the skinny on taking your rig on a flight

[Kelly 0]

I made a few phone calls to some of the major airlines, asking about international flights and their policies about taking my rig on board with me. Here is what I found out:
United Airlines- allows rigs, and YES this has been updated policy since the NYC attack.
American Airlines- the guy that I spoke to was iffy on the whole 'parachute on board' situation. I wouldnt risk flying this one.
American West- No problems with bringing your rig on board. Just as long as their are no explosives in it (DUH!). They might ask you to unpack it (no problem with the main, but i explained the reserve parachutes packing requirements to her)
Delta Air Lines- Very difficult. I received little help from them. I wouldnt risk this airline either.
Northwest Airllines- Another iffy one. I wouldnt try this one either.
US Air- straight out told me NO WAY! not that thats their policy, but its the security dept's policy. (WTF?!? all over the place)
Of all the airlines that i spoke to, with the exception of US AIR, they said that it would depend on the security personelle at the various airports. They advised me that it would be a good idea to get all the necessary paperwork, plus whatever else i could get, and bring it with me.
When i travel i will be bringing an article that i printed out from dropzone.com about "CYPRES ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE NON-DANGEROUS BY US D.O.T" I will also be bringing along my receipt, my log book, any papers that i recieve with the rig, and maybe a parachuting book or two.
I will be trying to call ahead a few days and see if the pilots for my flight are pre-determined. I want to do this so i can try to find out ahead of time what the pilots will allow or wont allow because ultimately its the pilots choice.
Remember, security is tighter. its best to call ahead and ask them to varify in writing that you have previously inquired about this. Maybe send an email and ask for them to reply in writing. When you call, get the name of the person you spoke to, the time, the day... all the info you can.
Safe travels! Get those rigs on board with ya!
kel

[RemiAndKaren 0]

Thx Kel,
really usefull stuff... but really, you need to stop speading fatcs around like this... spreadind un-informed rumors is much more fun....
as far as the cypres goes, what you should bring is rather the US DOT letter (I think there is a scan of that on the Aitec website at http://www.pia.com/SSK/cypres/dot_pr_082500.pdf)
Remi
Muff 914

[wildblue 7]

Umm... actually, haven't they banned all carry on items? Did they life that already? I thought all you could have on board now is a wallet (you could probably hide a knife in there too if you really wanted)
I'd have those people fax you something offical saying it's ok.
Then, I saw these two guys swoopin across the pond, and I was like 'weeeeeee!!!!'

[freeflir29 0]

Thats what I was hearing lately. No carry ons.
"This conversation ends right here Captain! You can talk to the ALO when he gets back."-Me
Clay

[weid14 0]

Please remember a couple of things -- Airport security checkpoints are the main determiner of what you can carry on, but the PILOT in charge of the aircraft has final say. As far as I know there have not been any changes in the CYPRES policy when going through the checkpoint. You can get through the checkpoint, and the pilot can make you gate check you carry-on. No carry on policy was a rumor, but it could be searched. The Pilots for a certain flight are only known in sone instances the day prior to a flight, with all the schedule changes it will be even more random. Flight crews can be from any area of the country, and the airline will not tell you the flight crew names anyway (and if you asked, right now, I would imagine a visit from Law Enforcement personnel would be wondering why you wanted to know). I have flown over 40 flight segments with USAirways this summer, about half with my rig, no problems, make sure it's in a gear bag. I really wouldn't expect that to change. It is not a bad idea to bring all the info. If confronted and you really feel the need to carry on, do not get irrate or unreasonable, explain why you feel the need to carry on, if the answer is still no, either check it or find another flight.
In short - talking to the airlines really doesn't matter as it is ultimately the security at each airline who lets you through and in my experience it is highly variable from airport to airport.

[mattb 0]

Since I've flown a couple times this week I'll offer my best guess -
It's all up to security, the airline policy does not matter. If United says its ok that doesn't mean security has to listen to that. Knowing who you talked to / having it in writing won't matter.
Security varies - in Chicago I could not carry on a toiletry kit and was told so before going through. In Houston I could carry on a toiletry kit. I would ask before going through as the new policy is if they don't like it - they keep it and give it to the police for destruction. The attitude at airports right now leaves no room for discussion on "what is a cypres", etc.
My suggestion is that should be prepared to check the rig and buy the added insurance for lost luggage.
-mb

[dove 0]

Last night I took my rig to BWI (Baltimore Washington International - yes near D.C.) to see if I could get my rig through security. I wasn't flying last night but I will be next week and want to take my rig with me. I asked one moron "security guard" (basically a dolt with a blue jacket and a bowtie) and they said "No way. You can't take no parachute on no plane!" And I asked if that was a new policy and if I could see where it was excluded on their paperwork. They said you never could take a parachute on a plane - that it was common sense. I explained that I had been doing it for a year and that all skydivers carried their rigs. Since this person could barely speak English, I asked a supervisor/marshall. He put my rig on the xray and said no problem. Didn't even ask about my cypres so I didnt' even show him the card! SO ask for a supervisor or try someone else. I still have a backup plan for next week in case I can't get it on. And BTW, I called US Airlines and they said no problem at all. SO it all depends on who you get! Cheers!
dove
P.S. The dove will fly again this weekend! yeeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been a month!

[Aviatrr 0]

Quote

I will be trying to call ahead a few days and see if the pilots for my flight are pre-determined. I want to do this so i can try to find out ahead of time what the pilots will allow or wont allow because ultimately its the pilots choice.

DO NOT do this! First of all, they WILL NOT tell you who the crew is.. Period.. Second, everything in aviation is subject to change by the minute.. The crew they have scheduled now may not be the crew that flies it tomorrow.. Third, they will not give you any way to contact the crew even if you knew who it was.. Fourth, this would likely be flagged as suspicious behavior - and you don't want that..
The airline policy is not a problem - the security checkpoint at the airport is.. Put your rig in a gear bag, get through security, and keep your mouth shut.. Don't tell anybody it's a parachute unless they ask at security.. If explaining the CYPRES, do not use the words explosive charge, pyrotechnic, etc... If they ask you how it works - tell them a computer senses your speed/altitude, and if it senses you are too low - too fast, it releases the spring loaded reserve pilot chute.. They don't need any more explanation.. I can guarantee - if you mention the words explosive charge or pyrotechnic, you will instantly become a high risk, and will be investigated or possibly not allowed through at all..
Mike

[mountainman 0]

Thanks for the info Mike. This is what we need - more pilots giving their adivce on what to say. --------------
Richmond Boogie pics...

[skymedic 0]

Quote

P.S. The dove will fly again this weekend! yeeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been a month!

Good for you girl....
Marc
Because I fly, I envy no man on earth

[freeflir29 0]

Hell...I wouldn't even mention "Spring loaded P/C" Just tell em it automatically opens the chute if you are too low. KISS! I used to tell the security folks that a military targeting laser was pretty much just like the one you can buy at Wal-Mart for office use. I even learned to it with a straight face....LOL
"This conversation ends right here Captain! You can talk to the ALO when he gets back."-Me
Clay