From: George Barnard, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Just saw this letter from Dr. Alastair Bantock in the current issue of Orders of the Daye, the Journal of the Sealed Knot, Website: "http://www.sealedknot.org/ Air Transport Of Historic Weapons For Re-Enactments In August while travelling to the Wallenstein Fest in Memmingen, Germany I experienced a problem with the transportation of my replica dog-lock muzzle-loading musket, the carrier being Lufthansa. The musket was checked by the Stansted police and accepted by the baggage handlers, but then failed to arrive at Munich. 24 hours later we learned that the transportation of this musket had been refused by the Lufthansa pilot and was still at Stansted. They had not even informed Munich of this action. I have received a letter of apology from Lufthansa, but feel that you should be made aware of their policy. I quote from their letter of 14 November 2000: “The Lufthansa policy on the transportation of firearms states that passengers may carry hunting or sporting arms as exclusively checked baggage which is loaded in the aircraft cargo compartment and which must be unloaded and contained in a breakproof container, e.g. a marked gun case... The transportation of such items IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CAPTAIN.” As this policy would appear to differ from all other carriers I have previously used I feel it is important that this statement by Lufthansa should be brought to the attention of members. It may be of interest that the Royal Ulster Constabulary regard these as “theatrical props” “since the weapons referred to are being used as part of a theatrical performance, a firearm certificate is not required” (letter 10 May 1996). There would have been about 40 muskets in Memmingen for this event by Sealed Knot members, all of which had travelled from UK. -- All carriers have this policy, it is part of international law, if I recall correctly. My suggestion is to wait at check-in and talk to the Captain when he comes in to make sure if you are worried. Steve. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
