Great news for screen industry crew affected by the recently imposed new airline battery carrying limits: there is now a special exemption to carry additional batteries, while travelling for work purposes on Air New Zealand flights.
Thanks to NZCS and SIGANZ member Murray Milne, who kindly arranged this, the approval increases the limit of 20 spare batteries of any type (including normal penlight size AA Nicads, etc) to 60. This could be especially helpful for sound recordists.
To qualify for the exemption you will need to produce a Dangerous Goods Approval Letter from either NZCS or SIGANZ, along with proof of your membership identification at the airport.
To obtain your letter please email eo@nzcine.com with 'Dangerous Good Approval - Letter Request' in the subject line. Your membership must be current to qualify.
Further details:
Each member will be approved to carry:
Spare Batteries - up to 58 (includes lithium ion not exceeding 100Wh, non-spillable up to 12V and 100Wh and dry cell batteries) and Spare Lithium Ion Batteries - up to 2 exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh.
The document, effective until 31st December 2021, permits carriage of the passenger's spare batteries up to 60 (including two lithium ion batteries exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh) on Air New Zealand, provided the following carriage requirements have been met:
Carriage requirements:
All terminals must be protected eg retail packaging, taped, speciality container, etc.
Not more than 60 are permitted
Carried in carry-on baggage only
Note: Batteries in equipment are permitted in checked baggage, provided they do not exceed the above battery limits and the equipment is protected from damage and can't be accidentally turned on.
Important - The approval includes the carriage of a maximum of two lithium ion batteries exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh.