Charter sailors have known this plight for years: There are difficulties when trying to take a lifejacket with you on an aeroplane, especially when it comes to the highest buoyancy class lifejackets, which have very large CO2 cartridges. This is because the international flight regulations for dangerous goods stipulate an upper limit for the volume of the cylinder. This is now a thing of the past.
According to Secumar's management, the German manufacturer succeeded on its own initiative in having the size restriction for CO2 cartridges for lifejackets carried in flight baggage lifted as of 1 January 2019. This was decided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) at a meeting of the Dangerous Goods Panel, which decides on the limits and dangerous goods. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also adopted the decision. This was preceded by an initiative from Bernhardt Apparatebau, the manufacturer of Secumar waistcoats.
This means that from now on, each passenger can carry one lifejacket with a maximum of two CO₂ cartridges and no more than two spare cartridges in their baggage. Life jackets and cartridges are best stored in checked baggage, and the cartridge should be unscrewed from the release mechanism before the flight. Carrying them in hand luggage is restricted and often difficult, as airport security officers ultimately decide what is allowed on board and what is not. There are always cases in which at least the cartridge is then "collected" by airport staff who are not up to date.
Secumar has comprehensive information on all the details on its website here compiled.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
