Re: [APML] tips for AP equipment and airlines

["mstecker" <mstecker@dslextreme.com>]

Hello Mike:
     ZenAstro gives some good advice.  I made two trips some years ago to
Chile (LanChile) and Bolivia (American Airlines).  For my Astrophysics 900
mount I had a case made (similar to a Cabbage), by the same person who made
the case for the Losmandy G-11 mount.  Since the case was of similar
construction to the Losmandy case, you could probably use the latter on your
trip.  For my Astrophysics 155 mm refractor I used the same cardboard
package and Astrophysics hard case that was used for shipping.  I figured
since Roland Christen used this method for shipping it should be OK for my
trip and it was.  This will save you money and time.  I did not lock my
cases, because I wanted to make it easy for inspection.  If they want into
your case they will get in to it or ask you to open it.  Because of the
terrorist attacks the restrictions have probably got tighter since I took my
trip.  Therefore, it would be wise to contact the airline before the trip
and ask them if you will be able to take your equipment on the flight.

Michael Stecker
mstecker@dslextreme.com

My Web Site:
http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/index.html (INDEX)
http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/astrogallery.html (Astroimage Index)
http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/placesindex.html (Places Index)



----- Original Message -----
From: "ZenAstro" <zenastro@home.com>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [APML] tips for AP equipment and airlines


> Hi Mike,
>
> You definitely need the right cases to ship your precious equipment on an
> airline. Those old commercials about the gorillas handling the baggage
were
> only slightly exaggerated.
>
> You need something like an Anvil case, or a Cabbage case, something that
is
> really overbuilt, especially for something like optics or a
> mount.  ATA  (Airline Transport Approved) cases are what you need. They
are
> not technically "required", but are highly recommended.
>
> http://www.anvildealer.com/
>
> http://www.cabbagecases.com/
>
> The Cabbage cases are a bit more reasonably priced, and they will make
them
> custom to fit.
>
> You can probably ship a tripod in something like a padded tripod case, but
> I definitely would not ship anything like a mount or optics in anything
> less than a hard sided case with a lot of foam, that is specifically made
> for airline shipping.
>
> If the case is oversize or overweight, expect to pay some hefty overage
> charges to the airline, like $75 a bag.
>
> Check with the specific airline you are travelling on for the size and
> weight limits.
>
> You could also consider shipping your equipment ahead via something like
> UPS if it is properly packed, like maybe in the case it came in when it
was
> shipped from the manufacturer or dealer when you first purchased it.
>
> If anything, make sure you err on the side of caution.
>
> If all that is too much, because you will never get a custom case made in
> the time you have left before the trip, consider just making a barn door
> mount for some piggy back shots and take a camera tripod instead of your
> G-11. Or rent a mount at the astro place you are going to.
>
> With the recent terrorist activities, exactly how your baggage will be
> inspected is a crap shoot. I've heard stories from numerous pros who
travel
> regularly, and their experiences run the gamut from no inspections at all
> to body cavity searches.
>
> You have kind of a dilemma about deciding whether to lock the cases or
not.
> If they run them through the X-Ray machine in the back for the checked
> luggage, and they see something they don't like, they may use bolt cutters
> to open the lock on the case.   Of course, if you don't use any lock at
> all, then anyone can get in and rifle around. I'd recommend using the lock
> anyway.
>
> Do not ship any film in your checked luggage. The X-ray machines they use
> in the back for checked luggage will absolutely toast the film.  Hand
carry
> the film on the plane. Expect in a worse case that even if you ask for
hand
> inspection they will insist on you running it through the ray machine at
> the gate between the ticket counter and the gate.  In the US, this will
not
> hurt your film, so don't worry about it.
>
> You might want to get any film that you shoot processed before you come
> back, but you probably don't really have to worry about this either.
>
> Remember that under really dark western skies with low humidity and at
> altitude, you can probably expose a lot longer than you would think, and
> certainly longer than you can under light-polluted skies near Toledo.
>
> Enjoy those skies and good luck with the weather!
>
>
>
>
> At 11:34 PM 9/30/2001 -0400, you wrote:
> >Hi All,
> >This past weekend I found out my wife got us 3 nights under the dark skys
> >of New Mexico for our aniversery.
> >This will be my first venture farther west than Toledo Ohio. We leave in
> >less than 2 weeks. I haven't been on a plane in over 15 years let alone
> >thought about hauling my AP equipment with me.
> >I would like to take my G-11 and enough gear to do some piggyback work.
> >Any suggestions on what to expect at the airport or how I will need to
> >prepare my self and equipment for the trip.
> >Any advice, suggestions, experiences, or otherwise would be very helpful.
> >Look forward to hearing from you guys who have been through this.
> >TIA,
> >
> >Mike  Leitch
> ><mailto:galaxy@ncweb.com>galaxy@ncweb.com
> >http://www.ncweb.com/~galaxy/home/astropho.htm
>
>
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