The luggage compartment may be pressurized, and probably the same as "cabin pressure." But it's important to realize that a flight leaving an airport at near sea level (Seattle, NYC, Miami, LA, etc.) will still undergo considerable pressure differences. Prior to takeoff, cabin pressure altitude will decrease, which is to say actual air pressure in the cabin will be higher than it is right outside on the tarmac. During climb-out and cruise, cabin pressure altitude increases, meaning that the volume of air in the cabin (and luggage compartment) decreases, up to the point that when you're cruising at 10,000 meters cabin pressure will be equivalent to around 2,200 - 2,400 meters. At this pressure altitude, you don't need oxygen, even for extended flight times, but the pressure differential between inside and outside is less than if it were pressurized to sea level, which would fatigue the airframe more rapidly. I think just about everyone notices the pressure differences from sea level to cruising altitude in their ears, but some people even notice the slight pressurization prior to departure. I can feel the difference just driving up the hill from the river to my house. Point of all this being... if your toothpaste or hand lotion has ever flowed out, or if the Titebond bottle looks puffed out after a trip from Seattle to Denver, realize that it's doing that down there in the cargo hold, too. It is a very good idea to bag everything in a bag that won't be dissolved if your bottle contents (e.g. CA glue) leaks out. I've also observed that flights from higher elevation fields, like Denver, pressurize somewhat less, at least in the first portion of the flight... i.e. en route cabin pressure altitude may be more like 2,500 or 2,600 meters. The good news is that of course they always equalize to outside pressure prior to opening the doors. Paul Bruesch Stillwater, MN On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 8:31 PM, David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>wrote: > Airplane luggage compartments are pressurized. > > > > You will definitely need to check your tools below if you take them with > you and you will need to keep the tool case unlocked. Last time I traveled > I actually sent my tools ahead via Federal Express and when I returned home > I sent them home that way as well. You need to scope out a Fed Ex office or > be willing to send them from the airport—which can be done in some cases. I > think that’s safer than checking them aboard the airplane. Travel light, > don’t pack everything , have a separate itemized inventory and make sure the > shipment is insured. Airlines will not provide adequate insurance should > the case be lost or damaged. > > > > David Love > > www.davidlovepianos.com > > > > > > > > > > *From:* pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On > Behalf Of *John Ross > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 10, 2009 2:09 PM > *To:* pianotech at ptg.org > *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] traveling > > > > *If you have liquids in your check on luggage, put them in Ziploc bags, as > sometimes the cargo compartment, isn't as pressure proof, as it should be. > * > > *On an overseas flight, I ended up with shampoo over other stuff. Yes the > lid had been secure.* > > *The pressure thing, was just what I assumed had happened.* > > *John Ross* > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090310/b9da082d/attachment-0001.html>
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