Scott you would be allowed only 2QC 9000's for carry on. Take as many batteries as you like as long as they are less than 6756 mah (ELC 8g) You are allowed one larger lithium ion battery installed in a device, plus up to 2 spare larger lithium ion batteries. These are in addition to any smaller lithium ion batteries. For smaller lithium ion batteries, just follow the Basic rules. Lithium ion batteries rated over 300 watt-hours (25 g ELC) are forbidden.
Any more stories on traveling internationally with large capacity LiPo's? I will be flying into Colombia this month and undecided whether to ship or fly with my batteries. I was given a tip that you can just make your own MAH labels for your batteries, perhaps changing my 8000's to 4000's.....Seems like it would help get larger batteries through since theres no way the security would check anything other than the label. As for shipping, FedEx to Colombia is ok? What is the best packing method? Obviously fireproof lipo bags and tape up terminals. Crossing my fingers they all arrive safely!
Alex the correct way is to take your lipos on board with you cover the terminals with electrical tape and put them in a safe lipo bag the best one for me is this one http://team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:liposafety because it does not scream fire hazard when you pull it out of your bag for inspection, from the US I don't think you will have much trouble other than the standard X ray and the inspector swiping the batteries for traces of something its on the way back that you have to worry Colombia has several checkpoints for cary on bags and they are very meticulous and any of those can be your nighmare I would take plenty of photos and video if possible of your copter with the batteries on board to explain faster what they are, I would take a volt meter so that you can prove that indeed is a battery, take extra time at the airport on your way back you may need it Shipping may take way longer to clear cost more since its a fire hazard materials and cost import duties
Thank you for the tips! Fortunately I am only flying INTO Colombia, and we fly OUT of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. My main concern is just getting the batteries there so I can complete the job. Going to ship half and carry on the other half. Got any other general tips for travel to SA with copter gear? Thanks Jose!
When you leave the US make a detail list of everything you are taking specially stuff with serial numbers go early to the airport and look for the customs window or office there ask for form Customs form #4455 (020984) or download it on line take it to the custom officer and have them check your gear and stamp the form and your list it will help you on your way back to the US but it will help you a lot with customs in other countries because it shows that you have the intention of returning to the US with all of your gear Shipping to me is very risky that the batteries will take a long time to clear customs
I'll have a question so I want to reopen the discussion here. To take more lithium ion batteries with you on your flight you can use the rule to carry batteries up to 100 watt-hours. From what I understood the only limit is your hand language weight maximum with your airline carrier. Having said this and taking into account the requirements from freefly for ALTA using 6S battery packs I could imagine to use either some 3S 9000mAh and add them in a row or 6S with 4500mA and connect them parallel. Has anyone experience with series or parallel connection of battery packs used at an ALTA?
Klaus not specific to the Alta but multiple connections generally adds more failure points. IF i remember correctly if you have two connections you have 4x the possible failures and so on. It is a catch 22 situation when it comes to batteries these days. Other than carry on the only 'legal' alternative would be to ship them in advance and the costs for hazmat can be pretty steep. Price it into your rates...