I recently flew to the Isle of Lewis for 2 days Hind Stalking on Barvas which I won in the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust charity auction.
I thought I would share my experience of flying with a firearm in the hope that it would assist someone else in the future.
I flew with Loganair from Manchester to Stornaway with a connection at Inverness.
Prior to booking the flights I emailed Loganair to confirm that they would carry firearms on this route.
There was an additional £20 charge per flight to bring my rifle with me, this was a total of £60 as the return flight is treated as one flight with a short stop in Inverness. I had to call customer services and book this in over the phone after I had booked my flights on their website.
I packed my rifle in a Plano hard case secured with its own locks and some additional padlocks.
I packed my ammunition (homeloads) in some cardboard ammunition boxes inside a small cashbox inside small Peli Case secured with padlocks.
I arrived at departures in Manchester shortly before the desk opened, one of the desk staff noticed my Plano hard case and asked what was inside, after replying a rifle they gathered a range of paperwork that required completion and arranged for airport security and police to attend.
One of the guys from airport security was well versed in the process and helped guide the desk staff through what was required.
2 GMP AFO’s attended and had a quick check of my FAC and ran my details through to check that it was still valid, this seamed to be a requirement made by the airport rather than something that GMP wanted to do.
My rifle case remained locked throughout no one asked for it to be opened.
I had originally placed my ammunition case within my hold luggage, the desk staff stated that it must be carried separately. Airport security wanted a batch number for the ammunition and happily noted down a product number printed on an old cardboard box housing my home loads.
Check in took around 45 minutes, it probably would have been a little shorter however the AFO’s were on shift change.
Airport security then carried the cases containing my rifle and ammunition through the departure lounge to the gate where it was signed over and onto the aircraft. I was then provided a copy of the paperwork confirming this.
On arrival at Stornoway a member of airport staff was at baggage claim with my rifle and ammunition following a quick check of my FAC it was handed over. A smooth and painless first experience flying with a firearm.
Following 2 excellent days of stalking it was time for the return journey.
Check in at Stornoway was simple and took about 10 minutes. The staff on the desk called for another member of staff to fill in some paperwork with me, both rifle and ammunition case remained locked. On completion of check in rifle and ammunition were placed on the conveyer belt and sent off with the rest of my luggage.
On arrival at Manchester a team leader from the baggage handling agent arrived in the baggage hall with my cases, he said that border force had to come and check things over before handing them over to me, he spoke to border force over the phone who weren’t interested in coming because it was a domestic flight, he tried calling the police who didn’t answer and after calling his boss happily handed over my cases.
I showed him my FAC and how it cross referenced to the paperwork on the cases so that he had some peace of mind.
Everyone I dealt with was helpful and friendly, I would certainly fly Loganair with a firearm again. Next time I might consider putting an Apple air tag in the case for some reassurance that everything is on the plane with me.
I thought I would share my experience of flying with a firearm in the hope that it would assist someone else in the future.
I flew with Loganair from Manchester to Stornaway with a connection at Inverness.
Prior to booking the flights I emailed Loganair to confirm that they would carry firearms on this route.
There was an additional £20 charge per flight to bring my rifle with me, this was a total of £60 as the return flight is treated as one flight with a short stop in Inverness. I had to call customer services and book this in over the phone after I had booked my flights on their website.
I packed my rifle in a Plano hard case secured with its own locks and some additional padlocks.
I packed my ammunition (homeloads) in some cardboard ammunition boxes inside a small cashbox inside small Peli Case secured with padlocks.
I arrived at departures in Manchester shortly before the desk opened, one of the desk staff noticed my Plano hard case and asked what was inside, after replying a rifle they gathered a range of paperwork that required completion and arranged for airport security and police to attend.
One of the guys from airport security was well versed in the process and helped guide the desk staff through what was required.
2 GMP AFO’s attended and had a quick check of my FAC and ran my details through to check that it was still valid, this seamed to be a requirement made by the airport rather than something that GMP wanted to do.
My rifle case remained locked throughout no one asked for it to be opened.
I had originally placed my ammunition case within my hold luggage, the desk staff stated that it must be carried separately. Airport security wanted a batch number for the ammunition and happily noted down a product number printed on an old cardboard box housing my home loads.
Check in took around 45 minutes, it probably would have been a little shorter however the AFO’s were on shift change.
Airport security then carried the cases containing my rifle and ammunition through the departure lounge to the gate where it was signed over and onto the aircraft. I was then provided a copy of the paperwork confirming this.
On arrival at Stornoway a member of airport staff was at baggage claim with my rifle and ammunition following a quick check of my FAC it was handed over. A smooth and painless first experience flying with a firearm.
Following 2 excellent days of stalking it was time for the return journey.
Check in at Stornoway was simple and took about 10 minutes. The staff on the desk called for another member of staff to fill in some paperwork with me, both rifle and ammunition case remained locked. On completion of check in rifle and ammunition were placed on the conveyer belt and sent off with the rest of my luggage.
On arrival at Manchester a team leader from the baggage handling agent arrived in the baggage hall with my cases, he said that border force had to come and check things over before handing them over to me, he spoke to border force over the phone who weren’t interested in coming because it was a domestic flight, he tried calling the police who didn’t answer and after calling his boss happily handed over my cases.
I showed him my FAC and how it cross referenced to the paperwork on the cases so that he had some peace of mind.
Everyone I dealt with was helpful and friendly, I would certainly fly Loganair with a firearm again. Next time I might consider putting an Apple air tag in the case for some reassurance that everything is on the plane with me.
