Flying with Steadicam (Air Travel)

[Bryan Fowler]

We have a 9 leg trip all across the US that starts on the 11th.

 

The only way we can really do it is to fly with the rig. We think we can pack it down so that it's in 2 cases, and a battery case.

 

I'm wondering if there are any tips or hints that people have with air travel?

Are Hytron 120s allowed for air travel? I heard batts over 100WattHours were not allowed on a plane? Sounds funny, but you never know these days.

 

I know shipping it is the preferred option, but the client can't afford it.

 

Thanks for the help

Bryan

[jay kilroy]

Bryan,

 

Take pictures of the rig put together and pack them in with your gear to help explain what it is. I haven't heard anything about the battery issue, but like you said, "these days.." Give yourself a ton of time. There will be plenty of questions and a lot of wiping down your equipment with those residue cloths by security.

 

jay

[Mitch Gross]

The battery issue is with LiIon technology, not NiMh. That's Dionic not Hytron in Anton Bauer. Your Hytrons are fine.

[pauldudeck]

"I'm wondering if there are any tips or hints that people have with air travel?

Are Hytron 120s allowed for air travel? I heard batts over 100WattHours were not allowed on a plane? Sounds funny, but you never know these days."

 

 

Bryan,

 

The HyTRON 120 batteries are fine to travel with. Only li ion batteries that are over 95 wh need to be classified as CLASS 9 Hazardous when shipping or checking as cargo on a plane.

 

To be safe, carry the owners manual for the battery with you. This will help explain that the battery is non-hazardous and is NiMH chemistry. If you would like, contact our Customer Support Dept at (800)422-3474 and they can also fax you over a copy of the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for NiMH cells, in case you would ever need it. Or, send me an email at pdudeck@antonbauer.com and I can email you the MSDS.

 

Happy travels.

 

Paul

[GEORGEBIANCHINI]

Hello,

Been traveling for some time now with the gear. I have had every conceivable disaster happen to me and feel I finally have some insight:

 

1) absolutely follow the advice previous and take pictures of the gear in its cases,how it should be put away, and the gear all set up...this will give TSA an idea of what they are looking at. Put into plastic sleeves and tape them to the inside of the lids of the cases w/explanations.Also keep a copy with you on your person.

2) Make the cases as heavy as possible. I travel with 3 cases. I used to travel with 4. things were kind of light and spread out...until I looked out the window of the plane at the gate and saw the baggage personnel throw the cases. Making everything as heavy as possible ensures that it cannnnot be thrown. Pay the excess charges(production usually pays) its worth it. All my case are in the 70lbs range.

3) Travel with a fully detailed inventory w/serial numbers. several copies w/ gear and on your person. If disaster strikes and things go missing your organized and prepared.

4) I learned to design cases with the beefiest "twist style" latching devices. Dont lock anything. I have discovered case lock downs "sheared off" while in transit and your case comes out open and compromised. Talk to Janet devita at A&J cases she can help you with that.

5) This is obvious. Make certain all cases are labeled clearly with your name, address and telephone number..

 

Hope this helps!

GEORGE

[bobgilles]

Travel with zip ties in your carry on bag so you can replace them when the TSA cuts them, the TSA will often put there own labeled zip ties on them to keep baggage handlers from unauthorized entering. If you travel overseas, you would be shocked at the number of handlers that will open equipment cases out of criminal curiosity. I now have yellow rotomolded cases with big numbers on them, the latches on my ATA cases failed, so I went with the military cases at half the cost which are twice as tough.

[Janice Arthur]

Travel with zip ties in your carry on bag so you can replace them when the TSA cuts them, the TSA will often put there own labeled zip ties on them to keep baggage handlers from unauthorized entering.  If you travel overseas, you would be shocked at the number of handlers that will open equipment cases out of criminal curiosity.  I now have yellow rotomolded cases with big numbers on them, the latches on my ATA cases failed, so I went with the military cases at half the cost which are twice as tough.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Hi all;

 

There are now have TSA approved locks that the screeners have a key to. The combination locks can be opened by you and them only.

 

Pelican sells some, I'm sure you can find them elsewhere. www.pelican.com

 

Janice

[Bryan Fowler]

We are into day 4, flight 5, and no problems with security.

 

I put some photos of me in there, and told the TSA agents what it is (written on the photos / paper) and all seems to be going well...most didn't even open it...at least in my presence.

 

 

Only problem now...all of our luggage is missing.

 

A tip, if you have a layover in Philadelphia, make sure it's more than a 2 hour layover. we were 1 hour late, barely made our connecting flight, only to sit on the tarmac for another 1.5 hours.. sheesh..

 

I'll let others know the peril of flying as this trip proceeds.

 

Bryan