Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 15:37:47 -0600
From: "Tim Czajka" <timczajka@hotmail.com>
Subject: LRO: Re: Air Travel
>Although
technically it's not good to have a wood instrument exposed
to temperature extremes. But the flight is only two hours and
the case reasonably well insulated. I assume the luggage
area of the plane is not climate controlled - not sure how
cold it gets up there it.
Actually, the luggage areas ARE climate controlled, at least
to a degree. Don't forget, they carry live animals in there.
People who think the lower holds in airplanes are not pressurized,
heated, etc. are not correct. The entire tube of the fuselage is
pressurized. The lower holds don't have the same number of
air outlets as the passenger cabin, but it isn't freezing cold,
and the pressure is the same as in the passenger cabin (otherwise
the can of shaving lotion in your suitcase would explode). The
wheel wells are not pressurized or heated, of course, and people
who stow away in them generally end up pretty dead. That, I suspect,
is one reason why so many people think the lower holds are unpressurized
and freezing, too.
Some airlines heat the forward compartment more than the rear compartment
or visa versa, and they have a policy of carrying live animals in the
more heated compartment. But items in the hold are generally not
submitted to severe climate conditions. In addition to animals, many
airlines carry perishable freight in the holds (flowers, fruit, etc.). So
I wouldn't worry too much about putting a wooden instrument in checked
baggage IF it's well packed in a strong case. Your biggest problem is
going to be the way the case is handled. The treatment checked baggage
gets can be extremely brutal.
_________________________________________
C. Marin Faure
Producer/Director, Boeing Video Services
telephone (425)393-7721
mobile (206)650-5622
fax: (425)393-7741
e-mail: marin.faure@boeing.com
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