Odds n Sods
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,841
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
My first Delsey hard sheel was brilliant, it had two wheels - as was standard before the 'spinner'. Later I replaced it with the same model that was lighter and an airport trashed it. Then I bought Samsonite hard shell. After a few years that suffered the same fate. So I went over to cheap and cheerful.
Last edited by PAXboy; 6th April 2026 at 20:10. Reason: typos
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,144
Likes: 741
From: UK
In television world, we used to use bespoke aluminium flight cases for equipment, but nowadays, we mostly use something called Peli-cases. These are very tough hard cases made from nylon, or ABS or similar plastic. They are not cheap, but I might invest in one as my suitcase one day.
But apart from broadcasting gear, I would never trust anything delicate to airport baggage handlers. Any case they handle might miss the conveyor belt when exiting the aircraft hold, and will drop about 8' onto concrete, (from an A320). I occasionally saw it happen during my walk-arounds and was once physically assaulted by a baggage handler when I stopped the belt and asked him what the hell he was doing after he had dropped about 4 cases in this way.
So, always pack assuming that your case might fall 8' onto concrete, or off the baggage truck.
But apart from broadcasting gear, I would never trust anything delicate to airport baggage handlers. Any case they handle might miss the conveyor belt when exiting the aircraft hold, and will drop about 8' onto concrete, (from an A320). I occasionally saw it happen during my walk-arounds and was once physically assaulted by a baggage handler when I stopped the belt and asked him what the hell he was doing after he had dropped about 4 cases in this way.
So, always pack assuming that your case might fall 8' onto concrete, or off the baggage truck.
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 312
From: UK and Italy
When I used to be the tame physicist accompanying bits of satellite from the US or Europe to Baikonur, as able to speak the language at both ends, there used to be endless discussions as to whether to encapsulate a printed circuit or not. Encapsulating adds grammes and the weight budget of a satellite is carefully calculated to the last gramme. Satellites are a whole new world of technology, with radiation-hardened components, thermal budgets worked out to the last Joule, and mechanical engineers putting in a lot of skull sweat into the lightest mechanical structure that will actually support the system.
The number of g's a payload can withstand and the g's the launcher is capable of are carefully matched. Ideally a launcher, for maximum efficiency, wants to accelerate as quickly as possible, this is only done with missiles. Launchers for commercial launches go up much slower to protect the payload, which before launch has been tested for acceleration, temperature and pressure.
Getting the bits of satellite from A to B is also taken into account. There's no risk of them being dropped 2.5m onto concrete by a clumsy baggage handler. Many satellites contain toxins (beryllium oxide), maybe radioactives, and sometimes explosive bolts. All of these have to be signed off by the captain. They are then loaded onto the cargo hold by the loadmaster, who treats the components as if they were the finest porcelain.
If even a single component is rated to only -30 C and at Baikonur it's -35, the launch is held. There's no point in launching a satellite that might fail.
The number of g's a payload can withstand and the g's the launcher is capable of are carefully matched. Ideally a launcher, for maximum efficiency, wants to accelerate as quickly as possible, this is only done with missiles. Launchers for commercial launches go up much slower to protect the payload, which before launch has been tested for acceleration, temperature and pressure.
Getting the bits of satellite from A to B is also taken into account. There's no risk of them being dropped 2.5m onto concrete by a clumsy baggage handler. Many satellites contain toxins (beryllium oxide), maybe radioactives, and sometimes explosive bolts. All of these have to be signed off by the captain. They are then loaded onto the cargo hold by the loadmaster, who treats the components as if they were the finest porcelain.
If even a single component is rated to only -30 C and at Baikonur it's -35, the launch is held. There's no point in launching a satellite that might fail.
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 312
From: UK and Italy
Satellites are about the most reliable bits of technology out there. Voyagers 1 and 2 have been up there since the late 70s. They've been subject to intense radiation, through several solar cycles, and are still mostly working. They have about the digital technology of a singing birthday card. They're well on their ways out of the solar system, working far beyond their design lifetimes.
