Refinery Outages and that effect on the price of gas

Including JetA.

Oversight of Outsourced Aircraft Maintenance Facilities

Some say, this is perfunctory.

Get flight delay info direct to your PDA from the FAA

Digital Delays.

More about onboard battery fires

[Federal Register: March 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 57)]
[Notices]
[Page 14167-14169]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr07-115]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2007-27493; Notice No. 07-02]


Advisory Guidance; Transportation of Batteries and Battery-
Powered Devices by Airline Passengers and Crew Members

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.

ACTION: Safety advisory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is
issuing this advisory to inform the traveling public and airline
employees about the importance of properly packing and handling
batteries and battery-powered devices when they are carried aboard
aircraft. Thousands of batteries and battery-powered devices are safely
carried aboard passenger aircraft each day, but several recent
incidents involving batteries in checked or carry-on baggage illustrate
the risks of overheating and fire that can occur when the regulations
are not followed. Federal regulations require that

[[Page 14168]]

electrical storage batteries or battery-powered devices carried aboard
passenger aircraft be properly packaged or protected to avoid short-
circuiting or overheating. In this safety advisory, we suggest various
practical measures for complying with the regulations and minimizing
transportation risks. Recommended practices include keeping batteries
installed in electronic devices; packing spare batteries in carry-on
baggage; keeping spare batteries in their original retail packaging;
separating batteries from other metallic objects such as keys, coins
and jewelry by packing individual batteries in a sturdy plastic bag;
securely packing battery-powered equipment in a manner to prevent
accidental activation; and ensuring batteries are undamaged and
purchased from reputable sources.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hazardous Materials Information
Center, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, PHMSA, Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590-0001.
Telephone: (800) 467-4922 or (202) 366-4488.

I. Introduction

Technological advances and the demands of a mobile society have
made the use of portable electronic equipment and other battery-powered
devices an established part of the modern American lifestyle. Americans
increasingly own--and travel with--portable telephones, computers,
cameras, camcorders, entertainment devices, and medical equipment--even
cordless power tools. The batteries that power these devices are
increasingly as varied as the products themselves: they are
manufactured by many different companies, foreign and domestic, rely on
a variety of power-generating technologies, established and newer; and
come in all manner of shapes and sizes.
Portable battery-powered devices and batteries are safe for
transportation when packed properly. But like many other materials that
are part of daily consumer use, they must be handled and packaged
appropriately to prevent unsafe conditions. A power tool that can be
safely used for its intended purpose can cause damage if it is
unintentionally activated inside a closed suitcase. Similarly, a
battery can cause damage if it is improperly charged, abused, or short-
circuited.

II. Safe Transportation of Electronic Devices and Spare Batteries

As the Federal regulatory agency with responsibility for the safe
movement of hazardous materials by all modes of transportation, it is
PHMSA's job to establish safety standards for the safe transportation
of batteries and battery-powered devices. Our goal is to minimize risks
to persons, property, and the environment, while keeping these
materials moving in commerce. We apply the highest standards to
transportation by air, recognizing that any fire aboard a passenger
flight is unacceptable.

A. Passenger Regulations

PHMSA's regulations (Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; Title
49, Code of Federal Regulations, parts 171-180)) prohibit the
transportation of electrical devices, unless the devices are packed in
a manner to prevent sparks or overheating (see Sec. 173.21(c)).
Airline passengers who carry batteries or electrical devices in carry-
on or checked baggage are responsible for ensuring appropriate steps
are taken to protect against dangerous levels of heat that can be
generated by inadvertent activation or short-circuiting of these
devices while in transportation.

B. Recent Transportation Incidents

Over the past several years, we have received a number of reports
of transportation incidents involving various kinds of batteries and
battery-powered devices, including incidents involving passenger
airline operations. The most recent incident occurred on February 10,
2007, aboard a flight originating at JFK International Airport. Shortly
after takeoff, a fire ignited in a passenger bag stowed in an overhead
bin. Fast and appropriate action by the crew brought the fire under
control and prevented injury to passengers and crew. The flight crew
promptly extinguished the fire and the flight returned to JFK for an
emergency landing. Although the fire is still under investigation by
PHMSA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), preliminary reports indicate
batteries were involved in the incident.
Other incidents have occurred on the ground. Last May, we received
a report of a fire involving a spare lithium ion battery that had been
stowed in a passenger's notebook computer carrying case. A flight
attendant removed the burning case from the passenger cabin, and tossed
it onto the ramp, where the fire was extinguished by ground personnel.
On April 18, 2004, at Chicago's Midway Airport, a power drill with
an installed nickel cadmium battery activated while in checked luggage.
This caused a fire that spread to other bags on a luggage cart waiting
to be loaded onto a passenger aircraft.
In June 2003, we received reports that an overheated battery had
been discovered in a routine baggage inspection of a flight departing
from Logan Airport in Boston. The battery had been loosely packed in a
toolbox, along with various metal tools. We believe the heat build-up
was caused by short-circuiting when the battery's exposed terminals
came in contact with metal objects in the toolbox.

