Confusion Still Reigns About What You Can Take On A Plane
Posted December 12, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Screwdrivers.
Scissors.
Knives.
Toy guns.
What do all these objects have in common? The answer is surprising – they’re all items that Canadians have innocently tried to take on board airplanes this year.
As the holiday travel season heats up with the colder weather, airport security experts want the public to know that some of the items they’re planning to put into their carry-ons and suitcases is a lot like an inheritance – you really can’t take it with you.
Officials have seen pointed tools, saws, and other objects common sense would tell you can’t possibly come on board. But people still try.
“Too often,” suggests Grant Quinlan of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. “Across the country, approximately 600,000 times per year.”
And after an alleged terrorist plot in Britain last summer, many travellers still aren’t aware about the new rules regarding anything that’s a liquid or a gel, like toothpaste.
“They have to be in containers of less than 100 millilitres, and they would have to be enclosed in a clear transparent Ziploc bag,” Quinlan explains. (For specifics, see below).
How much of a problem are the liquids causing right now?
“Immense,” he responds.
Those rules are in effect all year, but there’s another set at play this time of year. If you’re flying somewhere, don’t bother to wrap your Christmas gifts. Or security will rip all that paper off for you.
And with the crowds and the increased security, remember to show up at least two hours early. For now, watches are still welcome onboard a jet. Make sure yours gets you there on time.
Here’s a look at the list, courtesy of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.
Liquids and gels
Despite the scare earlier this year, restrictions on liquids and gels have been eased. Containers that carry 100 ml or 100 grams (about ¾ of an ounce) or less of liquids and gels in a clear, closed and resealable one litre or less plastic bag are permitted. It’s one bag per passenger.
Permitted
Baby formula,
Baby food,
Milk
Juice
(But only if a child two years or under is travelling on the plane)
Yogurt,
Pudding
Jams
(But all have to be in the same kind of resealable and specially sized bag listed above)
Liquid prescription medicine must have a name that matches the one on the passenger’s ticket.
Other non-prescription liquid medicines are allowed, have no container size restrictions and don’t need to be in a plastic bag.
Food products
Solid food products (like chocolate, sandwich, fruits, vegetables) can be carried on.
Permitted & Non-Permitted Items Carry-on Checked
| Firearms, Real Ammunitions and Cartridges |
No
|
No*
|
| * Some firearms and cartridges may be permitted in checked baggage if approved by air carrier
Boxed cartridges: With the approval of the operator(s), passengers may bring securely boxed cartridges as checked baggage only, for sporting purposes, in quantities not exceeding 5 kg (including box and packaging) per person for that person’s own use. Ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles is prohibited. Allowances for more than one per person must not be combined into packages over 5 kg |
||
| KNIVES | ||
| Belt Buckle knives (Constant Companion) |
No
|
No
|
| Butterfly knives |
No
|
No
|
| Comb knives |
No
|
No
|
| Concealed knives of any length |
No
|
No
|
| Lipstick knives |
No
|
No
|
| Pen knives |
No
|
No
|
| Push daggers |
No
|
No
|
| Swichblade knives |
No
|
No
|
| Throwing knives |
No
|
No
|
| Hunting knives |
No
|
Yes
|
| Jacknife (e.g. Swiss army knife) |
No
|
Yes
|
| INCAPACITATING SPRAYS, LIQUIDS OR POWDERS | ||
| Mace |
No
|
No
|
| Pepper spray (including bear and dog sprays) |
No
|
No
|
| Tear gas |
No
|
No
|
| MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS | ||
| Billy clubs and blackjacks |
No
|
Yes
|
| Bladed or spiked finger rings |
No
|
No
|
| Brass knuckles |
No
|
No
|
| Spiked collars or wristbands or any similar device |
No
|
No
|
| Kiyoga (steel) batons |
No
|
No
|
| Kubasuant (with knife blades) |
No
|
No
|
| Kubatons |
No
|
No
|
| Kusari (handgrip and chain) |
No
|
No
|
| Morning stars |
No
|
No
|
| Numchucks |
No
|
No
|
| Nunchaku sticks |
No
|
No
|
| Shuriken |
No
|
No
|
| Throwing stars |
No
|
No
|
| Yaqua Blowguns |
No
|
No
|
| OTHER WEAPONS | ||
| Arrows and darts used in crossbows |
No
|
No
|
| Blowguns |
No
|
No
|
| Crossbows (length not exceeding 500 mm) |
No
|
No
|
| Electric stun guns (except medical defibrillators) |
No
|
No
|
| Catapults |
No
|
No*
|
| Kubasuant (without knife blade) |
No
|
No*
|
| Pick-in-handle umbrellas |
No
|
No*
|
| Slingshots |
No
|
No*
|
| Sword canes |
No
|
No*
|
| * May be permitted in checked bags if approved by air carrier | ||
| EXPLOSIVES AND IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES | ||
| Fake ammunition including belts made with fake bullets and bullet key chains |
No
|
Yes
|