AMSAT_OSCAR 7 (American Satellite Overhead Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) is not much younger. The batteries have failed, but you can still talk through the satellite when it's in sunlight. This was built not by governments with multi-million budgets, but by radio amateurs. It was put into orbit before people were concerned about space congestion, and its orbit won't decay for centuries.
An internet acquaintance of mine, who I've lost contact with, works for the European Space Agency Kourou, in French Guiana, about the best place on the planet for launching satellites. it's really close to the Equator. If it wasn't for political reasons (Cape Canaveral is on US soil) everything would be launched from there.
AMSAT_OSCAR 7 (American Satellite Overhead Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) is not much younger. The batteries have failed, but you can still talk through the satellite when it's in sunlight. This was built not by governments with multi-million budgets, but by radio amateurs. It was put into orbit before people were concerned about space congestion, and its orbit won't decay for centuries.
An internet acquaintance of mine, who I've lost contact with, works for the European Space Agency Kourou, in French Guiana, about the best place on the planet for launching satellites. it's really close to the Equator. If it wasn't for political reasons (Cape Canaveral is on US soil) everything would be launched from there.
Joined: May 2024
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 965
Likes: 1,018
From: Near SOU
Very nasty accident at MAN this morning. I sincerely hope that the victim recovers fully, it sounds like they have a long road ahead of them sadly.......must have been pretty horrific for the pax in the departure lounge to see it happen too.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...orror-33753324
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...orror-33753324
Joined: Oct 2018
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,217
Likes: 1,649
From: Ferrara
I know someone who fell out of a 737 dorway like that - they suffered some serious injuries but felt they could have died all things being equal - it's a long drop onto a very hard surface
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,841
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Hotels across America slash summer rates as World Cup demand falls short, report says
Experts have pointed to high ticket prices and simmering anti-American sentiment to explain the price drop
Graig Graziosi in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday 15 April 2026 19:44 BST
Experts have pointed to high ticket prices and simmering anti-American sentiment to explain the price drop
Graig Graziosi in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday 15 April 2026 19:44 BST
Joined: May 2024
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 965
Likes: 1,018
From: Near SOU
Airlines across Europe are demanding a level playing field (or should that be airfield) in regard to support during difficult periods as it means global competition is leaving them behind
More on this : Europe's airlines say wars, red tape are holding them back as rivals streak ahead (Reuters - May 20, 2026)
Europe's airlines are losing ground to global rivals and need stronger EU support to tackle rising regulatory costs, make sustainable jet fuel affordable and better !manage crises, a lobby group representing the continent's main carriers said.
The European Union has asked for feedback on a new Aviation and Aeronautics Strategy, with the deadline for submissions set for Thursday as the sector struggles with the knock-on effects of the Iran war.
"The COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of Russian airspace, the crisis in the Middle East, together with growing global protectionism have worsened the competitive disadvantage for EU carriers," Airlines for Europe (A4E) said in its submission to the EU seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
The European Union has asked for feedback on a new Aviation and Aeronautics Strategy, with the deadline for submissions set for Thursday as the sector struggles with the knock-on effects of the Iran war.
"The COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of Russian airspace, the crisis in the Middle East, together with growing global protectionism have worsened the competitive disadvantage for EU carriers," Airlines for Europe (A4E) said in its submission to the EU seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
Posts: 4,910
Likes: 184
From: Duit On Mon Dei
Before I left flying and Europe, the European mob controlling emissions were so frustrating. You couldn't tanker fuel between many city pairs in Europe thus hindering flexibility and fuel cost optimisation.
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 53
From: N . Daarset
ZFT , Chuckled at your straw hat story ...
Then rushed out to check my Panama hat .... 87% paper , 13% polyester [ Inside says Do NOT get wet ] ... It's done UK-NZ return 6 times now ...
Never crossed my mind it's a problem . Will have to wait 'til December to try again , bound to get caught as I'll be thinking of it !
Not as bad as our son . Deadheading back to NZ after a flying duty . Had apple in brief case to eat on the way .... fell asleep and forgot ! $400NZ on the spot , had to do some O/T to pay that one off .
rgds condor .
