How to fly with fire equipment, my experiences and advice -

This is written up in a .doc hosted here

As some may know flying in australia with your firetoys can be frought with peril, I do not know if the below approach will work in the US with the current ridiculus situation, but i'd love some feedback if anyone finds out.

The following post is long, but worthwhile reading if you need to fly with your gear. I've always found it better to take the time to prepare, even over prepare, things in advance than to risk being on the way to a gig (or holiday) with no props.
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Hi my names ......... I will be flying shortly with your airline and just wanted to supply information for some baggage I will be carrying.

Would it be possible to talk to the duty manager or supervisor who will be rostered on at the check in desk at the time of my flight?

(If not, continue, though you may have to repeat to a supervisor who will usually get a 'manifesto' or notation placed on your reservation. Double check what this note says by calling again in a couple of days, if suitable make sure it gets put on your return flight reservation too!

DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE TRANSFERED TO 'FREIGHT' freight only deal with airmail by paid courier services. Although they will be happy to chat and confirm that your stuff isn't DG (dangerous goods) they will not be able to help. Explain that it's not freight, it will be checked in baggage.)

Let me explain the situation:
I manage a fire performance company, we have done shows in ....., ....., and across Europe and have previously flown with Quantas, Jetstar, Virgin blue, ..... and many international carriers.
Some of our equipment contains wicks which have previously been used for fire shows. We do not use kerosene or anything of that nature.
The substance (don't use the word fuel if you can help it) we use has a very high flashpoint and is actually not classed as flammable (Shellsol D60 is a class IIIA combustible as it's flash point is above 61 deg. C. same for Sarasol75) . It is transportable by normal freight and is not classed as dangerous goods. It is detergent soluble.
All our equipment has been thoroughly washed clean. There is no residue left in the wicks, no odour, and we are not carrying any container that has ever held fuel.
I am happy for staff to check the baggage at check in. If there is any odour or fuel residue detected I am happy to leave the equipment behind.
All performers will be carrying a signed statutory declaration stating that there are no dangerous goods in the baggage; we will also carry MSDS sheets to clarify the substances previously used for the performances.

I have found it helpful to provide this information in advance to avoid any misunderstandings. Obviously if we show up to our shows without our equipment it is not a good thing.

Notes:
Initial call center staff may ask questions such as "does your baggage contain fire staffs" etc. Say "This is what I need to clarify, our fire performance equipment has never been used with the fuels people fire twirl with, kerosene and such, we use specific non dangerous goods fuels as we need to fly with our props."

If they mention pyrotechnics, even in passing make sure you make a point of stating "no pyrotechnics, nothing explosive, nothing of that nature"

You will usually have the hardest time with the initial call center staff. These people will try to palm you off to freight or just put you on hold and then repeat something their supervisor has said, without giving him the full story and details.
Once you get to a supervisor things are generally ok.

Do not be scared of giving them your reservation number. If you seem unwilling to give it, it doesn't help their perception of you as legitimately trying to inform, gives the impression you may try to sneak it through.

- Do not attempt to use this spiel with equipment that has ever been used with kerosene or citronella.

- Shellsol D60 actually does have a yuck leftover odour, don't use it, only use the MSDS of it as it has a high enough flashpoint to not be classed as flammable. Try to burn out with ShellSol T to make sure you get rid of any odours on equipment.

- If you've ever used another fuel you really do need to take the time to burn everything out with SolT until there is no odour left, clean up all soot and steel wool the metal. If you do want to actually wash it out remember that it can take some time for wicks to dry.

- Wrap the props up in garbage bags, tape them up and carry them in some sort of appropriate bag, courier tube, hockey stick bag etc. Be prepared to rip open the bags for the airline staff to have a 'whiff' carry some tape to re seal the rip.

-The Shellsol D60 info sheet for 'americas' has the line "In general for transport, with a flash point >61°C, SHELLSOL D60 may be classified as combustible rather than as flammable liquid" I usually highlight this and either carry it on me or put copies in or stuck to the baggage. Available from https://www.shellchemicals.com/aliphatic_solvents/1,1098,646,00.html

- I also carry and stick on the equipment bags a signed statement listing that there is nothing flammable in my baggage. along the likes of....
My Luggage contains no flammable goods.
All performance equipment has been thoroughly cleaned and contains no residue of any fuel substances.
The fuel previously used on this equipment was ShellSol D60 which has a minimum flash point of 61.1 degrees Celsius. This classifies it as a combustible not a flammable liquid. MSDS attached.
I have previously flown both nationally and internationally with multiple airlines following these same procedures.

If all efforts fail you can still attempt to sneak it through. As far as I know they do not put notes on your reservation to the likes of "watch out, he'll try to bring fire sticks through".
Placing your equipment in a golf bag is a good one. When you check in they'll tell you the golf clubs need to go in the special baggage cage. "Sure". Snowboarding bags also work. These are options best used overseas where the language barrier may make all other efforts redundant (dearomatized isoparrafinic or alphiatic mineral spirit in Arabic anyone?)
Security at international airports (barring the US) seems to be a lot looser than Australia anyway, and in many countries may have no idea what fire twirling is (which could be a good or bad thing depending on the way you play it).

As a precaution put balloons over the wicks, wrap then in ribbons, clean up all metal with steel wool and if asked they are "dancing sticks" Generally you won't be questioned. If they ask "are they fire sticks" it's up to you to decide 'yes' or 'no'
I've always figured if that doesn't work I can say I just bought them from a guy and didn't realize there were wicks under the ribbons.

Good luck.
Stay light, burn bright.

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