Hello,
Lexie aka maionhigh here!
Now that COVID restrictions are being eased in many countries, many of us are itching to grab our favorite drone and get some exciting shots in all the beautiful places around the world. But... how do you pack your drone properly to get through airport security without any problems? We've put together some information for you.
First things first: when traveling, you need handy and reliable equipment. For racing events, I can recommend my trusty TORVOL Pitstop Pro. It is (for me) simply the best for this purpose and I have been using it for 4 or 5 years.
For freestyle trips I would suggest the TORVOL Explorer series. Either the mini version or the large version, depending on your height and requirements. The backpacks in this series are great for content creation and it has helped me a lot to create great videos. Everything has its place in this backpack - drones and your video equipment.
Not sure if you're going to fly at all, but still want to carry the essentials and be trendy on the go? Then take a look at the TORVOL Quad Urban. It's a great choice for city walks and short trips with your freestyle gear.
Now that you have an initial overview of drone backpacks and maybe you've already chosen one, let's move on to the rules and regulations you need to follow when traveling by plane.
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What you need to bear in mind at check-in and airport controls:
1. Always check in tools with your baggage
This means everything - including screwdrivers! I speak from experience, because I've had them taken away from me before. Tools are generally considered dangerous for other passengers. So always pack your tool bag and tools in your suitcase and take them to baggage check-in. I use the TORVOL Sling Bag for my tools. That way I can simply pack the bag in my suitcase and put it back in my backpack later.
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Take a look here to find out more about tools:
2. Batteries belong in hand luggage
The batteries must be secured in Lipo Safe Bags - I personally like the TORVOL Lipo Safe or the Urban Carrier best, as both bags can actually withstand fire. In some countries, balancer plugs and XT60 plugs must also be secured. You can use insulating tape, caps or a zipper bag to separate the batteries. I've had the experience of having to pack 20 batteries in small zip-lock bags next to a security officer at the airport to get them through security.
3. Removing props
Yes, this is certainly tedious and annoying, but the propellers need to be removed from the quad. Some props can be quite sharp and may cause security to take them off you. As your tools are already in your checked baggage at this point, along with your prop tool, it could be problematic to remove the propellers quickly at the hand baggage checkpoint. So make sure that you unscrew them before you arrive at the airport. Otherwise they could injure other passengers or scratch seats and surfaces, for example. Pack them in your backpack. But if you want to be on the safe side, pack a few more in your suitcase.
4. Be friendly and open-minded
... because that will help you a lot. Sometimes security staff just don't know what to do with your hobby and that's perfectly fine. They don't have to know everything either. If you explain in a friendly manner what the drone is for and what you intend to do with it, that the Lipos are within the permitted mAh values, that you are legally obliged to carry them in your hand luggage and if you answer all other questions calmly and to the best of your knowledge and belief, this is a good basis for getting through security checks in a relaxed manner. Just make sure that you are always patient and friendly. Aggressive and annoyed answers can quickly come across as suspicious and remember that even security staff can have a bad day. We are all only human!
That basically sums it all up. But there are a few more tips that are close to my heart. Always pack your spark and your goggles in your hand luggage. Why? Our luggage gets thrown around and it doesn't matter how well you have packed and secured your spark - it can still happen that one of the small parts breaks off or gets lost. The same applies to your FPV goggles. My 2nd tip: pack enough snacks, toothpaste and some spare clothes!
You can find out what you need to bear in mind when flying in foreign countries in my article"Flying safely abroad".
I hope that my tips will help you on your next flight.
See you soon,
your Lexie!
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