C. Battery Operation and Risks

By design, all batteries operate through a controlled chemical
reaction, which generates electrical energy and, in the process, some
degree of heat. Batteries are designed to generate an electrical
current and transmit power through terminals made of a conductive
metal. It is their capacity to perform that basic function that makes
them useful but, if not properly handled, designed or manufactured,
poses a risk of overheating and fire.
External short-circuiting of a battery can occur from contact or
close proximity of metal objects or other batteries near exposed
terminals. The newest generation of batteries using lithium metal or
lithium ion technology pose particular risks, based on their energy
density and chemistry, and because fires involving these batteries are
more difficult to extinguish or suppress. Even nickel cadmium and
nickel metal-hydride batteries can generate large amounts of current
and heat when short-circuited.
As with any product, manufacturing defects also can cause safety
problems. Last summer, several major notebook computer manufacturers
initiated recalls of their lithium ion batteries after learning of
overheating and fires caused by a production defect in the batteries
installed in the notebooks. According to the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, manufacturers have voluntarily recalled over 10 million
lithium-ion batteries in the last few years. We are also aware of risks
associated with overcharging and internal short circuits that have led
to battery recalls.

D. Measures for Safe Transportation of Batteries

We are aware that travelers want to take appropriate measures to
ensure their safety and that of their fellow passengers and may need
reminders or assistance to know how to travel safely with batteries. We
recommend the following measures to ensure battery terminals are
effectively insulated and

[[Page 14169]]

batteries and equipment are protected from damage and accidental
initiation:
(1) Keep batteries installed in portable electronic devices.
Passengers can safely carry electronic devices with installed
batteries, such as, cellular phones, notebook computers, cameras,
camcorders, entertainment devices, and medical equipment, in the
passenger cabin of an airplane. When replacing with a spare battery
during flight, handle batteries with care and pack spare batteries
safely.
(2) Pack spare batteries in carry-on baggage. Conditions that could
lead to an incident are easier to detect in the passenger compartment
of an aircraft. Flight crews have access to fire extinguishers in the
event of an in-flight incident involving batteries.
(3) Keep spare batteries in the original retail packaging.
Batteries purchased from retail stores are packaged in plastic and
cardboard packages intended for the transport of those batteries. This
packaging prevents unintentional activation and short-circuiting by
effectively isolating the batteries from contact with each other and
other objects.
(4) If original packaging is not available, effectively insulate
battery terminals. Effective insulation of battery terminals will
ensure batteries do not short circuit from an external source.
Travelers can effectively insulate battery terminals by isolating spare
batteries from contact with other batteries and metal objects. If the
original packaging is unavailable or damaged, place each battery
individually in its own protective case, plastic bag or package. A
sturdy, resealable plastic bag (e.g., a freezer bag or sturdy
resealable sandwich bag) is suitable for this purpose. Covering the
battery terminals with insulating tape, such as electrical tape, is
another effective method. We recommend using both measures in
combination for batteries that have protruding or sharp terminals
(e.g., standard 9-volt batteries).
(5) Do not carry recalled, damaged, or counterfeit batteries.
Do not carry aboard a plane recalled, damaged or counterfeit
batteries. Information about recalled batteries can be found at the
manufacturer's Web site or from the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(http://www.cpsc.gov.) Passengers should only use batteries purchased

from reputable sources.
(6) Prevent inadvertent activation of battery-powered devices.
Leaving batteries in battery-powered devices is an effective means
of insulating the terminals and protecting against internal short-
circuiting. However, battery-powered devices with installed batteries
must be packaged to prevent inadvertent activation. Cordless power
tools, for instance, should be packed in a protective case, with a
trigger lock engaged.

