Plane: transport of diving lamps and batteries

by Caren Liebscher

Save or not save - that's the question

It is now well known that during air travel dangerous items such as blades or knives must be registered as checked baggage. And this, for reasons of safety vis-à-vis other passengers and crew, to prevent diversions, or to avoid hurting someone.

The same goes for dive lights. In this case, it is not the fear of diversion that is in question, but the risk of fire. Indeed, diving lamps heat up more than ordinary flashlights. If they accidentally light up in the carry-on baggage, they are likely to ignite the surrounding material. It goes without saying that a fire on an airplane would be a disaster. Larger bulbs and batteries are generally stored in the hold because of their weight.

What is the best way to get the dive lights to your destination?

They can be carried on the plane, but it is better to separate or disconnect the batteries from the rest. Dismantling the various parts also helps keep light bulbs and other delicate items with you in hand luggage, to prevent them from being crushed in the hold.

Of course, diving lamps are in the category of dangerous goods. Here's the explanation: "Diving equipment: (...) Dive lights can contain rechargeable lead-acid batteries and high-density dive lights can generate significant heat when lit. Therefore, for safe transportation, batteries and bulbs should be removed. "

The IATA (International Air Transport Association) Dangerous Goods Regulations provides very clear instructions to Article 2.3.4.6. Objects producing heat.

The heavy redundancies of the tech diving ...

Tech divers, in particular, carry several emergency lights with their batteries, and are therefore loaded with potentially dangerous objects that may override the authorized weight for cabin baggage. They are therefore forced to register most of their lamps as checked baggage.

Lithium batteries: a special case ...

As long as we're here, let's talk about lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, for which there is a special directive on transportation. If passengers or crew carry portable (eg medical) electronic devices containing lithium ion or lithium metal batteries or batteries, they must rely on the ICAO Technical Instructions (Organization International Civil Aviation) for packaging and transportation requirements and for approval by the airline.

ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations. In accordance with its Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, passengers and crew members may carry their personal portable electronic devices containing lithium or lithium ion batteries or batteries (eg watches, calculators, cameras, mobile phones, laptops, cameras, etc.) in their carry-on baggage provided that the lithium content does not exceed 2 g or that their energy specification does not exceed 100 Wh. Lithium batteries with energy greater than 160 Wh are prohibited on board the aircraft, whether in the hold or cabin, while 100 to 160 Wh has lithium ion batteries that can be installed in their packaged devices in the hold or cabin baggage depending on the airline. That said, even if they are authorized by the airline, only two 100 160 Wh batteries are allowed per passenger or crew member.

Additional batteries must be individually wrapped in an insulation packaging, plastic bag or box. Alternatively, the terminals may be covered with an adhesive tape to prevent short circuits. They must also be carried in the carry-on baggage.

As can be seen, not all cells and batteries are treated the same, nor are the technical devices. It is always wise to check with your local airline well in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises. It is also advisable to consult the regulations of the country of destination to ensure that you can board all its equipment without risk of causing a fire in the return plane and to be misunderstood by other passengers.