Flew to Jo'burg with BA a week ago for some advanced field to fork culinary supply chain management.
I know this process comes up fairly regularly so thought i'd post on a recent experience to keep the knowledge on the forum current.
I like the challenge of doing something and if it should be possible then it should be done. (or give an engineer a problem and they can't help trying to prove they can solve it). At the JHB end I used an agency (Rifle Permits ) to sort my SAPS 520 at the recommendation of my outfitter - he said you can do it yourself, but it's a lot smoother if you pay the agency. And it was - exceptionally smooth at JHB pickup. Definitely do this.
These are my steps and how i would do it again for ease.
Kit
Two rifles (.375 and 6.5 SE) in a single peli case, with moderators and 40 rounds for each in a separate peli case (ammo under 5kg).
At LHR on the way out
Step -1) Make sure you have your FAC and a couple of copies along with passports and a couple of copies - may not need them, but defo need the FAC at this end. Check FAC matches your serial numbers...my FEO spotted a mistake at last renewal!!
Step 0) Rock up 4 hours early. Don't worry - the time will go quickly and best case you'll have more time for refreshment and if you use 1st class checking (see below) they bring you drinks while you wait.
Step 1) Go to the first class checkin as they are likely to have the shortest queues and most experienced staff (my going in assumption). If they turn you away explain you have firearms and you understand 1st class checkin handles this the best according to recommendations. If they refuse don't be an arse about it. They have ALL the power.
Step 2) Find your desk and trot up to them with a big smiley grin. Tell them you were worried they have had a boring afternoon and you'd like to make it a little more interesting. Do more smiling.
Step 3) Declare you have firearms and ammo to check-in. Keep smiling and tell them your friend travelled recently with them and said it was great fun...
Step 4) Let them know that they have to check in the rifles and ammo FIRST before any hold bags
Step 5) Let them know that they have to get manual bag tags and call the ISTS security man to come and collect the firearms
Step 6) Likely you'll now have the supervisor and a gaggle of other staff around you, but this is all part of the fun. There is a new system and even those who have checked firearms before are learning it.
Step 7) The ISTS man will appear and ask you to confirm what's in the rifle case and sign the chit - get a copy of something (the BA luggage tag etc) and Mr ISTS phone number. He will take rifles and ammo case away through Narnia and meet you at Border Force (see step 10)
Step 8) Bend over and pay. Lube very much an optional extra and not supplied as standard
Step 9) Check your remaining luggage in and go through security like a good boy / girl / self defined being
Step 10) Go and find the magical passage beside Louis Vitton and Tiffany downstairs. Go in, turn right and go the border force desk which will be closed. The red phone is broken....but call the number taped below it.
Step 11) A border force bod will appear and ask where the ISTS man is...ISTS man will turn up after an indeterminate period - hence have his phone number to check where he is.
Step 12) Proceed into a little room, open the rifle case and check off the serial numbers with border force
Step 13) When all is done and everyone happy lock your case again and ISTS man will take it away to the plane.
Step 14) Proceed to the nearest bar and reward yourself handsomely.
At JHB - on the way in
Step 1) Collect normal bags and exit customs into the arrivals area of the airport
Step 2) Find lovely older couple with your name on a board and follow them to the right and walk to the SAPS firearms section (the big room with all the taxidermy - can't miss it) at the end of the corridor
Step 3) Old lady from agency will wave like Obi Wan at the policeman, tell him all is in order
Step 4) Open rifle case and show serial numbers that match your SAPS 520 (that the lady has in her hand)
Step 5) Sign bits of paper and depart happy. DO NOT TRY AND TIP - all is above board here. DO NOT LOSE YOUR SAPS 520 - THIS IS YOUR TEMP IMPORT PERMIT
At JHB - on the way out
Step 1) Rock up and they will likely already spot you have firearms - they did with me. If not tell them and they will start the process. Again FIREARMS FIRST before any other luggage
Step 2) Fill in the form (like Mr ISTS had at LHR). It will be a shonky photocopy so have your glasses!
Step 3) Jimmy (that's his name) will appear and take the firearms case and ammo while you check in the other luggage and find out the flight is completely full with no chance on an upgrade
Step 4) Follow Jimmy to a little Securitas room, give him your SAPS 520 form and he well enter the details in the book and have you sign
Step 5) Confirm with Jimmy which flight you're on and the departure time
Step 6) Thank Jimmy and bugger off to go through passport control (you could tip Jimmy as he likely earns sod all and was a nice chap)
At LHR - on the way in
Step 1) Go and collect your normal hold bags
Step 2) Go and wait at the RED channel nearest to your baggage carousel and ISTS man will appear with your rifles and ammo on a trolley after a bit of a wait - don't got scouting round oversize luggage as it won't be there
Step 3) Accompany ISTS man into red channel and hand your FAC to the Border Force bod. Then open the rifles and check off the serial numbers
Step 4) They only want to see the rifles so certainly don't stuff your other luggage with contraband as they won't look there. ahem.
Step 5) Waltz off into the sunset a happy man / woman / other
some other notes -
Overall, considering it was the first time i'd done it, i'd say it went very smoothly. Slow and officious, but i was gadding about LHR with guns...
Defo use the SA agency for your permits and smoothing at arrivals - well worth $160
BA will take your for £125 at each end, but i thought worth it for knowing i had rifles i knew. Considering the cost of the trip and the wound or kill charging i want to be sure.
Enjoy!
I know this process comes up fairly regularly so thought i'd post on a recent experience to keep the knowledge on the forum current.