E. Next Steps

The publication of this safety advisory is one of several measures
PHMSA is taking, in consultation with FAA, the NTSB, manufacturers of
batteries and consumer products, airlines, testing laboratories, the
emergency response and law enforcement community and other
stakeholders, to respond to the battery-related incidents.
The Air Line Pilots Association, in conjunction with the
International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations, plans to
simultaneously publish to their members a Safety Alert and Safety
Bulletin respectively, concerning the hazards associated with in-flight
passenger electronic equipment fires, and steps crewmembers should take
in the event of a fire.
Over the next few months, PHMSA, FAA, and other interested public
and private sector organizations will move ahead with actions to
enhance battery transportation safety through development and revision
of safety standards and public education and outreach.
In the meantime, airline passengers and crew members are reminded
of their existing obligations under PHMSA's regulations. As noted
above, airline passengers are prohibited from carrying batteries and
battery-powered equipment aboard an aircraft unless the device and
batteries have been packaged or protected against short-circuiting and
overheating.

Issued in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2007.
Theodore L. Willke,
Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. E7-5562 Filed 3-23-07; 8:45 am]

Foreign Investment in US

Updated CRS Report, Jan. 2007. Revelant due to lifting of caps on percentage of air carriers which may be owned by foreign citizens.

EU clarification of Open Skies Terms (psst. . . you might be paying a LOT higher taxes on fuel).

Open Skies & Virtual Mergers

BA & AA.

Homeland Security and Privacy Impact Statements

I didn't say this folks, they did.

Promoting Travel to America, Security Concerns

The Senate Hearings.

Information wants to be free

In a healthy society, information is like a gas, it moves from a point of concentration to a point of dilution. In a sick society, it is stagnant. We are knocking on that door.

See Steven Aftergood, of the Federation of American Scientists' remarks on the latest crack down on the sharing of Congressional Research Service Reports with other than pre-approved parties.

Look to this space for more links to resources to combat this gangrenous process.

A citizen who does not know and cannot discover, through an ordinary diligence, what the best minds think on a matter of public concern is sand bagged from exercising their vote in an intelligent manner. I guess what they want here is a bunch of mentally impaired yeah sayers. Not likely. Not likely at all. Not if I know my countrymen.


For given the cult of secrecy that enveloped our government during the cold war and the hording of information that always attends the lust for power, a free, unregulated and unpunished flow of leaks remains essential to the sophisticated reporting of diplomatic and military affairs, a safeguard in our democracy.". From the Washington Back Channel, the NYTimes Sunday Supplement, March 25, 2007, Max Frankel.

Come. All those still jealous of thine liberty. . .

We just really want to study how people move in this space.

Right.

Next Generation Airport Security

Is this for real.

FAA Testimony

FAA Testimony.

On Board Fire Risk, Please Circulate

I've had some personal experience with this issue. Heads up.

PHMSA 3-07
Contact: Patricia Klinger or Joe Delcambre, Tel.: (202) 366-4831
Thursday, March 22, 2007

Department of Transportation Offers Advice on the Safe Transportation of Batteries and Battery-Powered Devices by Airline Passengers and Crew

Air travelers flying with the kinds of batteries used in many cell phones, laptops, cameras and other portable electronic devices should take precautions to reduce the risk of fires on aircraft, according to a new safety advisory released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

“We’re determined to keep America’s airlines the safest in the world,” said PHMSA Chief Safety Officer and Assistant Administrator Stacey L. Gerard. “Airline passengers can help us do that by following simple precautions in packing and handling their batteries and battery-powered equipment.”

Passengers should, according to the advisory, keep spare batteries in their original retail packaging; keep loose batteries covered with insulating tape to protect them from contact with metal objects; place each battery in its own protective case, plastic bag, or package; and pack spare batteries in carry-on baggage, rather than checked baggage. Also, passengers should use only chargers designed for the battery type and take steps to prevent crushing, puncturing or dropping batteries.

The agency said it was concerned by two recent incidents on board commercial aircraft. On February 10, a fire broke out in the overhead baggage compartment on a JetBlue flight. Preliminary investigation results indicate one or more loose batteries may have been the source of the fire. On March 18, PHMSA received reports that a battery had overheated or ignited on board an American Airlines aircraft flying from Argentina. In each case, airline employees responded quickly, extinguishing the fire and safely landing the aircraft.

