jetlagslag
28th Jun 2006, 09:31
Good morning world,
As a relative newcomer to the site, I've discovered this may be the ideal place to discuss a query I've had for too long.
I'm a fairly avid skydiver, which to the uninitiated, means parachuting from aircraft. Obviously the weather at large in the UK is pretty changeable, so many, like myself, try to get abroad as often as possible in pursuit of continuity etc. plus, its a good excuse for a holiday!
the question is this, how do check-in staff view parachute systems as luggage?
Allow me to clarify. The parachute system is the size of a small backpack, well within the size limitations for hand luggage, and about 10-12kg. Albeit they look rather more 'sinister' than a backpack! It consists of the backpack itself, with the harness/legstraps dangling off it, and contains 3 main components: The main parachute, the reserve parachute and a small digital component called an AAD (automatic activtion device). The AAD is there to deploy the reserve parachute should the jumper fail to deploy any parachute (loss of conciousness etc).
The rules state that the main parachute may be opened by security, however the reserve cannot, due to it having to be packed by a qualified person every 4-6 months to keep the whole parachute system airworthy.
The manufacturer of the AAD issue a little credit card sized card with an explanation of the AAD, and a labelled x-ray diagram of what a typical parachute system should look like when under the x-ray.
There is FAA/JAA documentation stating that parachute systems pose no threat to security (when with correct documentation validating myself as the jumper, and the equipment).
This should mean (and the documentation/credit card diagram is there to promote) I should be able to take my gear on as hand luggage. This is preferable, as on the system there are several components (such as closing pins) which could suffer easily in the hold from excess weight.
The problem is that after boarding around 18 aircraft with this gear, only once have I got to carry it on as hand luggage. The other times, I have had to deny them access to the reserve parachute, meaning I missed my flight while they waited for sufficient authority to come and clear it, or I have just given up and thrown it in the hold so I dont miss any more flights. I know folk, who after denying access to the reserve container, got taken away by security, and when he got back, they had probed his reserve parachute with a great big spike! thats very expensive, and LETHAL, considering the country he was in didnt explain what they had done, they just handed his equipment back to him. He could well be dead as a result of this.
I'm not in any way trying to call the check-in crew incompetant, they do a potentially very tricky job very well, I'm just interested as to whether they have access to certain security laws allowing for specialist equipment such as parachutes (or anything else others may have).
Any thoughts would be most appreciated, both from crew and passengers.
As a relative newcomer to the site, I've discovered this may be the ideal place to discuss a query I've had for too long.
I'm a fairly avid skydiver, which to the uninitiated, means parachuting from aircraft. Obviously the weather at large in the UK is pretty changeable, so many, like myself, try to get abroad as often as possible in pursuit of continuity etc. plus, its a good excuse for a holiday!
the question is this, how do check-in staff view parachute systems as luggage?
Allow me to clarify. The parachute system is the size of a small backpack, well within the size limitations for hand luggage, and about 10-12kg. Albeit they look rather more 'sinister' than a backpack! It consists of the backpack itself, with the harness/legstraps dangling off it, and contains 3 main components: The main parachute, the reserve parachute and a small digital component called an AAD (automatic activtion device). The AAD is there to deploy the reserve parachute should the jumper fail to deploy any parachute (loss of conciousness etc).
The rules state that the main parachute may be opened by security, however the reserve cannot, due to it having to be packed by a qualified person every 4-6 months to keep the whole parachute system airworthy.
The manufacturer of the AAD issue a little credit card sized card with an explanation of the AAD, and a labelled x-ray diagram of what a typical parachute system should look like when under the x-ray.
There is FAA/JAA documentation stating that parachute systems pose no threat to security (when with correct documentation validating myself as the jumper, and the equipment).
This should mean (and the documentation/credit card diagram is there to promote) I should be able to take my gear on as hand luggage. This is preferable, as on the system there are several components (such as closing pins) which could suffer easily in the hold from excess weight.
The problem is that after boarding around 18 aircraft with this gear, only once have I got to carry it on as hand luggage. The other times, I have had to deny them access to the reserve parachute, meaning I missed my flight while they waited for sufficient authority to come and clear it, or I have just given up and thrown it in the hold so I dont miss any more flights. I know folk, who after denying access to the reserve container, got taken away by security, and when he got back, they had probed his reserve parachute with a great big spike! thats very expensive, and LETHAL, considering the country he was in didnt explain what they had done, they just handed his equipment back to him. He could well be dead as a result of this.
I'm not in any way trying to call the check-in crew incompetant, they do a potentially very tricky job very well, I'm just interested as to whether they have access to certain security laws allowing for specialist equipment such as parachutes (or anything else others may have).
Any thoughts would be most appreciated, both from crew and passengers.