Getting Paramotor from USA to UK?

[Tyrhone]

Hi all, this will likely only be an issue a year or so from now, but eventually I am going to want to bring my Paramotor (used of course) from the US to the UK (I am a British Citizen), and I was wondering if anyone knows how or what costs it might incur for shipping and also things like import duties and whatever else.

I would be happy shipping by sea if cheaper and more likely to be allowed.

Wondering more if it is possible or if when the time comes I will be better off selling my Paramotor in the US and buying again in the UK?

Appreciate any help as definitive or even close to helpful details on the matter are hard to find.

Cheers

[pete_b]

If you have proof you have owned it for some time there should not be any import duties or vat.

Not sure on shipping charges.Best to contact a shipping company, we break ours down clean it right out and take it on the plane with us but there is always the chance it will not get on the flight.

[notch]

I have flown with my motor as checked baggage to quite a few countries now, no issues (touch wood). The procedure I follow is:

Pull the motor off the frame clean everything, pull the carb apart and clean any fuel. Wrap the engine in lots of layers of cling wrap, then bubble wrap, then two plastic bags and zip ties. Put the engine in a regular suitcase.

The fuel tank gets special attention as well, its rinsed with water & soap, and wrapped in many many layers of cling wrap, then two plastic bags again.

I throw away the fuel line, and primer, and take a new set with me. These stink of fuel, cannot easily be cleaned, and are easy to replace.

The rest of the frame goes in a custom case I had made from a place that does surfboard covers.

Jetstar/Quantas has a procedure for taking engines on their planes, so I usually try any fly with them. See http://www.qantas.com.au/dangerousgoods ... r-2013.pdf

[Tyrhone]

Thanks Pete and Notch,

After reading this article from Jeff Goin http://www.footflyer.com/PPGBibleUpdate ... alight.htm

I would be a bit worried about the engine not making it, and as I wouldn't be in a huge rush I wondered if shipping it by sea might be a safer option? I know it would likely take a month to get to the UK but as long as it got there that would be the main thing.

Also I am really good at taking things apart and really shit at putting them back together, so I would worry about dismantling the engine myself.

[Chilly]

OR... send it air freight by a company that specialises in, or are familiar with dangerous goods. When we shipped our paramotors to China for competition, we did exactly this. No need to dismantle etc as they were in the proper container to satisfy whatever regulations there were at the time. It's not cheap, but is much less risky.

Chilly.

[Tyrhone]

Thanks Chilly, any recommendations on companies?

OR... send it air freight by a company that specialises in, or are familiar with dangerous goods. When we shipped our paramotors to China for competition, we did exactly this. No need to dismantle etc as they were in the proper container to satisfy whatever regulations there were at the time. It's not cheap, but is much less risky.

Chilly.

[spigot]

I'll second chillie, I was a Caa dangerous goods operator in the Raf. Run your engine dry, empty the tank and leave the top off to vent for 24 hours. Then take it to any major cargo company. They will take care of the paperwork and packing and the (up to) $100,000 fine if they get it wrong. If your found smuggling dangerous goods in your suitcase you loose the motor and face a hefty fine. As was someone in February this year.

And let's not forget they are called dangerous goods for a reason. I don't want to get on a plane thinking someone had failed to declare a shed load of fertiliser and a loose handful of lithium batteries. would anyone else?

Sent from my iPhone using PMC Forum mobile app

[pete_b]

http://www.britishairways.com/cms/globa ... s_List.pdf

http://www.liatcargo.com/IATARefomatted ... er2008.pdf

[spigot]

Packing instruction 950 is the one you want

Sent from my iPhone using PMC Forum mobile app

[notch]

I know some airlines expressly forbid engines, but if the airline accepts them as checked baggage, and you pack it as per their specifications, surely you should be okay from a legal perspective?

I flew on a lufthansa flight that did not specify engines as allowed or not allowed, I queried it before I got on, and after a few phone calls, it was good to go. Bit of a surprise that was, but good on them for being reasonable.

It seems only the US is one of the only countries that has a blanket ban on motors as checked baggage.

[Tyrhone]

Yeah and the engine getting left behind could be a costly endeavor! Has anyone tried shipping by ship? Cheaper and less likely to get booted maybe?

Otherwise thanks for the links and tips, I am going to see what sort of cost I would be looking at and will let you all know if I am succesful in finding out.