Airlines and Instruments

[Rayzcane]

In a previous thread, Traktor mentioned that Ravi Shankar used to buy a ticket for his sitar. Well, it seems that this is no longer an option because of recent security restrictions when flying.
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Airline destroys $13,800 viola:

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=2b8d8168-3abe-4d7f-b076-875c835a032e&k=87115

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Why British cellists may no longer fly to New York:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0913/p01s03-woeu.html

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The woes of musicians traveling with instruments continues:...

Jazz trumpet player Valery Ponomarev ( http://www.valeryponomarev.com/
) had his arm broken by security people at Charles DeGaulle airport
because he argued with the gate people at an Air India flight to New
York when they demanded that he gate check his trumpet rather than
bring it onto the plane.

Valery whose 63 years old was furious when at the gate they tried to
take his trumpet (which already had been cleared to take on board)
away from him. They called security and four (as he so colorfully puts
it) "giant ******* cops" took him someplace where there were no
witnesses, tried to forcibly take his trumpet away and when he would
not let go of it with his right hand, pulled his left arm behind his
back and broke it.

The irony is of course that Valery grew up in Russia where playing
"jazz" was almost an act of open rebellion and as he sees it to see
the Western world now act this way is tragic.

Ray Langley

[jamsire]

Geez.:mad:

[rjgoos]

I've heard rumors that one can only take a guitar as a carry-on if all strings are removed, all cords and straps are in checked baggage, etc. Don't know if that is true or not.

When they started confiscating women's mascara because the 1/8 teaspoon of liquid contained therein might be used to make a liquid explosive.....there seems to be no end to the paranoia.

Yeah, it is tough for musicians to travel with instruments. Hey, perhaps there would be a market for an Indestructo-Tapper (tm), made out of metal, which would survive almost anything the airlines could dish out in checked baggage.


Jay

[jamsire]

like that graphite tapper i saw at namm this year?

it was posted here somewhere.

[Rayzcane]

Jay said:

"Indestructo-Tapper (tm), made out of metal"....

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Good idea! It would be even MORE perfect for us lapstyle players. We don't care how much it weighs.

Also, it would make a fine weapon/shield. I don't suppose anyone here has ever had an airborne beer bottle (or redneck) come whizzing by his/her ear?

I used to fly on Frontier Airlines frequently. Their loss limit on luggage damage was only $250. The least expensive touchstyle instrument is about a grand. The math is simple. A one-piece slab of metal works for me.

Ray

[rjgoos]

A Solene (aluminum) is almost indestructable, and not all that heavy. I think you'd have to drive on it to ruin it. Unfortunately, someone with a big metal pipe in his baggage might get an interview by the TSA.


Jay