I like the challenge of doing something and if it should be possible then it should be done. (or give an engineer a problem and they can't help trying to prove they can solve it). At the JHB end I used an agency (Rifle Permits ) to sort my SAPS 520 at the recommendation of my outfitter - he said you can do it yourself, but it's a lot smoother if you pay the agency. And it was - exceptionally smooth at JHB pickup. Definitely do this.
These are my steps and how i would do it again for ease.
Kit
Two rifles (.375 and 6.5 SE) in a single peli case, with moderators and 40 rounds for each in a separate peli case (ammo under 5kg).
At LHR on the way out
Step -1) Make sure you have your FAC and a couple of copies along with passports and a couple of copies - may not need them, but defo need the FAC at this end. Check FAC matches your serial numbers...my FEO spotted a mistake at last renewal!!
Step 0) Rock up 4 hours early. Don't worry - the time will go quickly and best case you'll have more time for refreshment and if you use 1st class checking (see below) they bring you drinks while you wait.
Step 1) Go to the first class checkin as they are likely to have the shortest queues and most experienced staff (my going in assumption). If they turn you away explain you have firearms and you understand 1st class checkin handles this the best according to recommendations. If they refuse don't be an arse about it. They have ALL the power.
Step 2) Find your desk and trot up to them with a big smiley grin. Tell them you were worried they have had a boring afternoon and you'd like to make it a little more interesting. Do more smiling.
Step 3) Declare you have firearms and ammo to check-in. Keep smiling and tell them your friend travelled recently with them and said it was great fun...
Step 4) Let them know that they have to check in the rifles and ammo FIRST before any hold bags
Step 5) Let them know that they have to get manual bag tags and call the ISTS security man to come and collect the firearms
Step 6) Likely you'll now have the supervisor and a gaggle of other staff around you, but this is all part of the fun. There is a new system and even those who have checked firearms before are learning it.
Step 7) The ISTS man will appear and ask you to confirm what's in the rifle case and sign the chit - get a copy of something (the BA luggage tag etc) and Mr ISTS phone number. He will take rifles and ammo case away through Narnia and meet you at Border Force (see step 10)
Step 8) Bend over and pay. Lube very much an optional extra and not supplied as standard
Step 9) Check your remaining luggage in and go through security like a good boy / girl / self defined being
Step 10) Go and find the magical passage beside Louis Vitton and Tiffany downstairs. Go in, turn right and go the border force desk which will be closed. The red phone is broken....but call the number taped below it.
Step 11) A border force bod will appear and ask where the ISTS man is...ISTS man will turn up after an indeterminate period - hence have his phone number to check where he is.
Step 12) Proceed into a little room, open the rifle case and check off the serial numbers with border force
Step 13) When all is done and everyone happy lock your case again and ISTS man will take it away to the plane.
Step 14) Proceed to the nearest bar and reward yourself handsomely.
At JHB - on the way in
Step 1) Collect normal bags and exit customs into the arrivals area of the airport
Step 2) Find lovely older couple with your name on a board and follow them to the right and walk to the SAPS firearms section (the big room with all the taxidermy - can't miss it) at the end of the corridor
Step 3) Old lady from agency will wave like Obi Wan at the policeman, tell him all is in order
Step 4) Open rifle case and show serial numbers that match your SAPS 520 (that the lady has in her hand)
Step 5) Sign bits of paper and depart happy. DO NOT TRY AND TIP - all is above board here. DO NOT LOSE YOUR SAPS 520 - THIS IS YOUR TEMP IMPORT PERMIT
At JHB - on the way out
Step 1) Rock up and they will likely already spot you have firearms - they did with me. If not tell them and they will start the process. Again FIREARMS FIRST before any other luggage
Step 2) Fill in the form (like Mr ISTS had at LHR). It will be a shonky photocopy so have your glasses!
Step 3) Jimmy (that's his name) will appear and take the firearms case and ammo while you check in the other luggage and find out the flight is completely full with no chance on an upgrade
Step 4) Follow Jimmy to a little Securitas room, give him your SAPS 520 form and he well enter the details in the book and have you sign
Step 5) Confirm with Jimmy which flight you're on and the departure time
Step 6) Thank Jimmy and bugger off to go through passport control (you could tip Jimmy as he likely earns sod all and was a nice chap)
At LHR - on the way in
Step 1) Go and collect your normal hold bags
Step 2) Go and wait at the RED channel nearest to your baggage carousel and ISTS man will appear with your rifles and ammo on a trolley after a bit of a wait - don't got scouting round oversize luggage as it won't be there
Step 3) Accompany ISTS man into red channel and hand your FAC to the Border Force bod. Then open the rifles and check off the serial numbers
Step 4) They only want to see the rifles so certainly don't stuff your other luggage with contraband as they won't look there. ahem.
Step 5) Waltz off into the sunset a happy man / woman / other
some other notes -
- stick tags in your rifle and ammo case (air tags or Chippolo for android)
- Get some padlocks and plenty of stout luggage tags
- take a soft case for rifles as that is needed when in a vehicle on the highway (i.e. you don't want to be lugging a peli about)
- make sure you have your SAPS 520 and your FAC in your vehicle when out
- don't forget to collect your SAPS 520 and FAC from the vehicle when you leave!
- I put shooting sticks and other cleaning stuff in with the rifles and they are fine with it
Overall, considering it was the first time i'd done it, i'd say it went very smoothly. Slow and officious, but i was gadding about LHR with guns...
Defo use the SA agency for your permits and smoothing at arrivals - well worth $160
BA will take your for £125 at each end, but i thought worth it for knowing i had rifles i knew. Considering the cost of the trip and the wound or kill charging i want to be sure.
Enjoy!
