Jump to content

Worldwide Lithium Ion Battery Air Travel Regulations


soundrolling

Recommended Posts

I thought I would create a worldwide reference for governing bodies and some airlines on their stance with regards to lithium ion batteries.

 

General Advice:

 

Under 100Wh Lithium Battery Regulations
Allowed in Carry On Baggage in Equipment or as Spares
Allowed on your person
No Airline Approval Needed
Not allowed in Hold Luggage

 

100Wh – 160Wh Lithium Battery Regulations
Allowed in Carry On Baggage in Equipment or as Spares
Allowed on your person
Airline Approval Needed
Not allowed in Hold Luggage

 

Over 160Wh = Forbidden!!!

 

See the full article below

 

http://soundrolling.com/soundblog/batteries-soundblog/lithium-ion-batteries-planes-lithium-battery-regulations/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent resource!

i had my NP batteries as carry on for an Air France flight back to the states and batteries in their original boxes and still had a TSA hassle at the gate.

the pilot had to "ok" me to fly with my 2 spares.

Note. it helps to carry a printout of the regulations as they all looked clueless at the batteries and did not have the means to look them up at the gate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great advice to carry regulation.

Just back from China- recovering from Carnet hell (lots of smiling nodding faces that took my carnet from me - and would not give back until I found a local broker who could get my information into the Chinese system, $400 later. Had to cross the border without my carnet in hand, but I did get a handshake and a happy "Welcome to China" from the agent.

I kept all my lithium - disposable and NP in my carry-on. CATHAY PACIFIC stated no lithium allowed in cargo hold. Next time I'll carry the regulation with them - just in case I run into a confused TSA.

Also, in the states I've always traveled with all my lithium batteries with my gear in the hold - does anybody else do this? My NP-L7S show 71Wh, and the camera op I travel with is sure it should go in carry on, even in US- guess he was always correct and I've just been a luckydick.

I'll carry on from now on, I reckon.

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Right, Senator. Doubt my Chinese friends would give a hoot what my printed piece of paper would say...

Still, they were friendly enough while being utterly intransigent (much like most bureaucrats everywhere, I suspect).

Almost everyone I travel with puts batts in cargo in US- dionic 90's and LP's...

Thinking US is lax in enforcement. Thinking lax or not, how bad would it suck if there was a fire in cargo....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm starting to think that it might be better to just ground ship batteries ahead of time if shooting stateside.  With how some airlines seem to be misinformed on their own guidelines, coupled with the fact that no batteries would be quite the show stopper, I'd imagine talking to production and having them shipped to/from would be a nice insurance policy to make sure everything is there and ready when you need it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm starting to think that it might be better to just ground ship batteries ahead of time... I'd imagine talking to production and having them shipped to/from would be a nice insurance policy to make sure everything is there and ready when you need it.

This.

This has been my practice for the past couple years and no problems. Simple, with peace of mind.

--au

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Just yesterday, our crew was flying out from Charleston, WV when we were stopped at the gate by TSA and told that we checked "too many Lithium Ion batteries than allowed by law". The camera dept had to get their bags from under the plane and pull all the Dionics and wireless monitor bricks (Starlink, i believe). They left them with the local police dept and will arrange shipping them back to NYC. 

 

Luckily they made it back just before takeoff, or the plane would have left without them. 

 

Thankfully I always carry on my lithiums, so TSA wasn't concerned with me, but from now on I will also be carrying a printed copy of the TSA rules in case this happens again. 

 

Cheers,

Evan 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

+1 to carrying a printout of the regulations with you. 

 

Doing the correct thing - carrying your lithium-ion batteries on the plane with you - seems to sometimes draw more attention to you than the opposite.

 

The regulations are fairly new, confusing, and difficult to explain to airport security staff who aren't really experts in battery capacity or technology. 

 

I even highlight the section about li-ion batteries less than 100Wh in printed regulations so I can easily point out which ones I have.

 

AK: " they have never told me to remove the batteries. "

maybe next time...

 

Have been on shoots where this has happened... not only can you not travel with your batteries... you can't leave them anywhere to take your flight without them. Missed a flight because of it.

 

R

 

 

Excellent resource!

i had my NP batteries as carry on for an Air France flight back to the states and batteries in their original boxes and still had a TSA hassle at the gate.

the pilot had to "ok" me to fly with my 2 spares.

Note. it helps to carry a printout of the regulations as they all looked clueless at the batteries and did not have the means to look them up at the gate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...