Air travel with firearms and ammunition involves a number of laws, regulations and practices that travelers with

firearms A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes ...

ammunition Ammunition (informally ammo) is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. Ammunition is both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines) and the component parts of other we ...

must comply with and should be familiar with before travel. The main rules are set by the

International Air Transport Association The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff ...

(IATA), but there are a number of local variations between

airlines An airline is a company that provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for codeshare agreements, in whic ...

and local laws that sometimes are conflicting. Ammunition categories are used to define firearm ammunition types considered safe for transport. The UN Division system and

UN Number A UN number (United Nations number) is a four-digit number that identifies hazardous materials, and articles (such as explosives, flammable liquids, oxidizers, toxic, toxic liquids, etc.) in the framework of international trade and transport. Some ...

system categorizes any explosive material by the speed of burning and amount of explosive. The

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...

has also instituted a categorisation system specifically for handgun ammunition. Both these systems can be used together to define safe amounts of ammunition that can be carried on various modes of transport, including civilian scheduled flights.

IATA airline scheduled flight permissions and approvals

The phrase Div. 1.4S, UN 0012 or UN 0014 denotes the categories of ammunition that the

IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tarif ...

permits to be carried on passenger flights. In simple terms, each passenger may carry up to 5 kg of weapons cartridges of less than 19.1 mm caliber being either blanks or with solid projectiles, in their checked baggage. The IATA published the minimum requirement for an airline for the carriage of dangerous goods in
table
where ammunition of the following nature can only be carried subject to the following permissions and approvals:

Local deviations from the IATA rules

Local gun laws may deviate from IATA rules by prohibiting it with some types of weapons or having special rules for transport that sometimes conflict with IATA regulations. Airlines may also have their own rules and procedures that sometimes conflict with each other, with IATA rules or even local laws and regulations. For example, some jurisdictions require the firearm and ammunition to be transported in separate cases, while other jurisdictions require them to be transported in the same case. This may, depending on jurisdiction, be solved by using two or more separate cases fitted inside a common larger case. Some jurisdictions even require integral parts of the firearm to be disassembled and put into two separate cases, while others require the firearm to be complete. Travelers are therefore encouraged to check all relevant regulations depending on where they travel, both in regards to the departure, destination and any stopovers. Permits or licenses may be required.

General ammunition fire safety

Firearm cartridges in general are regarded as being constructed such that they pose little danger during fires. If ignited by intense heat the cartridge will burst, but the particles will typically not travel very far, and protective firefighter clothing is generally considered sufficient to stop the fragments. However, if cartridges are stored in an airtight metal chamber, dangerous pressures may occur during a fire. For this reason, it is generally recommended to transport ammunition in original boxes sold by the manufacturer or plastic boxes intended for safe transport. File:38 Special LWC Fiocci.jpeg, Cardboard containers, generally permitted as checked in luggage. File:Boxes of Bullets MOD 45157614.jpg, Cardboard containers, generally permitted as checked in luggage. File:Ammunition plastic box.jpg, Plastic containers, sometimes permitted as checked in luggage. File:Alpha Co. Table Two 130130-M-XK446-056.jpg, Metal containers, typically not approved as checked in luggage.

Ammunition categories

UN Divisions

Most types of civilian firearms ammunition is classified as division 1.4S. The division 1.4 in the UN

explosives shipping classification system A matrix of the United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperatio ...

covers cargo with minor explosion hazard, while the suffix "S" refers to the packaging being made so as to not hinder nearby firefighters. Division 1.4S is referred to by IATA as follows: ;Division 1.4S

UN Numbers

The United Nations has categorised all forms of dangerous goods, and the categories regarding explosive materials are listed at List of UN numbers#UN 0001 to 1000. The most relevant UN numbers for civilian ammunition transport is UN 0012 and UN 0014. ;United Nations UN 0012: UN 0012 defines the category 'Cartridges for weapons, inert projectile or Cartridges, small arms', being "Ammunition consisting of a cartridge case fitted with a centre or rimfire primer and containing both a propelling charge and solid projectiles. They are designed to be fired in weapons of calibre not larger than 19.1 mm. Shotgun cartridges of any calibre are included in this definition." ;United Nations UN 0014: UN 0014 defines the category 'Cartridges for weapons, blank or Cartridges, small arms, blank'

References

External links

*
review
of the IATA and related airline regulations *

List of UN numbers The UN numbers range from UN0001 to about UN3600 and are assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. UN 0001 to 0600 * List of UN numbers 0001 to 0100 * List of UN numbers 0101 to 0200 * List of UN ...

A Guide to Air Travel With Firearms – Concealed Nation
* IATA resolution number 745a - Acceptance of Firearms and Other Weapons and Small Calibre Ammunition {{Firearms Shooting sports Ammunition Explosives