Then rushed out to check my Panama hat .... 87% paper , 13% polyester [ Inside says Do NOT get wet ] ... It's done UK-NZ return 6 times now ...
Never crossed my mind it's a problem . Will have to wait 'til December to try again , bound to get caught as I'll be thinking of it !
Not as bad as our son . Deadheading back to NZ after a flying duty . Had apple in brief case to eat on the way .... fell asleep and forgot ! $400NZ on the spot , had to do some O/T to pay that one off .
rgds condor .
Joined: May 2024
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 965
Likes: 1,018
From: Near SOU
Been reading the thread regarding the power bank diverting an easyJet flight recently (unable to comment on it directly so just wanted to add something that may have been missed from the thread)
The question of why the flight diverted at that specific time after it had been flying for some time already can be easily explained...from a pax point of view.
Families....everyone wants to help pack the bags before leaving to go home. Unlike packing before the holiday, it can get a bit messy when going home....things put in the wrong bags, things being left behind etc
Is it not possible that a family who took their power bank on holiday, placed it into their carry on bags on the outbound flight.....but in the melee of packing to go home it ended up in a checked bag and that mistake was not discovered til part way through the flight someone wanted something from the carry on bag and at that point realised that the power bank was not where it should be....with "where did you put the power bank" question to the rest of the family and a reply "I put it in the suitcase" from one member of the family who maybe did not realise the potential harm in doing that. The pax then alerts the cabin crew, who in turn alerts the flightcrew and they divert out of basic caution.
It is totally possible that in the rush to get the kids packed and everything else packed that a power bank would end up in the wrong bag........however......you do have to wonder why it was not picked up on the baggage scanners prior to being loaded, but that is a different thread altogether.
The question of why the flight diverted at that specific time after it had been flying for some time already can be easily explained...from a pax point of view.
Families....everyone wants to help pack the bags before leaving to go home. Unlike packing before the holiday, it can get a bit messy when going home....things put in the wrong bags, things being left behind etc
Is it not possible that a family who took their power bank on holiday, placed it into their carry on bags on the outbound flight.....but in the melee of packing to go home it ended up in a checked bag and that mistake was not discovered til part way through the flight someone wanted something from the carry on bag and at that point realised that the power bank was not where it should be....with "where did you put the power bank" question to the rest of the family and a reply "I put it in the suitcase" from one member of the family who maybe did not realise the potential harm in doing that. The pax then alerts the cabin crew, who in turn alerts the flightcrew and they divert out of basic caution.
It is totally possible that in the rush to get the kids packed and everything else packed that a power bank would end up in the wrong bag........however......you do have to wonder why it was not picked up on the baggage scanners prior to being loaded, but that is a different thread altogether.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 733
Likes: 2
From: Andalucia
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,841
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Playground no more: Thais sick of badly behaved tourists hail stricter visas
This article in The Guardian should not surprise. Thailand looks to be following Spain (possibly others) in not enjoying some British tourists. What is different here is the change to Visas. Obviously not always Brits.
Couple with travel costs, carriers may notice the change.
Government cites crime and drunken antics of foreigners as it shortens their stays – with ordinary Thais welcoming the crackdown
Couple with travel costs, carriers may notice the change.
N4790P
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 231
From: Asia
Playground no more: Thais sick of badly behaved tourists hail stricter visas
This article in The Guardian should not surprise. Thailand looks to be following Spain (possibly others) in not enjoying some British tourists. What is different here is the change to Visas. Obviously not always Brits.
Couple with travel costs, carriers may notice the change.
This article in The Guardian should not surprise. Thailand looks to be following Spain (possibly others) in not enjoying some British tourists. What is different here is the change to Visas. Obviously not always Brits.
Couple with travel costs, carriers may notice the change.
Joined: Dec 2015
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 871
Likes: 673
From: Budapest
I believe this issue was raised with you before.
Nationals who have enjoyed the 60-day exemption include those from Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain and the US. But a number of foreign nationals have been arrested for a range of crimes in recent months, including UK citizens accused of drug smuggling.
