RC Cars and Flying?

[Grastens]

Greetings:

I am leaving soon for a holiday weekend back home. I wanted to take my RC car back with me as I figured I would use it there and leave it once I returned back to school. I will be flying back.

My question is: are there any rules that pertain to radio-controlled vehicles at check-in for flights? The flight will be within the country but I wanted to know if the electronics, metal parts, etc. would determine whether it had to be in checked luggage or a carry-on. It may seem like an obvious question but I am taking no chances; I do not want to be leaving my car at the airport! I am in Canada, but I imagine that most restricted items on flights are the same in each country.

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!

[bromvw]

Greetings:

I am leaving soon for a holiday weekend back home. I wanted to take my RC car back with me as I figured I would use it there and leave it once I returned back to school. I will be flying back.

My question is: are there any rules that pertain to radio-controlled vehicles at check-in for flights? The flight will be within the country but I wanted to know if the electronics, metal parts, etc. would determine whether it had to be in checked luggage or a carry-on. It may seem like an obvious question but I am taking no chances; I do not want to be leaving my car at the airport! I am in Canada, but I imagine that most restricted items on flights are the same in each country.

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!

As far as i know so long as you take the rc as carry on and remove the battery's , tape the connectors to ensure no chance of short circuit and obviously have it x rayed and examined by secuirty you'll be ok . I'd drop the airline an e mail just to confirm though as these rules change all the time country to country and depend on the current sucurity threat level advised by your goverment .

[tonysmini]

Your best bet is speak to the airline, they will be able to give you the best answer. It's the batteries they are mostly concerned about, especially Lipo ones, and any tools etc.

I boxed mine and sent it in the hold baggage after declaring it to the baggage search here in the UK, but I didn't take batteries with me, I just found a local shop and got new ones from there to use.

[Grastens]

Phew; I checked in with the Air Transport Security board and they confirmed that my car can go so as long as it fits! Apparently the real issue is lithium-type batteries, though fortunately I run stick packs, meaning I can even take my batteries back. No mentions about taping up connectors, however; I will do that just in case. They also said a battery can be taken aboard if the car is taken in a carry-on if it fits in the car as intended.

Thanks for the advice!

[XV Pilot]

I have flown many times with my RC cars in carry-on, batteries and all, and the only time I ran into any trouble was when the TX aerial was thought to be a potential weapon. The security guard checked with his supervisor and I was allowed to take it on once he saw what it was. (Now that I run 2.4GHz, this is no longer an issue.)

[Tamiya1/10]

I have flown many times with my RC cars in carry-on, batteries and all, and the only time I ran into any trouble was when the TX aerial was thought to be a potential weapon. The security guard checked with his supervisor and I was allowed to take it on once he saw what it was. (Now that I run 2.4GHz, this is no longer an issue.)

You were luck where the security is willing to check with the supervisor and the supervisor had some sense. Several years back, before the shoe bomber, I took a lighter with me (was permitted back than) and the security deemed it resembled a gun (was those deposal type and shaped like an "L" ) and I had to check it in or leave it behind.