CYPRES and Commercial Air Travel Update

September, 2003

Thanks to the efforts of USPA and PIA, parachutes with CYPRES
now have the 'All-Clear' on U.S. airlines from the TSA 
(Transportation Security Administration).

The TSA has issued Directive AVO 6100-47 for their screeners.

Complete details can be found on USPA's website.




December, 2001

Dear Skydiver:

In case you intend to travel via commercial airline with your rig in
the future, please follow these tips and hopefully you will not
experience any difficulties.

CYPRES is a non-dangerous good, this has been certified by
various authorities. However, airlines may take this into
consideration or not, their usual reaction when asked is that 
they are very restrictive and start a long-lasting procedure 
where the outcome is uncertain. We therefore advise you to 
simply pack your rig into a hardshell suitcase, such as a 
"Samsonite" case, and check your suitcase in without mentioning 
anything about a rig or CYPRES. We recommend that you do not 
draw the security staff's attention or volunteer the contents 
(unless specifically ask).  Above all do not phone in advance 
or ask on the day of your flight if it is "OK".

Do not try to carry your rig on board as carry-on luggage. Under
actual circumstances, especially in regard to the situation in the
United States, this likely will not be successful. You can rest 
assured that the CYPRES is a non-dangerous good and that carrying 
this device is therefore legal.

Please find below some information which was made public on one of
the newsgroups by our US business partner, Mr. Cliff Schmucker from
SSK Industries.

I hope this information is useful. Please do feel free to contact
us, should you have any questions or require further information.

Best regards
Airtec GmbH

----------


September 14, 2001


On 9/14/2001, in rec.skydiving, Cliff Schmucker 
wrote:

Fellow Skydivers World-Wide:

First let me say how deeply troubling the terrorist attacks of
September 11 are to everyone at Airtec and SSK. Although the targets
were located in the U.S., this was truly an attack on everyone around
the world who believes in basic human rights and freedom. Even though
the whole concept of CYPRES is to save lives, it is very humbling to
take a step back and realize how relatively insignificant what we do
is in comparison to the magnitude of such a tragedy. Our thoughts are
with everyone who has been affected, and who has lost family and
friends.

Ironically enough, last Thursday, September 6, we (Airtec and SSK,
along with our aviation counsel and transportation consultant) met
with the Airline Transport Association (ATA) Dangerous Goods Committee
in Washington D.C.  In attendance were representatives from literally
every airline and freight carrier, as well as DOT and FAA.

Our presentation included general information about the function of
CYPRES, last year's DOT approval, and the original safety testing
performed by the German Testing Authority. A very interesting and
informative question and answer period followed. We then asked for
their advice on what we collectively could do to make traveling with
CYPRES-equipped parachutes easier.

The general consensus was: "yes, you have an interesting problem", and
"you know, we really are not the right people to be talking to, as
your device is not hazardous". They suggested that we schedule a
meeting with the ATA group that is responsible for training the
airport security personnel, and "tell them what you have just said to
us". In addition, they suggested that we supply the ATA Security
Board with a CYPRES equipped rig to be used in the screening personnel
training classes.

This was not exactly the carte blanch approval we were hoping to
receive, but it went well and we received good advice on the next
steps to take. Also, we will soon have a list of contacts with all
the carriers (like Mr. Andrus from Southwest who was instrumental in
turning that situation around last year), who are now familiar with us
and CYPRES.

However, with the events that have unfolded this week, it is obvious
that the airlines and their security personnel have many vastly more
important issues to deal with than skydivers wanting to travel with
their rigs. We intend to continue to pursue this matter down the road
when it is appropriate, but for right now the best advice we can give
to traveling skydivers is to "not make waves".

Over the past years, the security personnel manning the x-ray machines
and check points have been the subject of occasional disparaging
remarks by skydivers who have not had a good experience while
traveling. Please remember that these people are professionals doing
their job. They are not the ones making the decisions, but rather they
follow and enforce the sometimes rather unclear rules handed down to
them. Now, their jobs will be even more difficult, while at the same
time being considered more vital by the general public.

The days of carry-on luggage, as we have known them, most likely will
never be the same again. To quote an official I have been listening to
on TV, "the days of quick convenient air travel are probably over".

For the time being, we suggest that you check as baggage your rig /
CYPRES in a hard-shelled suit case, or ship it via common carrier
(UPS, Fed-X, etc.) If you decide to try to take your rig on board
as a carry-on item, please allow a lot of extra time before your
flight so you have time to use an alternate plan if refused. Do not
even try to argue with the security personnel, or bother asking for a
supervisor.

Lastly, please do not call the airline ahead of time and try to "ask
permission" or "ask if it is OK" to carry your CYPRES equipped
parachute on board or even to check it as baggage - this will only
cause problems. Although CYPRES has been approved as non-hazardous by
DOT, many airline representatives are not aware of this (thus the
reason for our meeting with them in D.C. last week). The DOT
certificate does not refer to CYPRES by name, but to a part number. If
you call in advance and ask permission, the airline representative may
have to refer the matter to their headquarters or even to an
independent testing laboratory resulting in long delays.

Again, rest assured that we will continue our efforts. Right now, this
situation is frustrating for us considering all the time, money, and
effort we have put into making commercial air travel easier for
skydivers. However, our "troubles" pale in comparison to those of
everyone directly affected by the events of this week. 

Please email me with details of any specific experiences you
have in the next few months while traveling by air.

Blue skies - safe skydives,
Cliff Schmucker