| Black and smokeless powders |
No
|
No
|
| Bombs (pipe, mortar, etc.) including replicas |
No
|
No
|
| Detonators (electric and non-electric) |
No
|
No
|
| Distress flares |
No
|
No
|
| Dynamite |
No
|
No
|
| Fireworks |
No
|
No
|
| Hand grenades (including replicas) |
No
|
No
|
| Molotov cocktails |
No
|
No
|
| Nitroglycerin |
No
|
No
|
| Plastic explosives (C4, SEMTEX, TNT, sheet explosives, etc.) |
No
|
No
|
| SPORTING GOODS | ||
| Arrows and darts for archery (sport use) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Billiard cues |
No
|
Yes
|
| Bolt cutters |
No
|
Yes
|
| Bowling balls |
No
|
Yes
|
| Golf clubs |
No
|
Yes
|
| Hockey sticks |
No
|
Yes
|
| Hunting knives |
No
|
Yes
|
| Ice axes |
No
|
Yes
|
| Ice picks |
No
|
Yes
|
| Ice skates |
No
|
Yes
|
| Lacrosse sticks |
No
|
Yes
|
| Lawn darts |
No
|
Yes
|
| Sabers |
No
|
Yes
|
| SCUBA knives |
No
|
Yes
|
| Ski poles |
No
|
Yes
|
| Sport bats (such as baseball and cricket bats) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Swords |
No
|
Yes
|
| Fishing poles (no hooks) |
Yes*
|
Yes
|
| Parachute |
Yes
|
Yes*
|
| Skateboards |
Yes*
|
Yes
|
| Sports raquets |
Yes*
|
Yes
|
| Miniature sports equipment |
Yes*
|
Yes
|
| Whips |
Yes*
|
Yes
|
| * Air carriers may permit provided certain conditions are met | ||
| DANGEROUS ARTICLES / SHARP OBJECTS | ||
| Axes |
No
|
Yes
|
| Belt buckles shaped like a gun and any similar items |
No
|
Yes
|
| Box cutters |
No
|
Yes
|
| Cigar cutters without removable blades |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Corkscrews, other than those with attached knives |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Cutting instruments (e.g. paring knives) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Cuticle cutters |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Disposable razors |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Digital meat thermometer |
No
|
Yes
|
| Hatchets |
No
|
Yes
|
| Items that look like weapons (e.g. perfume bottles shaped like a grenade) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Kitchen forks (plastic and metal) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Knitting needles |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Laser pointers |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Meat cleavers |
No
|
Yes
|
| Nail clippers |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Nail files (of all types) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Pins for attaching all medals and pins on broches |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Penetrating objects (including scissors with pointed tips) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Razor blades (not in a cartridge) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Razor blades cartridges |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Restraining devices (including handcuffs or other devices used by air carrier crew or police officers) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Sewing kits containing small sewing needles |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Straight razors (including cigar cutters that when pulled apart have an exposed blade) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, drills, saws, crow bars and heavy tools Note: Tool boxes containing dangerous goods such as explosives (power rivets), compressed gas or aerosols, flammable gases (butane cylinders or torches), flammable adhesives or paints, corrosive liquids, ets.) are not permitted to be trasported in passenger’s carry-on or checked baggage. |
No
|
Yes
|
| Toy transformer robots in the form of a firearm |
No
|
Yes
|
| Toy weapons (e.g. water gun, squirt gun, toy grenade) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Tweezers |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| DANGEROUS GOODS – Heat producing articles | ||
|
Underwater torches |
Yes*
|
No
|
|
Soldering irons |
Yes*
|
No
|
| Oxygen generators |
No
|
No
|
| * Air carriers may permit provided certain conditions are met | ||
| DANGEROUS GOODS – Lighters and matches | ||
| Lighter fuel and refills |
No
|
No
|
| Lighters shaped like guns or grenades |
No
|
No
|
| Strike anywhere matches |
No
|
No
|
| One lighter intended for personal use and not containing unabsorbed liquid fuel (e.g. Bic type) when carried in the person’s plastic bag, except at PBS checkpoints where US pre-clearance is in place |
Yes
|
No*
|
| One book of safety matches intended for personal use when carried on the person (e.g. in pocket or purse) |
Yes
|
No
|
| * Including Zippo | ||
| DANGEROUS GOODS – Flammables | ||
|
Flammable aerosols that are not toiletry items (e.g. static guard, aerosol laundry starch) |
No
|
No
|
| Gas refills |
No
|
No
|
| Gas torches |
No
|
No
|
| Insecticides (except those to be used by crew members for disinfection purposes) |
No
|
No
|
| Liquids marked as flammable (e.g. gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid and turpentine) |
No
|
No
|
|