The agency noted that current regulations provide for the safe transportation of batteries and that it is moving forward with proposals to enhance the safety requirements, particularly with respect to testing, labeling, and packaging standards. The agency is working with the Air Line Pilots Association, in conjunction with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations, to send a similar Safety Alert to their 60,000 member pilots. The agency is working with manufacturers to improve design and packaging for all batteries. It added that it also is working with the Federal Aviation Administration on the safe transportation of batteries on aircraft, and with consumer device manufacturers, testing laboratories, and other federal and state safety officials to help improve battery safety.

For more information, go to the Dot Website.

Guilt by Association

If you're brother-in-law or your son's best friend is a little flakey, don't bother coming here to do business.

Wait a minute. Is this a war on drugs?

Or a war on terrorists? Can you say "Mission Creep," boys and girls?

Best Selling Preacher Author Married to Dominatrix

Joel O'Steen's wife Victoria paid $3K fine to FAA for interference with flight crew, now being sued by flight attendant she elbowed aside. Rusty Hardin is a CRIMINAL defense attorney, folks. Why are nice men like this always dragging a ball and chain?

Homeland Security & Privacy

Subcommittee Testimony.

9 Measures of Airline Performance

For the 3rd Quarter.

US Visit Program

Oversight.

Two Versions of Homeland Security Bill

Both allow collective bargaining for TSA airport screeners.

Islamic Religious Leaders file suit against USAirways and MIN airport authority

See the complaint as filed in US District Court in MIN.

No Fly LIst and the Sound of your name

From the folks at S3.

It's a Big Sky

But that's a lot of traffic.

FBI raid on All Nippon's US Office

Warrant under seal.

MCO's flexible approach to airline security

Look, we can roll up these plans and throw them away in the dumpster, where anyone can find them! Haven't these numb-skulls heard of a shredder?

What they knew and when they knew it. . .

Plaintiffs in 9/11 attack cannot see evidence against Moussaoui, the so-called 20thhijacker.

9/11 Timeline.

Partial transcript of James Woods' conversation with Bill O'Reilly shortly after 9/11.

Chronically Delayed Flights

What about my connection? I'll decide whether that information is relevant or not to my purchasing decision, not you.

Stern Climate Report

See the Appendix 7c for airline industry contribution to global warming, from the UK.

Weekend at Bernie's

Where do you want us to put her, in a cart?

TSA background checks

I can lift 70 lbs.

My Life as an Airport Screener, undercover with Barbara S. Peterson of Conde Nast Magazine.

Prisoner Escort

What we have here is a failure of imagination.

DCA capacity update

Government Report.

Unaccompanied Alien Children

The Care, Custody & Control thereof. . ..

If you want to work here. . .

you'll get the chip.(the ethics of RFID as an Employee ID device).

Carbon Trading w/i 4 years

International Fares to Rise Rapidly.

I'm telling you. . .it's theraputic!

Device in Rectum requires explanation.

Green Skies Thinking

Eight radical ways to a cleaner flying future. From NewScientist Magazine, Feb. 24, 2007.

Plus, from the Harvard Business Review: Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet, March 2007.

Congressional Testimony

Challenges Facing DOT.

The New 'Open Skies' Agreement & Update Passenger Bill of Rights

Voting Stock vs Controlling Interest In and (not surprisingly) the opposition of the Air Transport Association to the Passenger Bill of Rights Legislation.

The Non-Deterrent Effect of Laws without Teeth

Laws are enacted for one of two reasons: the deterrent effect on others or the out-of-circulation effect on the perp, this law has neither.

America's Most Dangerous Airports

The Most Dangerous Part of the Trip.

The Creation and Consequences of an Intelligence State

Do Not Read This While Drinking.

Testimony Before Congress, ACLU's position on NSA warrantless surveillance . . . if you support this, you don't remember Nixon.

Inspector General's Report on FBI's Abuse of Warrantless Searches under Patriot Act.

Guide Animals bound for UK

Federal Regulation Brief
March 5, 2007


TRANSPORTATION (DOT)

NEWLY PUBLISHED REGULATIONS

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (OST)
Feb. 20, 2007


Air travel, nondiscrimination on basis of disability, carriage of service animals into United Kingdom, guidance: Guidance Concerning the Carriage of Service Animals in Air Transportation Into the United Kingdom, Federal Register, February 26, 2007, Volume 72, Number 37, Rules and Regulations, Page 8268, 14 CFR Part 382, Notice of guidance concerning the carriage of service animals in air transportation from the United States to the United Kingdom.

