Many common items used for work, sports, or hobbies may seem harmless, but due to their physical and chemical properties, they can be very dangerous when transported by air. Check-in staff must seek confirmation from passengers about the contents of any item or package that they suspect may contain dangerous goods.

Below is a list of common equipment and instruments that may contain dangerous goods. Dangerous goods associated with each are explained in the accompanying text. If there is a possibility that the items you are attempting to bring on-board may contain dangerous substances, you will be prevented from doing so by check-in staff.

Automobile parts - These may include engines, carburetors or fuel tanks that contain or have contained fuel, wet batteries, compressed gases in tire inflation devices and fire extinguishers, air bags, etc.

Cylinders - These may contain compressed or liquefied gases.

Diving equipment – This gear may contain cylinders of compressed gas (e.g. air or oxygen), or high intensity diving lamps that can generate extreme heat when operated in air. To be carried safely, the lamp’s bulb or battery should be disconnected.

Drilling and mining equipment – This gear may contain explosive(s) and/or other dangerous goods.

Electrical equipment – These items may contain magnetized materials, mercury in switch gear, electron tubes or wet batteries.

Electrically powered apparatus (wheelchairs, lawn mowers, golf carts, etc.) - These may contain wet batteries.

Expeditionary equipment – This gear may contain explosives (flares), flammable liquids (gasoline), flammable gas (camping gas) or other dangerous goods.

Film crew and media equipment – This gear may contain explosive pyrotechnic devices, generators incorporating internal combustion engines, wet batteries, fuel, heat-producing items, or other dangerous goods.

Hot-air balloons - These may contain cylinders with flammable gas, fire extinguishers, engines internal combustion, batteries, etc.

Instruments - These may conceal barometers, manometers, mercury switches, rectifier tubes, or thermometers that containing mercury.

Machinery parts - These may include flammable adhesives, paints, sealants and solvents, wet and lithium batteries, mercury, cylinders or compressed or liquefied gas, etc.

Photographic supplies - These items may meet any of the criteria for dangerous goods, particularly heat-producing devices, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances.

Racing car or motorcycle team equipment – This gear may contain engines, carburetors or fuel tanks that contain fuel or residual fuel, wet batteries, flammable aerosols, nitromethane or other gasoline additives, cylinders of compressed gases, etc.

Repair kits - These may contain organic peroxides and flammable adhesives, solvent-based paint, resins, etc.

Switches in electrical equipment or instruments - These may contain mercury.

Tool boxes - These may contain explosives (power rivets), compressed gases or aerosols, flammable gases (butane cylinders), flammable adhesives or paints, corrosive liquids, or other dangerous goods.

For more information on Equipment, Instruments and Tool Boxes contact your airline operator or one of our Regional Offices.