Knives on aircraft...

**johnhilton** · 19-04-2011, 10:56

Hello all,

What is the regulation with regards to taking knives on an aircraft? I know that you may not have it on your person, is in your stowaway luggae permissable? If so, how many can you transport. I need to take a leatherman and 2 lock knives to work in Botswana and will be flying there.

Thanks,
John
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**saps-za** · 19-04-2011, 11:00

i have taken knives in my stowaway luggage to and from SA many times and have had no issues. My emerson goes all over with me. The only places I dont take my knive is places like the UK where they are not allowed.

**JS4** · 19-04-2011, 11:05

Hi John

How are you flying up to Bots? Airline or Charter aircraft?

Airline: No knives in your carry-on luggage, absolutely no restriction on the amount of knives in your checked baggage. If the check-in personnell tune you differently they are talking shit.

Charter aircraft: No limit on the amount of knives you can carry, just declare them to the charter company representative and/or pilot(s) who in my experience normally allows you to keep them with you. Seeing as a charter flight is already going to the destination of your choice there isn't much sense in hi-jacking it now is there?

For a nice table by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding Dangerous Goods and what may/may not be carried on board an aircraft and under which circumstances and how much click here.

You can use this table to argue your case should mr. security guard try to confiscate your lighter but always remember that the specific carrier may be more restrictive.

Oh, and read properly 'cause the wording isn't always that clear.

**abhm** · 19-04-2011, 11:17

JS, a quick question for you, if I am flying charter or private and its from a strip with no access control to a major airport would I be able to fly with firearm on person?

**JS4** · 19-04-2011, 11:45

Originally Posted by abhm

JS, a quick question for you, if I am flying charter or private and its from a strip with no access control to a major airport would I be able to fly with firearm on person?

Yes.

Not advisable to carry condition 1 though. Normally company procedures (and the law IIRC) requires ammo to be stored in such a manner that the passengers do not have access to it during flight.

You can also carry / fly with firearms from and to controlled airports. You normally just need to declare the firearms to the police (if they have a presence there, such as at Lanseria) and to the operator or the pilot of the aircraft. This does depend on the operator though (they can refuse) so check with them beforehand.

The captain would normally require you to clear and make your firearms safe and hand over any ammunition for seperate storage. Long guns in the cargo hold (or down the aisle many a time) and my preference is to let you keep your short guns - I've got the ammo.

... except of course in central and West Africa where the normal clearing procedure involves swiping everything including yourself, your fellow passengers, the crew, the aircraft and the fuel bowsers while at the same time repeatedly pulling the trigger to prove to all that your firearm is indeed safe. Then you just get a klap and are swiflty disarmed.

Check the table on the link in my previous post for ammo and other explosive and pyrotechnic limits.

---------- Post added at 11:45 ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 ----------

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