II. Firearms Laws

E. Firearms and Air Travel

2. Actual Regulation Text

FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) chapter 108.

[ Certificate holder means the airline (they are issued a "cerificate" to
operate as a US based airline - - after the requisite number of hoops
and jumps :). ]

  Sec. 108.11   Carriage of weapons.

 (a) No certificate holder required to conduct screening under a security
program may permit any person to have, nor may any person have, on or about
his or her person or property, a deadly or dangerous weapon, either concealed
or unconcealed, accessible to him or her while aboard an airplane for which
screening is required unless:
  [...]   

 (b) No person may, while on board an airplane operated by a certificate
holder for which screening is not conducted, carry on or about that person a
deadly or dangerous weapon, either concealed or unconcealed. This paragraph
does not apply to:
  [...]   

 (c) No certificate holder may knowingly permit any person to transport, nor
may any person transport or tender for transport, any explosive, incendiary
or a loaded firearm in checked baggage aboard an airplane. For the purpose of
this section, a loaded firearm means a firearm which has a live round of
ammunition, cartridge, detonator, or powder in the chamber or in a clip,
magazine, or cylinder inserted in it.

 (d) No certificate holder may knowingly permit any person to transport, nor
may any person transport or tender for transport, any unloaded firearm in
checked baggage aboard an airplane unless--
  (1) The passenger declares to the certificate holder, either orally or in
  writing before checking the baggage, that any firearm carried in the baggage
  is unloaded;
  (2) The firearm is carried in a container the certificate holder considers
  appropriate for air transportation;
  (3) When the firearm is other than a shotgun, rifle, or other firearm
  normally fired from the shoulder position, the baggage in which it is
  carried is locked, and only the passenger checking the baggage retains the
  key or combination; and
  (4) The baggage containing the firearm is carried in an area, other than
  the flightcrew compartment, that is inaccessible to passengers.

(e) [deleted - serving booze to armed passengers]

(f) [deleted - special rules for certificate holders when operating as a
military charter aircraft and ONLY (except for crew) military personnel are
carried.]

 ** END 108.11 **