Air rifle as hold luggage?
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Air rifle as hold luggage?
Excuse my brevity but does anybody know if it is possible to take an air rifle to France as check-in luggage?
Your help is appreciated.
Chris
Your help is appreciated.
Chris
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Short answer is Yes.
The longer answer involves questions about the aircraft, the airline and the rifle.
The aircraft must have a separate baggage hold not accessible from the cabin (so there is no way you could gain access to the rifle in flight).
The airline must have a policy of accepting firearms. Nearly all of them do, but it is essential that you check.
The legal requirements for possession of a firearm in both countries must be satisfied. If it's a Section 1 air rifle (over 12 ft-lb muzzle energy) this will be covered by your Firearm Certificate and European Firearms Pass.
I do not know the law regarding non-S1 air rifles in France.
For a non-S1 air rifle, I would take a statement of the specification with you - you will have to declare the gun on the way back (and probably on the way out in France), and Customs might assume it is S1 unless you can demonstrate otherwise, though in my experience (carrying fullbore rifles worldwide) they are remarkably helpful.
There are special baggage handling arrangements - carry the rifle in its own rigid case, allow at least an extra hour for check in, expect to sign various documents, and expect to be escorted with your rifle to and from Customs both out and inbound.
Also, if it's operated by a compressed gas cylinder, think about the carriage regulations for that.
Hope this helps - PM me if you need more detail.
Sven
The longer answer involves questions about the aircraft, the airline and the rifle.
The aircraft must have a separate baggage hold not accessible from the cabin (so there is no way you could gain access to the rifle in flight).
The airline must have a policy of accepting firearms. Nearly all of them do, but it is essential that you check.
The legal requirements for possession of a firearm in both countries must be satisfied. If it's a Section 1 air rifle (over 12 ft-lb muzzle energy) this will be covered by your Firearm Certificate and European Firearms Pass.
I do not know the law regarding non-S1 air rifles in France.
For a non-S1 air rifle, I would take a statement of the specification with you - you will have to declare the gun on the way back (and probably on the way out in France), and Customs might assume it is S1 unless you can demonstrate otherwise, though in my experience (carrying fullbore rifles worldwide) they are remarkably helpful.
There are special baggage handling arrangements - carry the rifle in its own rigid case, allow at least an extra hour for check in, expect to sign various documents, and expect to be escorted with your rifle to and from Customs both out and inbound.
Also, if it's operated by a compressed gas cylinder, think about the carriage regulations for that.
Hope this helps - PM me if you need more detail.
Sven
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Thanks for the speedy reply.
I have been in contact with Flybe and they have confirmed that it is possible for me to carry it. Obviously it will be checked in and well wrapped. Unfortunately I only have a leather 'bag' for it so I will consider borrowing a hard case or similar.
I'm pretty sure that it's under 12ft -lb (or so I'm told with a wink by the owner) but how does one go about proving this?
I have been in contact with Flybe and they have confirmed that it is possible for me to carry it. Obviously it will be checked in and well wrapped. Unfortunately I only have a leather 'bag' for it so I will consider borrowing a hard case or similar.
I'm pretty sure that it's under 12ft -lb (or so I'm told with a wink by the owner) but how does one go about proving this?
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guys - I get the feeling that I'm in out of my depth here....
I've just borrowed the rifle off my girlfriend's dad who has handed it to me with a tin of pellets, a leather case and a smile...
I don't have a 'FAC' (Which I assume means fire arm certificate) because I was under the impression that it is not needed for rifles under a certain psi or whatever.....
Perhaps I should leave it at home and get rid of those pesky cats another way
I've just borrowed the rifle off my girlfriend's dad who has handed it to me with a tin of pellets, a leather case and a smile...
I don't have a 'FAC' (Which I assume means fire arm certificate) because I was under the impression that it is not needed for rifles under a certain psi or whatever.....
Perhaps I should leave it at home and get rid of those pesky cats another way
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+'ve ROC,
The text below is from the police site and when you need a FAC.
As your rifle is below 12ft/lbs you don't need a FAC. See the last paragraph.
"The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, Sec 39 creates an additional category of prohibited weapon to be added to Sec 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. The new subsection is Sec 5(1)(af) and now includes any air rifle, air gun or air pistol which uses, or is designed or adapted for use with, a self-contained gas cartridge system. "
New Legislation.
Conventional air guns, air rifles and air pistols do not require to be held on a firearm certificate, unless they are of a type declared specially dangerous by the Firearms, (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969.
It is possible to measure the velocity of pellets discharged, to a satisfactory degree of accuracy, by use of an electronic chronograph. These measurements allow the calculation of the kinetic energy of the pellet, at the muzzle.
The Rules provide that any air weapon is specially dangerous, which is capable of discharging a missile with a kinetic energy in excess of:
In the case of an air pistol: 6 ft/lbs or
In the case of an air weapon other than an air pistol: 12 ft/lbs
Such air weapons, exceeding these prescribed limits, can only be lawfully held on a firearm certificate and are subject to all the rules and regulations pertaining to all Section 1 firearms.
See also Air Weapons and Government Proposals.
FT
The text below is from the police site and when you need a FAC.
As your rifle is below 12ft/lbs you don't need a FAC. See the last paragraph.
"The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, Sec 39 creates an additional category of prohibited weapon to be added to Sec 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. The new subsection is Sec 5(1)(af) and now includes any air rifle, air gun or air pistol which uses, or is designed or adapted for use with, a self-contained gas cartridge system. "
New Legislation.
Conventional air guns, air rifles and air pistols do not require to be held on a firearm certificate, unless they are of a type declared specially dangerous by the Firearms, (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969.
It is possible to measure the velocity of pellets discharged, to a satisfactory degree of accuracy, by use of an electronic chronograph. These measurements allow the calculation of the kinetic energy of the pellet, at the muzzle.
The Rules provide that any air weapon is specially dangerous, which is capable of discharging a missile with a kinetic energy in excess of:
In the case of an air pistol: 6 ft/lbs or
In the case of an air weapon other than an air pistol: 12 ft/lbs
Such air weapons, exceeding these prescribed limits, can only be lawfully held on a firearm certificate and are subject to all the rules and regulations pertaining to all Section 1 firearms.
See also Air Weapons and Government Proposals.
FT
