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Jim Mason · Guest

Christmas warning for air passengers
Date: 14 December 2006

In the run up to Christmas, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is
reminding air passengers that dangerous items must not be carried on
aircraft.

Dangerous goods such as petrol, poison, gases and explosives must not be
carried at all, unlike some security items (e.g. scissors, knives), which
may be carried in the hold.

Geoff Leach, Head of the Dangerous Goods Office at the CAA, said: â€œThe
majority of passengers are very careful when packing their luggage and know
which items can and cannot be taken on board. However, many passengers
still donâ€™t realise that some items, which are relatively innocuous in
everyday use, are capable of posing a serious risk to the occupants of an
aircraft.

He added: â€œOne issue at this time of year is Christmas crackers which,
unopened with their packaging intact, can be taken on board, but not party
poppers. They contain more explosive than crackers, which obviously makes
them more dangerous, particularly when sold in retail packs.â€

An example of the risks of carrying dangerous goods includes an incident
where smoke flares in passenger baggage were set off. Another incident
involved the detonation of a number of air bag inflators. Both incidents
occurred prior to boarding, but had these occurred during flight the
consequences could have been very serious.

Dangerous goods that must NOT be taken on board are:
Â· explosives, such as fireworks, flares, toy gun caps;
Â· gases, such as culinary blowtorches, camping or compressed gas cylinders,
tear gas, mace or CS gas devices;
Â· flammable materials such as petrol, lighter fuel, paint, thinners, non-
safety matches, firelighters;
Â· poisons, such as weed killers, insecticides; and
Â· corrosives, such as filled car batteries.

Cigarette lighters are only allowed â€˜on the personâ€™ but are not permitted
in passenger baggage, as they are flammable. A rucksack recently caught
fire at Gatwick during loading as a result of a lighter that had been
packed.

Goods that may be carried by passengers include:
Â· gas powered hair curlers (one per person), provided the safety cover is
fitted at all times. Separate refills are not permitted;
Â· safety matches or a single lighter when carried on the person. These are
NOT permitted in checked-in or carry-on baggage. Separate lighter refills
are not permitted; and
Â· battery powered wheelchairs in the hold â€“ passengers should contact their
airline in advance to check whether special conditions apply.

Passengers can check the instructions covering dangerous goods on their
flight ticket or on the website of the airline they are travelling with.
The CAA Travelling Safely leaflet also contains similar information. There
are also notices on display at the airport check-in desks and advice can be
sought from the check-in staff.

Copies of Travelling Safely can be obtained from the CAAâ€™s Corporate
Communications Department on 020 7453 6030 or downloaded from the CAAâ€™s web
site at http://www.caa.co.uk/travellingsafely

For press enquiries contact the press office on 020 7453 6030.

Notes to editors:

Due to additional security measures in place following events on 10 August
2006, passengers should check with their airline for further restrictions
on what can and cannot be taken on board an aircraft before travelling.
Security restrictions are put in place by the Department for Transport and
not the CAA.
The CAA is the UK's specialist aviation regulator. Its activities include:
making sure that the aviation industry meets the highest technical and
operational safety standards; preventing holidaymakers from being stranded
abroad or losing money because of tour operator insolvency; planning and
regulating all UK airspace; and regulating airports, air traffic services
and airlines and providing advice on aviation policy from an economic
standpoint.

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