No LiPo's on Airlines?

[BikeNBoatN]

Did anyone see the latest ban the FAA has imposed now? You can't carry spare lithium batteries in your checked luggage, and only a limited amount in your carry-on luggage. Will this severely restrict being able to take our electric heli's on the airlines anymore?

http://www.switched.com/2008/01/02/faa-institutes-new-bans-on-laptop-and-gadget-batteries-on-planes/
http://www.dailytech.com/New+Airline+Battery+Bans+Complicated+but+Not+Brain +Surgery/article10172.htm
http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html

[ZipZap]

100 watt hours would be ~6s 4500. It appears that you can have an unlimited number below this capacity as long as you carry them on. You could also take two larger batteries in addition to any smaller than 100 watt hours.

My biggest worry is that the TSA folks would have no idea how to handle any of this...

[Pinecone]

I am waiting a call back from AMA about this. The TSA pages have changed a couple of times and are confusing.

I read the latest the same, any number of under 100 watt hours, and only two above 100 watts, with a total capacity of 300 watt hours for the two larger ones.

But IMO, this is something AMA needs to get involved in.

As for TSA, over the last year, TSA has stepped up training and seem to be hiring much better people (I fly a LOT, Platinum on two different airlines). But for the first month, expect some issues. I would print out the web pages and have them with me to work it out with them. Remembering, be nice, they see lots of irate people every day, so someone nice is likely to get MUCH better treatment. :)

[HELINHAWAII]

I'm not sure exactly where lipos stand in comparison to lithium-ion but you can bet those idiot TSA workers don't either and that's where I see a problem. See the links for more specifics...

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/62899

http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html

If I'm reading this stuff right, we can carry on as many lipo's as we want up to a 6S 4500mAH (or comparable power using the formula listed on the yahoo blog), but only two more powerful than that up to 10S 8000mAH before violating any rules.

[Pinecone]

Again, these are peoples INTERPETATIONS of the TSA posting. I read it the same way, but what really matters is how TSA interpetes it and trains their screeners.

I did talk to AMA technical yesterday and they are working the issue, and trying to get an official interpetation for us. The holiday time frame (MANY people off) has slowed this down.

[chops]

Saw the news about new regulations for airlines and lipos (albeit late) and found this thread. Any resolution on the matter?

Any advise on traveling with a Trex 450 on international flights?

Thanks!

[Pinecone]

AMA is looking into it.

But most people read it as up to 6S 4500 you can carry on as many as you want. YMMV.

But TSA likely hasn't gotten around to training EVERYONE yet, so it will hit or miss for a while. Better to ship your lipos separately.