---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 1540.111"
title: "49"
number: "1540.111"
heading: "Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/1540.111"
---

# §1540.111. Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals.

- (a) **On an individual's person or accessible property—prohibitions.** Except as provided in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, an individual may not have a weapon, explosive, or incendiary, on or about the individual's person or accessible property—
  - (1) When performance has begun of the inspection of the individual's person or accessible property before entering a sterile area, or before boarding an aircraft for which screening is conducted under this subchapter;
  - (2) When the individual is entering or in a sterile area; or
  - (3) When the individual is attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted under §§ [1544.201](/cfr/49/1544.201.md), [1546.201](/cfr/49/1546.201.md), or [1562.23](/cfr/49/1562.23.md) of this chapter.
- (b) **On an individual's person or accessible property—permitted carriage of a weapon.** [Paragraph (a)](#a) of this section does not apply as to carriage of firearms and other weapons if the individual is one of the following:
  - (1) Law enforcement personnel required to carry a firearm or other weapons while in the performance of law enforcement duty at the airport.
  - (2) An individual authorized to carry a weapon in accordance with §§ [1544.219](/cfr/49/1544.219.md), [1544.221](/cfr/49/1544.221.md), [1544.223](/cfr/49/1544.223.md), [1546.211](/cfr/49/1546.211.md), or [subpart B of part 1562](/cfr/49/part1562-subpartB.md) of this chapter.
  - (3) **An individual authorized to carry a weapon in a sterile area under a security program.**
- (c) **In checked baggage.** A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under [§ 1562.23](/cfr/49/1562.23.md) of this chapter:
  - (1) **Any loaded firearm(s).**
  - (2) **Any unloaded firearm(s) unless—**
    - (i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;
    - (ii) The firearm is unloaded;
    - (iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and
    - (iv) **The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.**
  - (3) **Any unauthorized explosive or incendiary.**
- (d) **Ammunition.** This section does not prohibit the carriage of ammunition in checked baggage or in the same container as a firearm. [Title 49 CFR](/cfr/49.md) [part 175](/cfr/49/part175.md) provides additional requirements governing carriage of ammunition on aircraft.

## Notes

### Amendments

[67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 41639, June 19, 2002; 70 FR 41600, July 19, 2005; 71 FR 30507, May 26, 2006]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 114, 5103, 40113, 44901-44907, 44913-44914, 44916-44918, 44925, 44935-44936, 44942, 46105.

### Source

Source: 67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 41639, June 19, 2002; 70 FR 41600, July 19, 2005; 71 FR 30507, May 26, 2006]