SilverFox
Flashaholic
The TSA needs our help.
The rules on carrying Lithium metal and Li-Ion batteries on airline flights changed as of 1/1/2008. This link goes over the details, but it is a little confusing. In an effort to clarify what they mean, I contacted TSA to get a reading on this new rule.
The person I talked to was, at first, unable to grasp the concept that a flashlight may take several batteries. I was asked "Why would you want to carry a flashlight on an airplane?" I responded "Why are airplanes required to have emergency flashlights in the cabin?" And, that my job requires the use of a number of flashlights. When I mentioned the drug store 2 D cell flashlight, the "lights of recognition" began to come on. Once we got over this hurdle, they realized that this was different from the laptop or video camera battery example that they illustrated on their announcement. I was put on hold while a supervisor was contacted. I was informed that the rule, as it is stated, stands.
You are only allowed 2 batteries (single cell, or several cells in a pack) in your carry on luggage, and no spare batteries (single cell or battery packs) in your checked baggage.
When asked "What flashlights use lithium cells," I directed them to www.surefire.com . I told them that one of the lights uses 6 cells, the M6, and if you were to carry a spare set of cells, you would carry 6 individual cells. When installed in the magazine of the light, the 6 individual cells form 1 battery pack.
The ruling stands. You are only allowed 2 spare Lithium metal or Li-Ion batteries, and only in your carry on baggage.
Since 6 CR123 cells exceeds the 2 grams of lithium restriction, you can't even carry a single loaded M6 magazine, and, as the rule stand now, you are not allowed to carry an M6 in checked baggage or in carry on baggage. (The lithium content of CR123 cells is just under 0.6 grams per cell.)
Also, you are allowed only 2 cells in a spares carrier, even though it is designed for 6.
A 3 cell CR123 light is as big as you can go, right now, but you can only carry 2 spare cells for it.
I told the TSA that it is safer to remove the cells from a flashlight, because if conditions are right and the light is accidentally activated, it could cause the primary batteries in the light to "rapidly vent with flame." I suggested that flashlights, in checked baggage, be empty and a provision to allow for enough spare cells to fill the light be allowed in the checked baggage.
I was informed that I was the first person to ask how this new ruling relates to flashlights. Often the rulings are clarified later on, depending on how many contacts with questions are received. The phone calls are recorded and both the phone calls and the email questions are put into a database.
We all need to call, or email the TSA to get the question of flashlight batteries answered.
Here is a sample email that you can cut and paste and fill in your name and send to them.
Hello TSA,
When I travel, I carry flashlights with me. Some are placed in my checked baggage, and others are carried in my carry on baggage.
Some of my flashlights use primary Lithium metal cells such as the Energizer CR123A Photo Lithium cell. My flashlights use anywhere from 1 – 6 cells.
Other flashlights that I carry use secondary Li-Ion cells such as the Wolf Eyes 168A or the Pila 600P. My flashlights use anywhere from 1 – 6 cells.
My questions:
1. Should I ship a flashlight that uses Lithium or Li-Ion batteries in checked baggage full of batteries or empty, and does each cell have to be under 2 grams of lithium, or does that apply for the whole set of cells in the flashlight.
2. How may spare "flashlight batteries" (cells) are allowed in my carry on baggage.
3. Can I carry enough flashlight batteries (cells) in my checked baggage to fill the empty flashlights I have in my checked baggage. These are not spare batteries, but the batteries from the lights themselves.
Thank you for your help in clarifying this new ruling.
Sincerely
__________
You can contact the TSA by calling 866-289-9673. The phone call is recorded. They will ask you for your full name and how to spell it, as well as a phone number to get back in touch with you.
Their email address is [email protected]
Now is your chance to stand up and be heard. Let's make an effort to let the TSA know that we carry flashlights, and would like to carry a "realistic" number of spare cells for our lights.
This is a notification post. The discussion of this topic is in this thread.
Tom
The rules on carrying Lithium metal and Li-Ion batteries on airline flights changed as of 1/1/2008. This link goes over the details, but it is a little confusing. In an effort to clarify what they mean, I contacted TSA to get a reading on this new rule.
The person I talked to was, at first, unable to grasp the concept that a flashlight may take several batteries. I was asked "Why would you want to carry a flashlight on an airplane?" I responded "Why are airplanes required to have emergency flashlights in the cabin?" And, that my job requires the use of a number of flashlights. When I mentioned the drug store 2 D cell flashlight, the "lights of recognition" began to come on. Once we got over this hurdle, they realized that this was different from the laptop or video camera battery example that they illustrated on their announcement. I was put on hold while a supervisor was contacted. I was informed that the rule, as it is stated, stands.
You are only allowed 2 batteries (single cell, or several cells in a pack) in your carry on luggage, and no spare batteries (single cell or battery packs) in your checked baggage.
When asked "What flashlights use lithium cells," I directed them to www.surefire.com . I told them that one of the lights uses 6 cells, the M6, and if you were to carry a spare set of cells, you would carry 6 individual cells. When installed in the magazine of the light, the 6 individual cells form 1 battery pack.
The ruling stands. You are only allowed 2 spare Lithium metal or Li-Ion batteries, and only in your carry on baggage.
Since 6 CR123 cells exceeds the 2 grams of lithium restriction, you can't even carry a single loaded M6 magazine, and, as the rule stand now, you are not allowed to carry an M6 in checked baggage or in carry on baggage. (The lithium content of CR123 cells is just under 0.6 grams per cell.)
Also, you are allowed only 2 cells in a spares carrier, even though it is designed for 6.
A 3 cell CR123 light is as big as you can go, right now, but you can only carry 2 spare cells for it.
I told the TSA that it is safer to remove the cells from a flashlight, because if conditions are right and the light is accidentally activated, it could cause the primary batteries in the light to "rapidly vent with flame." I suggested that flashlights, in checked baggage, be empty and a provision to allow for enough spare cells to fill the light be allowed in the checked baggage.
I was informed that I was the first person to ask how this new ruling relates to flashlights. Often the rulings are clarified later on, depending on how many contacts with questions are received. The phone calls are recorded and both the phone calls and the email questions are put into a database.
We all need to call, or email the TSA to get the question of flashlight batteries answered.
Here is a sample email that you can cut and paste and fill in your name and send to them.
Hello TSA,
When I travel, I carry flashlights with me. Some are placed in my checked baggage, and others are carried in my carry on baggage.
Some of my flashlights use primary Lithium metal cells such as the Energizer CR123A Photo Lithium cell. My flashlights use anywhere from 1 – 6 cells.
Other flashlights that I carry use secondary Li-Ion cells such as the Wolf Eyes 168A or the Pila 600P. My flashlights use anywhere from 1 – 6 cells.
My questions:
1. Should I ship a flashlight that uses Lithium or Li-Ion batteries in checked baggage full of batteries or empty, and does each cell have to be under 2 grams of lithium, or does that apply for the whole set of cells in the flashlight.
2. How may spare "flashlight batteries" (cells) are allowed in my carry on baggage.
3. Can I carry enough flashlight batteries (cells) in my checked baggage to fill the empty flashlights I have in my checked baggage. These are not spare batteries, but the batteries from the lights themselves.
Thank you for your help in clarifying this new ruling.
Sincerely
__________
You can contact the TSA by calling 866-289-9673. The phone call is recorded. They will ask you for your full name and how to spell it, as well as a phone number to get back in touch with you.
Their email address is [email protected]
Now is your chance to stand up and be heard. Let's make an effort to let the TSA know that we carry flashlights, and would like to carry a "realistic" number of spare cells for our lights.
This is a notification post. The discussion of this topic is in this thread.
Tom
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