PURPOSE: This guidance document is to assist U.S. and foreign airlines, and passengers with disabilities, in complying with both United States (U.S.) and United Kingdom (U.K.) rules regarding transporting service animals on flights from the U.S. to the U.K. The requirements are quite different for each country, because the U.K. rules are designed to prevent the importation of rabies, and the U.S. rules are designed to prevent unlawful discrimination against people on the basis of their disability.

SUMMARY: These guidelines address the differences between U.K. laws affecting the transport of service animals in air travel and U.S. requirements of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), 49 U.S.C. 41705, and its implementing regulation in 14 CFR Part 382, to alleviate uncertainty when crossing from the U.S. to the U.K with a guide animal.

THE GUIDANCE: (1) Explains the procedures passengers must follow to comply with the U.K.'s Pet Travel Scheme (PETS); (2) explains the procedures U.S. and foreign carriers must follow to obtain an approved Required Method of Operation (RMOP) from the U.K.'s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); and (3) notifies both U.S. and foreign carriers operating flights between the U.S. and the U.K. that failure to obtain an approved RMOP from DEFRA will be considered a violation of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and may subject such carriers to enforcement action by the U.S. DOT.

DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY AND QUESTIONS: This guidance document is available on the Department's Web site at Airconsumer and future updates or revisions also will be posted there. Questions regarding this notice may be addressed to the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, C-70, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 4116, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Blank Riether, Attorney, Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-9342; e-mail kathleen.blankriether@dot.gov.

GUIDANCE FOR PASSENGERS WITH SERVICE ANIMALS TRAVELING ON FLIGHTS
INTO THE U.K.:

WHAT SHOULD PASSENGERS KNOW ABOUT BRINGING A SERVICE ANIMAL INTO THE U.K.?:

THE U.K. STRICTLY ENFORCES ITS RABIES RULES: The U.K. is a rabies-free country and its rules governing the entry of animals into the country, including service animals, are strictly enforced. These rules apply to the transport of animals on flights that either terminate in or transit the U.K. enroute to a third country.

YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE AN AIRLINE APPROVED TO CARRY SERVICE ANIMALS: Under U.K. law, only airlines granted official approval by DEFRA may transport animals into the U.K. on approved routes under PETS. U.K. carriers having an approved RMOP may only transport PETS-compliant guide and assistance dogs in the aircraft cabin and must transport other PETS-compliant service animals in the cargo hold. Non-U.K. carriers having an approved RMOP may transport PETS-compliant dogs, cats or ferrets in the cabin or in the cargo hold of the aircraft.

However, under Part 382, U.S. carriers having an approved RMOP must transport PETS-compliant service dogs and service cats in the aircraft cabin consistent with FAA safety requirements. It is the position of the Enforcement Office that non-U.K. foreign carriers also must transport PETS-compliant service dogs and service cats in the aircraft cabin on flights into the U.K., consistent with applicable safety requirements, unless prohibited by their nation's laws.

DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS THAT ARE NOT ‘PETS’-COMPLIANT MUST BE
CARRIED IN THE CARGO HOLD AND ARE SUBJECT TO U.K. IMPORT LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

THE ACAA AND PART 382 LEAVE IT TO THE DISCRETION OF CARRIERS TO
ACCEPT OR REJECT FERRETS AS SERVICE ANIMALS, EVEN FOR TRANSPORT IN THE CARGO HOLD.

IT IS A PASSENGER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT HIS OR HER
SERVICE ANIMAL IS FULLY COMPLIANT WITH PETS REQUIREMENTS. Passengers living outside the U.K. must have a licensed veterinarian certify that all PETS requirements have been met by completing, signing and date-stamping a third country official veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets. See the question below “What Documentation Must Be Presented by Passengers Upon Arrival in the U.K. Demonstrating That a Service Animal is PETS Compliant?”

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The ARC may require that passengers fax the third country official veterinary certificate and supporting documents to the ARC up to 14 days prior to the date of travel. The ARC may issue a pre-approval document to the passenger indicating that these documents are in order and require that it be presented to the ARC inspector. The passenger is responsible for obtaining all documents the particular ARC requires for presentation upon landing. The Heathrow ARC can be contacted at HARC.GeneralEnq@cityoflondon.gov.uk, 011 44 20 8745 7894 (telephone) or 011 44 20 8759 3477 (fax). The Gatwick ARC can be contacted at animalaircare@btconnect.com, 011 44 12 9346 2180, or 011 44 12 9366 6841 (fax).

