Flying with gun - Help needed

[tiwariarrun]

Hello,

Need help with something. I am planning to move to Bangalore for temp project work for a couple of months, and I wish to carry my air pistol with me. Airline guys said they would allow me to carry it in checked baggage, however I would need DGCA permission. DGCA headquarter's in Delhi, but would they accept my application at one of the regional offices, Mumbai in my case? The permit would be issued from DGCA Mumbai or Delhi? Please guide me on this.

Thanks,
AT.

[jonahpach]

you just need to declare that your baggage contains an airgun at the check in counter (before the x-ray) and then the long and ardous task of proving that its an airgun.. I guess its much easier with a licenced firearm. You would think that the security personell would have been trained to identify a real firearm from an airgun, but no.. I practically had to dismantle an entire PCP at a (secure location where I was herded into) at mumbai airport last year before some security personell came and recognized it as an airgun! Having a club membership ID and keeping my cool also helped a bit..

[tiwariarrun]

That's why I need DGCA permission before it goes for security scan. Its usually valid for 2-3 months. The permit has all the details of the gun. Cal. its make, weight and stuff.

This is to avoid all the hassles and confusion.

[Georgian21]

Moving to Banglaore from Where?....

There will no permission required from anywhere, just go to airlines website 'baggage section' and look for provisions to carry 'sports' equipment. I am sure you will find the process to carry the airgun there, Take a printout of the same, highlight the way airline has instructed to carry the 'Airgun' and keep it in checked baggage and you should be fine.

If questioned - show them the printouts in their face with all smiles and as Jonahpach said 'keeping your cool'.

Regards
Gopal

[tiwariarrun]

The rules keep changing everyday my friend. I have got clear instructions from all the major airlines that I need to have DGCA permission or the gun is not flying with me. All written communication. Its not at all a tough thing to get the permission.

[a__v]

I have a feeling everyone is assuming you are traveling from an international location to Bangalore. From what I know, you do not need a written permission from the DGCA while traveling from a place outside India. Of course you will face the usual difficulties with customs, which I believe everyone has to put up with. The only question is whether you choose fight or flight. In my opinion, fight would be the best option.

If you are travelling domestically, that would change the perspective, as domestic travel in India has a lot more restrictions and you might be correct about DGCA permission being required to transport an airgun.

Funny how just a couple of years of stay abroad makes it easier to bring an actual gun into India, while enthusiasts have to go through a world of pain just to have an airgun in their hands. Wish there was a way to change this, so that, at the very least, every enthusiast had the ability to import an airgun of his choice...without any problems

[tiwariarrun]

Dear a__v,

I totally relate to what you said. The problem in India is, more than the enthusiasts and responsible fellas, there are mis-users and careless folks who exist in a large number. So the restrictions are very much justified.

Regards,
AT.

[3006rifle]

I checked in my air pistol at the Delhi Airport a few months back; declared it at the check in counter who wanted me to fill a form ment for firearm license holders. When I told them that it was an air pistol, they took me to a seperate section for verification. My baggage which already gone through the check in, was waiting for me there. I opened the bag and showed them the air pistol. Fortunately it was not too difficult proving it was not a real firearm and only an air pistol. After due verification they let it through.

[Bhargav]

I have a feeling everyone is assuming you are traveling from an international location to Bangalore. From what I know, you do not need a written permission from the DGCA while traveling from a place outside India. Of course you will face the usual difficulties with customs, which I believe everyone has to put up with. The only question is whether you choose fight or flight. In my opinion, fight would be the best option.

If you are travelling domestically, that would change the perspective, as domestic travel in India has a lot more restrictions and you might be correct about DGCA permission being required to transport an airgun.

Funny how just a couple of years of stay abroad makes it easier to bring an actual gun into India, while enthusiasts have to go through a world of pain just to have an airgun in their hands. Wish there was a way to change this, so that, at the very least, every enthusiast had the ability to import an airgun of his choice...without any problems

Av,

Bringing a real gun from abroad to India even on a TR is not easy. You need to legally export it from the US and import it to India. What's the difficulty in that you may ask? Well getting an export license from the US department of defense is easy but to get an import license in India is very difficult.

I actually have inquired this option and the agency says get me the import license and we will do the rest.

This is the US scene, I am not sure about other countries but I guess in any case you still need import license from India.

Experts can correct me if I am wrong.

[hardeepsinghbedi]

[quote="tiwariarrun"]Hello,

Need help with something. I am planning to move to Bangalore for temp project work for a couple of months, and I wish to carry my air pistol with me. Airline guys said they would allow me to carry it in checked baggage, however I would need DGCA permission. DGCA headquarter's in Delhi, but would they accept my application at one of the regional offices, Mumbai in my case? The permit would be issued from DGCA Mumbai or Delhi? Please guide me on this.

Dear Mr. Tiwari,


You donot need a permission from DCGA. I am sending you the link of Jet Airways for example below. Please go through that and your query will be solved or call Jet airways about air pistol as the link is saying about real arms like pistol/revolver or rifle.

http://www.jetairways.com/FR/EU/Policies.aspx

[a__v]

I have a feeling everyone is assuming you are traveling from an international location to Bangalore. From what I know, you do not need a written permission from the DGCA while traveling from a place outside India. Of course you will face the usual difficulties with customs, which I believe everyone has to put up with. The only question is whether you choose fight or flight. In my opinion, fight would be the best option.

If you are travelling domestically, that would change the perspective, as domestic travel in India has a lot more restrictions and you might be correct about DGCA permission being required to transport an airgun.

Funny how just a couple of years of stay abroad makes it easier to bring an actual gun into India, while enthusiasts have to go through a world of pain just to have an airgun in their hands. Wish there was a way to change this, so that, at the very least, every enthusiast had the ability to import an airgun of his choice...without any problems

Av,

Bringing a real gun from abroad to India even on a TR is not easy. You need to legally export it from the US and import it to India. What's the difficulty in that you may ask? Well getting an export license from the US department of defense is easy but to get an import license in India is very difficult.

I actually have inquired this option and the agency says get me the import license and we will do the rest.

This is the US scene, I am not sure about other countries but I guess in any case you still need import license from India.

Experts can correct me if I am wrong.

Bhargav,

Per my understanding, after looking through a lot of forums, there is no requirement for an export or import license if you carry it with you in your checked in baggage as part of TR. Refer the following link:

http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16315

I believe what you are talking about would apply if you want the FFL to export it to your final destination.

[nagarifle]

the easy soulation would be to dismantle the air gun and post it with in india if the delivery sercivs allow.

[hardeepsinghbedi]

Please call any airlines and check with them.