[Paddlewise] Carrying Flares

While I know this won't be popular, it's quite illegal to carry flares and
a few other items paddlers can't live without, on commercial aircraft.  It
doesn't matter what the ticket counter clerk accepts - it's against ICAO
(the UN aviation organization) and FAA rules to carry incendiary devices
unless they're declared, rendered "safe", packed in a VERY specific manner,
and the container (in this case you r luggage) is labelled properly.

Even this is no guarantee it'll go as the Captain must be notified of all
dangerous goods on board (which he won't be if you haven't filled out
paperwork on it), and accept them which many passenger carrying Captains
won't do (rightly so).

The other items, which I wish weren't so, include stoves that've been used,
no matter how well you think you've cleaned them (I don't agree with this
one, but I don't make the rules), fuel bottles even if empty (same rule as
stoves, and I also don't agree IF they've been properly cleaned - but how
many of us know how to do that or would, beyond the "sniff" test?), smoke
generators and, for checked luggage any kind of matches/lighters (you can
put them in carry-on's I think).

 If you think just one little flare, which must be "safed" as you've been
paddling with it and not had a problem, would be okay, consider what
happens when this (possibly past its expiration date) flare, that's likely
spent part of the last year or two soaked in saltwater and exposed to the
sun, decides it's its day to shine - think ValueJet DC-9 in the Everglades.

Sorry to be such a wet blamket.

Alan Gurevich

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