AN ANIMAL THAT LEAVES THE AIRCRAFT IN A COUNTRY NOT ON A LIST OF COUNTRIES AT LOWER RISK OF RABIES (IN THE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT) WILL BE REFUSED RE-ENTRY INTO THE U.K. UNTIL A NEW BLOOD TEST AND 6 MONTH WAITING PERIOD HAVE ELAPSED.

PROVIDE NOTICE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING A GUIDE ANIMAL ON THE PLANE, WHEN YOU MAKE THE RESERVATION, OR AT THE LATEST, 72 HOURS PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF: Passengers traveling with a service animal should provide notice to the carrier at the time the reservation is made or at the latest 72 hours prior to the flight's departure. This will allow the carrier to give the ARC ample notice to plan for the animal's PETS inspection upon the flight's arrival in the U.K.

DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLIGHT: The passenger must present the required documents to airline personnel at the gate prior to departure and to ARC personnel upon landing in the U.K. before deplaning.

COSTS AND FEES: All costs and fees associated with PETS compliance are paid by the passenger, unless the airline has voluntarily arranged with the ARC to pay the fee for the initial inspection upon landing, or the ARC provides initial inspection services free of charge (e.g., at the time this guidance was published the London Heathrow ARC inspected guide and assistance dogs at no charge). Passengers should check with the ARC concerning any fees for which they are responsible and acceptable payment methods.

ADDITIONAL COSTS, OR PROSECUTION AND FINES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ‘PETS’: Failing to comply with PETS will result in additional costs to the passenger. Egregious or repeated violations may result in prosecution and the imposition of fines by the local British enforcement authorities.


WHAT DOCUMENTATION MUST BE PRESENTED BY PASSENGERS UPON ARRIVAL IN THE U.K. DEMONSTRATING THAT A SERVICE ANIMAL IS PETS COMPLIANT?:

A DATE-STAMPED THIRD COUNTRY OFFICIAL VETERINARY CERTIFICATE, OR PET PASSPORT WITH CERTAIN INFORMATION ON IT: Upon landing in the U.K., a passenger accompanied by a PETS-compliant service animal must present either a date-stamped third country official veterinary certificate, signed by a veterinarian licensed by an approved country (Oct. 4, 2006 version of list appears at Adequate Document or an EU pet passport showing the animal has received:

A microchip implant readable by an ISO (International Standards Organization)-compatible scanner or by another scanner compatible with the implanted microchip provided by the passenger,

A vaccination against rabies,

A rabies antibodies blood test (except for ferrets). This test must be completed at least six months before the animal's initial entry to the U.K. This waiting period applies only once as long as subsequent rabies boosters are administered in accordance with the vaccine manufacturer's instructions; and

Treatment for certain parasites.

A model of the third country official veterinary certificate can be found at Model Verterinary Certificate.

PRESENT THE CERTIFICATE AT CHECK-IN FOR ‘PETS’-COMPLIANT SERVICE ANIMALS FOR TRAVELING IN THE CARGO HOLD; IF FOUND TO NOT BE ‘PETS’-COMPLIANT, IT MAY BE PLACED IN QUARANTINE FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS OR REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY: For PETS-compliant service animals traveling in the cargo hold, the veterinary certificate or pet passport must be presented to the airline at check-in so that the carrier can affix the certificates to the kennel in the manner prescribed by DEFRA. If the service animal is found not to be PETS-compliant, it may be placed in quarantine for up to 6 months or removed from the country, as determined by the ARC.


WHAT SPECIFIC STEPS MUST A PASSENGER TAKE TO ENSURE A SERVICE ANIMAL IS PETS-COMPLIANT?

SEE DEFRA’S WEB SITE FOR COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES:

See The UK's Animal Quarantine Procedures for detailed current information about compliance procedures, including a compliance checklist and approved carriers and routes between the U.S. and U.K.

Monopoly between DC and SFO?

Class Action against UAL.

Service Animals need Docs, too

Know the rules of family pet vs emotional support animal.

Tamper Proof Driver's License

New ID cards would make nation less secure.

Caribbean to Screen Passports using Interpol Global Database

The US runs fewer than 100 checks per month against the database. . ..

The Must-Do List

Editorial on the ways in which we have gone astray and forsaken the freedoms past generations have died to preserve. This blogger endorses this well thought out position.

Taxi-Out Times, Nation Wide

Wheels Up.

The New National ID Card

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, DHS.

The Naked Truth

The Scope on the Full Body Scanner from Scientific American.