Baggage & Restricted Items
Private charter travel offers flexibility, but it does not remove aircraft weight, space, fire-safety, dangerous-goods, customs, or destination restrictions. Tell us exactly what you plan to bring before the day of departure so the aircraft and loading plan can be evaluated correctly.
Available baggage capacity changes with the aircraft, passenger count, fuel, route, weather, runway, cargo, and balance requirements. Written approval for one trip does not automatically apply to another.
Soft-sided, accurately described baggage is easiest to plan
Small charter aircraft have defined loading areas, door openings, compartment shapes, payload limits, and center-of-gravity requirements. A bag may be within a normal airline weight yet still be difficult to load because of its shape, rigidity, or combined mission weight.
Provide baggage details when requesting the charter—not after the aircraft has been assigned. Soft-sided luggage is often easier to position than rigid oversized cases, but acceptance remains subject to the actual mission.
Approximate weight
Length × width × height
Rigid or soft-sided construction
Battery, fuel, pressure, chemical, medical, or temperature-control contents
Every item must satisfy the complete mission
Physical fit is only one part of acceptance. The item must also be legal, properly prepared, compatible with the aircraft, and safe for air transportation.
Weight and balance
The combined weight of passengers, baggage, cargo, fuel, and equipment must remain within approved aircraft limits and permit a safe loading configuration.
Size and loading access
Rigid cases, coolers, wheelchairs, fishing gear, dive equipment, musical instruments, and tools must fit through the actual aircraft opening and into an approved stowage position.
Dangerous-goods compliance
Batteries, aerosols, gases, flammable liquids, chemicals, dry ice, medical equipment, and heat-producing devices are governed by specific aviation-safety rules and operator procedures.
Customs and destination law
Items accepted for flight may still require permits, declarations, duties, inspections, or destination authorization. The traveler remains responsible for lawful import and export.
Keep spare lithium batteries accessible in the cabin
FAA guidance requires spare lithium batteries, power banks, and battery-charging cases to remain with the passenger in accessible cabin baggage—not in a checked or inaccessible baggage compartment. Terminals must be protected from short circuit, and damaged, swollen, defective, or recalled batteries must not be carried.
Devices containing installed batteries should be protected from damage and accidental activation. Tell Tropic Air Charters about large professional batteries, battery-powered tools, mobility devices, smart luggage, portable power stations, or equipment whose battery rating is unclear.
Know the watt-hour rating before arrival
Most ordinary personal-electronic batteries are at or below 100 watt-hours. Larger batteries require advance operator review, and batteries above passenger-aircraft limits may not be accepted.
- Power banks and spare batteriesCabin only, individually protected, and kept away from loose metal objects.
- Laptops, cameras, and phonesPreferably accessible in the cabin; if stowed elsewhere, completely power off and protect against damage and activation.
- Smart luggageThe battery may need to be removable and carried under the rules for spare batteries.
- Vapes and e-cigarettesCabin only, protected from accidental activation, and never used or charged aboard the aircraft.
Tell us about special items before the flight
These categories are not automatically prohibited, but they require enough information for the operator to determine whether and how they may be transported.
Devices, wheelchairs, and oxygen needs
Disclose wheelchairs, scooters, batteries, insulin coolers, CPAP equipment, portable oxygen concentrators, medication requiring temperature control, and any device that must remain powered during flight.
- Provide the manufacturer, model, dimensions, weight, and battery type.
- Bring sufficient approved spare batteries for the planned journey.
- Personal compressed or liquid oxygen cylinders are not passenger baggage; oxygen arrangements must be reviewed directly with the operator.
Fishing, diving, golf, and outdoor equipment
Fishing rods, golf bags, diving equipment, spear-fishing equipment, coolers, tools, camping equipment, and inflatable-safety devices can contain restricted components or exceed aircraft loading dimensions.
- Scuba cylinders generally must be empty and prepared for inspection.
- Fuel containers and equipment with fuel residue or vapors may be refused.
- Flares, fireworks, gunpowder, and many pressurized cartridges are prohibited or tightly restricted.
Coolers, dry ice, provisions, and commercial goods
Personal food, yacht provisions, seafood, frozen goods, plants, agricultural products, and commercial merchandise may be regulated separately from ordinary baggage.
- Dry ice requires operator approval, vented packaging, quantity control, and proper marking.
- FAA’s passenger exception is generally limited to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) per package and passenger.
- Bahamas and U.S. Customs or agriculture rules may require declarations, permits, or refusal of entry.
International firearm travel requires far more than a locked case
Do not arrive at the hangar with a firearm or ammunition that was not fully disclosed and approved in writing. Packaging standards are only one component. The traveler must also satisfy U.S. export controls, CBP procedures, operator policy, Bahamas import authorization, local possession law, and any return requirements.
TSA guidance for domestic checked baggage—unloaded firearm, locked hard-sided case, declaration, and properly packaged ammunition—does not by itself authorize international export or entry into The Bahamas.