Paint (including enamel, lacquer, liquid filler, paint thinner, stain, shellac, varnish and liquid lacquer base, solvent-based paint, spray paint) |
No
|
No
|
| Quick Lighting Charcoal Tablets |
No
|
No
|
| DANGEROUS GOODS – Medical Items | ||
| Oxygen cylinders, including chemical oxygen generators and liquid oxygen |
No
|
No
|
|
Small gaseous oxygen or air cylinders for medical use |
Yes*
|
Yes
|
|
Medical kits carried by health care professionals if the medical kit does not include sharp or cutting instruments and if the name and medical license of the health care professional or his or her name and company identification are provided |
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Syringes, hypodermic needles and biojectors for personal medical use, if the needle guard is in place, and the person possesses medication that is to be administered by means of the syringe or needle and biojectors, and if that is in a container that bears the name of the medication and the name of either the pharmacy that dispensed the medication or the manufacturer of the medication |
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Batteries: Wheelchairs and other battery-powered mobility aids (personal) |
No
|
Yes*
|
|
Medical or clinical thermometer (one small medical or clinical thermometer that contains mercury, for personal use, when in a protective case) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Small cylinders of a gas of Division 2.2 of TDG Act (Transport Dangerous Goods), (e.g. carbon dioxide, azote, compressed air, etc.) worn for the operation of mechanical limbs and spare cylinders of similar size required to ensure an adequate supply during travel |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| * Air carriers may permit provided certain conditions are met | ||
| DANGEROUS GOODS – Sporting goods | ||
|
Equipment designed to contain a flammable liquid and containing dangerous goods (e.g. camping stoves and canisters) |
No
|
No
|
| Paintball gun |
No
|
Yes**
|
| Scuba tanks |
No
|
Yes**
|
| Carbon dioxide (CO 2) cylinders or cartridges (except those required for medical purposes; those to be used for aircraft maintenance or for aerodrome maintenance or construction; or those used for self-inflating life-jackets) |
No
|
No
|
|
CO 2 cylinders for self-inflating life-jacket |
Yes*
|
Yes*
|
|
* Air carriers may permit provided certain conditions are met |
||
| OTHER DANGEROUS GOODS | ||
|
Consumer electronic devices containing lithium or lithium cells or batteries when carried for personal use (e.g. laptop, cellular phone, camcorder) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Spare batteries for consumer electronic devices containing lithium or lithium cells or batteries when carried for personal use. They must be individually protected and each spare battery must not exceed: – for lithium metal or lithium alloy batteries, a lithium content of not more than 2 grams; or – for lithium ion batteries, an aggregate equivalent lithium content of not more than 8 grams. |
Yes
|
No
|
| Fire extinguishers |
No
|
No
|
|
Mercury barometers or thermometers carried by a representative from government weather bureau or similar official agency |
Yes*
|
No
|
|
Dry ice in containers of 3.4 oz or less and all containers must fit in one clear, closed and resealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than 1 litre (1 quart) used for packaging perishables. Dry ice and ice use to refrigerate medicine are not subject to any size limit provided passengers present a doctor or pharmacist note. |
Yes*
|
Yes*
|
| Caustic materials such as liquid bleach and chlorine |
No
|
No
|
| Gas-operated hair curler without the gas container |
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
One gas-operated curling iron with its gas container per person provided that the safety cover is securely fitted over the heating element. Gas refills for such irons are non-permitted. |
No
|
Yes
|
| * Air carriers may permit provided certain conditions are met | ||
| DANGEROUS GOODS – Aerosols | ||
|
Non-flammable, non-poisonous aerosols for sporting and home use (e.g. Reddi Whip) |
No
|
Yes
|
| DANGEROUS GOODS – Toiletries / personal items | ||
|
At PBS, ALL LIQUIDS/GELS/AEROSOLS must be in containers of 3.4 oz or less and all containers must fit in one clear, closed and resealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than 1 litre (1 quart). The approximate dimensions of a one litre/quart bag are 15.24 cm by 22.86 cm (6 in. by 9 in.) or 20 cm by 17.5 cm (8 in. by 7 in.). |
||
|
Insect repellent, limit of one canister of aerosol |
Yes
|
Yes*
|
|
Non-radioactive medicinal or toilet articles for personal use, nail polish remover, hair spray |
Yes
|
Yes*
|
|
Perfume, cologne, and medicine containing alcohol including rubbing alcohol |
Yes
|
Yes*
|
|
3% hydrogen peroxide found in drug stores to clean cuts |
Yes
|
Yes*
|
| 4.5 CONTRABAND | ||
|
Contraband (intoxicant, money) |
No
|
No
|
Source: CATSA
