New airbag rules to hit commercial airlines

Starting a year from now, it will be easier to travel on commercial airlines with an airbag other than an ABS–unless you’re a gringo. The Geneva, Switzerland-based International Airline Transport Association (IATA) has approved new verbiage in their “dangerous goods regulation” that accommodates all the new airbags that have recently hit the market. In the past, the wording in this regulation was limited to features that are specific to airbags from ABS, the original airbag brand out of Germany. This included limits on the amount of explosive in the ABS pyrotechnic trigger, as well as a limit on the size of the compressed gas cylinder. This verbiage has been detuned to permit airbags with larger cylinders and mechanical, rather than pyrotechnic, triggers. The rules haven’t changed that require being able to disarm the cylinder and that require pressure relief valve(s) in the system. What about the gringo part? Well, everywhere but in the US and Canada, it’s okay to bring a filled airbag cylinder on board, either carry-on or in the cargo hold, as long as you notify the airline in advance, i.e. when you make your reservation. It’s a good idea to carry the IATA regulation with the cylinder, in case they have questions (you can download that document here). However, in North America, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) doesn’t allow filled compressed gas cylinders on board, period, for security reasons. So if you own a Float, you need to discharge the cylinder (good opportunity to practice), carry it through security, and unscrew the cylinder head so they can look inside. Then you can get it refilled or exchanged at your destination–or call BCA and we’ll ship a demo cylinder to you there. If you own an ABS, however, you might out of luck; they’re not readily refillable and there are very few North American retailers that carry spares. FYI, even though the language in the regulation will remain specific to ABS until January, 2013, we don’t know anyone who has ever been hassled for bringing an airbag that’s NOT an ABS. So it might be a moot point. But we’ve had several people call us with this question. We also know of many gringos–and canucks–who have flown with a filled cylinder in their check-through baggage with no problems. However, we don’t advise this–and don’t call BCA for a “warranty” if yours gets confiscated!