- Obtain all required U.S. export authorization or valid exception before departure.
- Complete any required CBP inspection, declaration, registration, or documentation.
- Obtain special authorization required by the Commissioner of Police or other Bahamas authority.
- Confirm Tropic Air Charters’ written acceptance, packaging, quantity, and handling instructions.
- Never carry a firearm, ammunition, replica, flare gun, or weapon into the cabin unless expressly lawful and authorized.
Complete the baggage review
A short conversation in advance can prevent a denied item, loading delay, aircraft change, additional cost, or cancelled departure.
- Count every bag and special item.Include purses, backpacks, coolers, equipment cases, strollers, car seats, and loose articles.
- Measure and weigh unusual pieces.Do not estimate a rigid case, wheelchair, cooler, golf bag, instrument, or commercial package from memory.
- Identify all batteries.Provide watt-hour ratings for larger batteries and separate spare batteries or power banks for cabin carriage.
- Remove prohibited fire hazards.Check for fuel, lighters, torches, fireworks, flares, gas cartridges, damaged batteries, and heat-producing devices.
- Disclose medical and mobility equipment.Provide device and battery details early enough for aircraft and handling review.
- Confirm permits and declarations.Review customs, agriculture, firearms, animal, commercial-goods, and destination requirements.
- Use secure, labeled packaging.Protect fragile items, prevent leakage and activation, and keep regulated contents in original or clearly identified packaging.
- Follow the final loading instruction.The pilot and operator may relocate, limit, or refuse an item after physical inspection.
Verify regulated items at the source
Government requirements can change. Use these official resources and obtain trip-specific confirmation before packing a restricted item.
PackSafe for Passengers
Current FAA guidance for batteries, aerosols, dry ice, medical items, compressed gases, tools, equipment, and other dangerous goods in passenger baggage.
Open FAA PackSafeWhat Can I Bring?
Security-screening guidance that may apply when connecting through a commercial passenger terminal. TSA rules are separate from FAA dangerous-goods rules.
Search TSA ItemsProhibited and Restricted Imports
Bahamas government information concerning restricted goods, including firearms and fireworks requiring special authorization.
Review Bahamas RestrictionsInternational Firearm Export Guidance
Current CBP information about temporary firearm and ammunition export requirements, documentation, inspection, and return to the United States.
Review CBP GuidanceBaggage and restricted-item FAQs
These answers provide general planning guidance. Written trip-specific acceptance and current crew instructions control the actual flight.
How much baggage may I bring?
There is no single allowance that applies to every charter. Capacity depends on the aircraft, passenger count, route, fuel, weather, runway, cargo, and the dimensions of each item. Submit the complete baggage list before confirmation.
Are soft-sided bags required?
Not always, but soft-sided luggage is often easier to position in smaller aircraft compartments. Rigid or oversized cases must be measured and approved because physical loading dimensions can be as important as weight.
May I put a power bank in checked baggage?
No. FAA guidance requires power banks and spare lithium batteries to remain accessible with the passenger in the cabin. Protect the terminals and do not carry damaged, swollen, defective, or recalled batteries.
Can I bring a cooler with dry ice?
Only with advance operator approval and compliant preparation. FAA’s passenger exception generally permits up to 5.5 pounds or 2.5 kilograms per package and passenger, with vented packaging and required marking. Tropic Air may impose stricter limits.
Can I travel with a firearm to The Bahamas?
Only after satisfying all U.S. export, CBP, operator, Bahamas import, possession, packaging, and documentation requirements. Do not bring a firearm or ammunition to the hangar without prior written approval and confirmed government authorization.
Can I bring my own oxygen cylinder?
Personal compressed or liquid oxygen is not permitted as ordinary passenger baggage. Contact Tropic Air Charters in advance regarding an accepted portable oxygen concentrator or any operator-provided oxygen arrangement.
Do TSA liquid limits apply at the private hangar?
TSA checkpoint rules and FAA dangerous-goods rules are separate. A private-charter departure may not use the same passenger checkpoint process as a commercial terminal, but FAA safety rules, operator restrictions, customs law, and any connecting-airline requirements still apply.
What happens if an item was not disclosed?
The item may be delayed, repackaged, removed, refused, or require a different aircraft or mission plan. Concealing or inaccurately describing dangerous goods can create serious safety and enforcement consequences.
This page is a general planning guide and does not classify every item, create a guaranteed baggage allowance, authorize carriage, or replace aviation regulations, customs requirements, manufacturer instructions, medical advice, export controls, import permits, or written operator approval. Tropic Air Charters and the operating crew retain final authority over baggage and item acceptance, packaging, location, quantity, loading, and removal. Travelers are responsible for accurate disclosure and for complying with all laws applicable to possession, export, import, transit, and use.
Tell us what you are bringing before we plan the aircraft
Include every passenger, bag, cooler, case, battery, medical device, pet, sporting item, and commercial package in the charter request. Accurate information allows Tropic Air Charters to evaluate the correct aircraft and mission.