TSA and batteries... an update

It turns out that DC based photographer Greg Mathieson has been working behind the scenes to get this mess sorted out. Here is an email he sent out this morning (Dec 31) regarding the progress he has made towards this fix:

I just got off a conference call with TSA,DOT and DOE and all the powers that be and they are currently going to rewrite the regulation in that there will be no limit on how many batteries can be carried aboard an aircraft. It seems that the PAO putting out the release and notice did not get the facts right in that the issue is the Watt hours, per each individual battery and not that of the combined amount of power or lithium content. What they are trying to prohibit or restrict is that of a single size battery exceeding a set about of lithium, such as a 130WH battery or greater. Only the larger space power batteries that stand alone next to a laptop provide that type of power and some camera crew batteries do as well.

It's recommended though that once the new press release and notice is put out by TSA and DOT that members carry a copy if they are carrying large quantities of batteries onboard an aircraft. Just in the event some TSA guy never got the word or is reading the old notice.

All the best for a happy new year,

Greg E. Mathieson
MAI Photo News Agency, Inc.

So hopefully a new memo will be out soon that will get this straightened out. When it is released, I will post it here.

One lingering concern... it still remains to be seen what this means for photographers that travel with portable light kits that rely on heavy-duty batteries for power....

Airline travel is about to become even more fun!

So the TSA has dropped their latest bombshell on all of us that travel frequently. A new ban on too many rechargeable batteries. Apparently the new rule (effective Jan. 1, 2008) says you can bring two rechargeable batteries other than those actually attached to the devices they were intended for in your carry-on bags. Batteries are now forbidden in checked luggage.

They also need to be in individual baggies to keep them from shorting out or catching fire. But if putting them in a baggie renders them safe, who cares how many you bring on the plane???

I guess I'll be using Fedex to send all my batteries ahead of me on shoots from now on.

Read the release here.