Checking Firearms In Baggage With United Airlines

I checked a handgun on a trip recently and was initially confused because how little United explains the process of checking firearms on their website.  Since I didn't know exactly what would be required at the airport, I showed up over two hours before my flight.  My unloaded firearm was packed in a hard sided case and the case was locked (with a not TSA approved lock).  I was not traveling with ammunition.  At the airport counter, I checked in as normal and said I was checking a firearm.  I was given an orange United Firearm(s) Declaration tag to read and sign. It reads as follows:

McDonald Douglas Jets at LAS

United Firearm(s) Declaration Tag:

• I understand that the carriage of a loaded weapon is a violation of federal regulations and that United Airlines reserves the right to inspect my firearms prior to check in.
• I am completing one declaration tag for each container holding a firearm(s).
• I declare as required by Federal Air Regulation 108.11 that all firearm(s) in this bag/container are NOT loaded and my luggage contains no more than eleven pounds of ammunition.
• All ammunition I am carrying is in the original manufacture’s packaging or in a container designed for ammunition.
• I acknowledge that my Gun Case or Baggage may be subject to further inspection by the TSA.
• I release United Airlines from any liability which may result from the discharge of my declared firearm(s). The luggage containing the declared firearm(s) is locked and I alone am in possession of the key or combination.

CUSTOMER MUST PLACE TAG INSIDE CASE AND ASSURE THAT IT IS LOCKED.

Take Off in CLT

After reading and signing the form, the passenger needs to open the case and place the form inside (so don't zip tie or shrink wrap your case before arriving at the airport). Then the United agent tags the bag and calls one of the AirServe dolts with a cart to take the case to a TSA X-Ray machine.  The passenger needs to accompany the Airserve dolt with the keys should the TSA want to open it up.  The dolt pushed the cart very very slowly.  Once at the TSA X-Ray station, a TSA agent scans the bag, places a sticker on the bag clam tag and gives it back to the dolt to push to the United counter for the bag to be sent off with other checked bags.  The additional time was about 30 minutes, 15 if the dolt walked at a normal pace.  After that is over, the passenger can walk through security to their flight.

Fun Video From Lufthansa Cargo

I found this video by Lufthansa Cargo and really enjoyed the imagery; I hope you enjoy it too.

Lufthansa Cargo will take delivery of the first of five 777F this year and they have an engaging web page devoted to the aircraft.

EBACE13 Closing Thoughts

The EBACE13 conference is an amazing production.  Almost 700 exhibitors attended with displays ranging from small to gigantic. There seemed to be a large corporate entertainment aspect to the event, the show was much more than a venue for buyers and sellers to mingle. I frequently thought about how to calculate the ROI on an event like this, it seemed like a roll of the dice because in some cases one sale would make it all worth while. It was a very impressive event for a depressed industry, I can't wait to see what it will be like when economic conditions improve.

BBJ Display

Crowd for John Travolta at Bombardier

Embraer Business Jet Family

Eurocopter New Model

747-800 Model For Head of State Customers

Nicest CRJ's Ever

Bombardier's business jets have the same cabin width and height as the CRJ family they also produce.  The Challenger 850 is the same aircraft as a CRJ-200, just with a different interior (and the 850 is the long one).  Even though 50 seat jets are falling out of favor with airlines, these aircraft are growing in popularity as business jets. A used and perfectly functional CRJ-200 in desert storage can cost $2-4 million.  New owners just have to replace the interior and they have a large cabin business jet for about a tenth of the cost and three years sooner than a new Gulfstream G650 (more detail on CRJ-200 conversions).  So what can your CRJ-200 be like if it were set up for 10 to 14 people rather than 50?

Global 6000 Cabin

Rear of Global 6000 Cabin

Global 6000 - Full Shower

Bombardier Challenger 300 Cabin

Bombardier Challenger 605 Cabin

EBACE13 Static Display

United Next gen 737’s New Winglets

Not all the news from EBACE13 is specific to business aviation.  United Airlines will be installing additional winglets on their NextGen 737’s.  The additions will have at least a 2.5% improvement in fuel efficiency (some customers have reported a 9% savings).  This will be a winglet retrofit that will start in the near future, but no definite timeline is set.  Aviation Partners provides the technology and is the company behind most Boeing winglet retrofits in the skies.  The winglets look somewhat like the new 737MAX winglets, but are more curved than angular.

Aviation Partners Provided Rendering

20% Off the US Airways Store in May

Get 20% off purchases of non-clearance merchandise at the US Airways company store through May 31 with the coupon code SUMMER20.  Free shipping on orders over $75 too.

US Airways Jets at CLT

Gulfstream Sets 30 World Records in 2012

Gulfstream hosted a press conference today at EBACE13 to announce setting 30 new aviation records.  The G280 was the star of the year setting 22 world records including Honolulu to Savannah at an average speed of 569 mph.  The G650 had the fasted speed of 587 mph averaged from Washington to Geneva.  These records are for aircraft in their class, not outright, but it’s still exciting to have new aircraft pushing boundaries during a turbulent period for the industry.  Jonathan Gaffney, the president of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (discussed in my round the world musings), was on hand to present the awards.  

Award Presentation

Gulfstream G650 on Static Display

Gulfstream G650 Cabin with 28in Windows

Gulfstream Family on Display