Whether you fly a drone professionally or as a hobby, using a drone often involves travel, and for longer trips, a plane is an ideal way to get there. But what rules do TSA and the airlines have in place for transporting drones, and how do you pack your drone accordingly?
Transporting a drone on an airplane means you will be required to follow specific rules, and unfortunately, they can differ across each airline or country, but knowing what to expect is your path to success. In this article, we will provide some helpful drone travel trips including current rules in place and the best way to store and carry your drone to remain compliant while making transporting your drone safer and easier.
Can I Take my Drone Through TSA in My Carry-On Baggage?
Entering airport terminals requires passing through airport security, and TSA states you can take drones through security checkpoints. Approval of your drone is determined by TSA policy, but this is not unique for drones. All in-flight items come with the same stipulation.
What are Airline Requirements for Taking a Lithium Battery on a Plane?
The biggest concern about a drone in airplanes is not the drone itself, it’s the lithium batteries. The batteries can overheat, break under pressure, and can even cause fires and explode. The TSA and FAA keep their eyes peeled for these batteries, and you should be prepared to comply with any hazardous material regulations. LiPo batteries (lithium batteries designed to have strong power and light weight) are singled out in particular, and these are the standard batteries for drones.
How to Transport Lithium-Ion Batteries
Every airline prohibits lithium batteries in checked baggage, so you will be required to carry-on your drone batteries. You will be limited to the number of batteries you can carry inside the main cabin of the plane. Your battery’s watt-hours (Wh) are the determining factor of what and how much you can carry.
A large LIPO battery can run from 100 to 160 Wh. Anything over 100 requires airline approval, and there are limits on quantities. To avoid issues, don’t plan on packing more than two 100Wh batteries in your carryon. You can check in a spare battery, but no more than one battery can be checked and it must be stored inside the drone.
You will also need to store batteries safely inside your bag. A very easy way to do this is to use a carry-on gear bag specifically designed for drone storage, and later in the article we review a bag maker who does just that. Another way is to use the original packaging since it is designed for shipping. You can also use a battery case or battery sleeve, or cover each of the battery terminals with tape. There are also a number of fireproof battery bags available to make transporting your batteries safer.
How to Determine the Watt Hours of Your Drone Batteries
There’s a handy formula. Simply multiply the volts by the amp hours to obtain your watt-hours.
Taking Your Bag Through Customs
Each foreign country has its own local aviation authority similar to the FAA with its own guidelines. Be sure to learn the name of the department and its rules before leaving on your trip. Some will have specific drone laws worth knowing early, such as if you need to register your drone through its national or local aviation authority. You may also be required to take a test to gain certification and licensing permissions. If you are a professional drone flyer, there is a high probability you will be required to comply with one or both. You can’t take for granted that any certification you have in the USA (like a FAA Part 107) will be applicable outside the USA. In fact, it likely won’t.
As a helpful note, register your drone with customs as a “Personal Effect Take Abroad”, so there are fewer questions as to how or why you are transporting it.
The Right Carry-On Gear Bag Makes a Difference
Since some airlines restrict transport of drones to carry-ons, a good quality carry-on bag is the right choice here. It should keep items such as batteries easily accessible for TSA while providing strong protection for your drone in overhead bins. A bag specially designed for drones is ideal. Look for one with enhanced functionality and cleanly accessible compartments to make charging and setting up your drone easy.
An example of a quality carry-on bags is the line of drone gear by BrightLine Bags (insert link https://www.brightlinebags.com/products#drone-gear). The company makes high-quality and durable drone bags with a blend of strong protection and versatility. You can configure the bags in multiple ways, letting you expand or reduce the bag size to meet each airline’s carry-on requirements or your personal needs. This makes it a unique bag in the drone world. You can choose the number of exterior pockets while allowing for easy access to accessories and other work-related items or personal items.
BrightLine Bags has partnered with “Go Professional Cases”, the leader in drone cases, to offer removable hard-wearing protective drone cases designed to accommodate all the leading drone models,. You gain peace of mind knowing your drone is adequately protected while crowded against other carry-ons during the flight. And all you batteries are neatly organized to both protect them and you by guard against battery mishaps in flight. And everything is compact and easy to carry and maneuver with durable handles, fabric, and zippers.
Conclusion
Taking the time to understand the requirements of your airline and national and local aviation authority at your destination ensures that traveling with your drone is speedy and safe. The last thing you want is for your drone to be confiscated, especially when using it professionally. Following these general rules goes a long way, and having the right carry-on baggage makes the whole process easier.