Rigs on commercial planes

[ywoodya 0]

I am soon to be travelling on an airliner and want to take my rig with me.
I'm sure we all share the fear that gear can go missing and it is a preference to take the rig on the plane as carry-on luggage, or at least try to for that matter.
I want to know how you guys and girls transport your equipment in the cabin of the plane, I mean I have a few cabin type bags but my gear just won't fit inside, it's either too wide or too long.
I wouldn't think that it would be wise to just carry the rig on as is....am I right???
So all I'm asking for here is suggestions as to what I could put my rig in to carry on board the aircraft.
Fanks

[bbarnhouse 0]

*sigh* ywoodya.....there are going to be many different answers as this has been discussed several times. But here is my .02
I have traveled all over the US with my rig as checked baggage and haven't had an issue. I have had people come to visit me in Eloy that have put their rig in a back pack and carried it on with no problem. You just need to be polite when asked about your equipment going through security.
You do need to put it in something!! Once upon a time there was this guy named Gary Cooper...........
More info can be obtained atwww.uspa.org
Or you can call the carrier and ask.....no need to mention your name tho
Cheers!

[AndyMan 7]

go read this thread. We talked about this yesterday.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=193697

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[billvon 3,073]

Get a bag it fits in. Carry it on. Carry the cypres cars, and don't make a big stink - just explain that it's a parachute, it can't get wet etc. I sometimes add the following:

"I'm an instructor, and this is my livelihood - if you so much a spill something on it, I can't work, and it might even kill me."

"I can check it, but I'd need $5000 insurance on it." (works only when a counter person tells you to check it.)

"I can open both containers if you like, just get an FAA rigger who can legally open and reclose it. You must have one around here somewhere, right? This is an airport."

I've carried my on perhaps 20 times. Got seriously hassled only twice, and got let on both times after some explaining (and use of the above.)

[jose 0]

i've traveled a few times recently and have had a different experience every time. i now have bought a hardcase luggage and i check it every time. i protect everything in the hardcase and will even throw in clothes just to fill it so there is no room for your gear to float around. i paid 100 dollars for the hardcase and use it even when i'm not traveling.
only a couple of times have i gotten to carry it on board. the problem is if they pull you aside at the gate for a security check, they are going to want to check your rig. they can't do that for obvious reasons. they will then put it in a box and check it under the plane. not a good idea. it's won't be as protected as if you had packed it. I have got stopped at the front counter of the airport and had to box it up there. the fellow working said that if i got stopped at any security once i was checked in that they would take the rig and it wouldn't even make it on the plane. not a good chance to take.
lastly, i've been stopped at security going through the xrays. sometimes they didn't blink an eye. other times it took 30 minutes talking to many people convincing them that there were no cartridges involved in the AAD. it was a huge pain in the ass and i was told not to bring it onboard again.
I've even had one guy tell me the reason they don't like rigs on planes is because of that guy who robbed a plane and then jumped out. i thought that was humorous.
my suggestions is invest in the hardcase, you will be hassle free and your rig will be ok

[quade 4]

Quote

Once upon a time there was this guy named Gary Cooper...........

Aka D.B. Cooper.

Go HERE and scroll down a bit.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[christoofar 0]

I was worried about this same exact thing when going to the convention. I took my gear on as carry-on luggage.

No one in San Antonio even bothered to look inside my bag. Same scenario in St. Louis and Champaign.

Coming back, I was getting close to missing my flight so I put the rig on my back and I was running like mad to get in the airport, tossed the rent-a-car keys in the nite slot, and went up to the counter flushed, breathing heavy, and had a rig on my back and checked bags.

The counter lady looked up.

"Skydiver?"

I nodded.

Got my boarding pass and went upstairs to the gate. At the Xray machine I took out my rig. "You're one of those people from the convention, right?" I was asked. I said "yeah."

The Xray attendant motioned for her coworkers to come over, and then both security gaurds came by. I showed them the rig, what containers were which, the pilot chute and how it opens the main, etc.

I also showed them where the reserve data card is, and where the AAD is located (I didn't have one, so I drew one on a piece of scrach paper) and how it works. I also informed them that if they saw an AAD, and they probably would see lots of them since the convention was only 1/2 over so far, to remind the passenger carrying it to make sure that it's turned off.

Had no problems boarding the plane!

____________________________________________________________
I'm RICK JAMES! Fo shizzle.

[Jasmin 0]

I couldn't take it as carry-on in Europe, this was less than a month ago.
So I packed it in my suitcase and for the trip home bought it its own suitcase!
ENjoy the trip.

xj

"I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with the earth...but then I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with a car either, and that's having tried both."

[freakyrat 1]

Though you'll might like this

I just went through security at Houston, O'Hare, and Midway with my rig in a kitbag with no problerms. hassles. In case you folks don't know this the TSA who has already taken over security at some airports including OHare know what rigs look like through the x-ray machines. Things are already happening behind the scenes with the TSA to make our trips with our gear hassle free. The only thing we should do is either pack our gear in a hard shell suitcase and check it or if you desire to carry it on make sure it is in a non-descript kitbag and that it fits the airlines size requirements and all your tools and hooknifes are in your checked luggage. Airlines have not changed their policy on parachute,

American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, USair and even small carriers such as JetBlue allow rigs. Southwest was instrumental in working to get our Cypres AAD's approved by the DOT. The hassle a skydiver had with JetBlue at Palm Beach was ironed out later when the Safety Chief of Jetblue was put in contact with John Andrus, Safety Chief of Southwest and now they are on board with the Cypres approval etc. All it takes is communication and being polite with security. As far as the random gate inspection go's, just don't let them pull on any deployment handles and explain that the rig is packed in accordance with all FAA regulations. Show them your USPA cards, license's, ratings, logbooks and carry the letter from your airline that is posted on their website reference parachutes. Continental and Delta both have them under baggage rules and specifically sports equipment.

Travelling with a rig if you don't make it or yourself obvious is really not a a problem

Chris