Getting Tools to Atlanta

[Protronie]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

The West Coast teams don't have a realistic option for driving tools/materials to Atlanta. We pack suitcases, plastic bins, and boxes with a mix of tools, and soft packing materials for the flight. Each team member is allowed a personal luggage piece, a carry-on and one piece for the team. The 50 lb weight limitation and fairly steep fee ($50) for exceeding 50 lb requires us to weigh each piece and balance the materials among the pieces of checked baggage available. It's not easy or fun, but you can get a lot of tools, parts and materials to Atlanta this way.

Of course, now we won't have to worry about taking a bandsaw or drill press. Silver lining???

I'm going out on a limb here and assume your flying...
How big of a hassle is getting the tools thru airport security these days?
Wouldn't it be easier to have your tools Fed Ex'ed to your motel?
Any airport hassle stories?

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by Protronie

I'm going out on a limb here and assume your flying...
How big of a hassle is getting the tools thru airport security these days?
Wouldn't it be easier to have your tools Fed Ex'ed to your motel?
Any airport hassle stories?

Yep, we fly to/from ATL. We arrive two hours before departure. We stay together as a group as TSA x-rays, opens, waves magic wands, etc. We then reseal the packages (no duct tape, but packing tape, zip-ties, etc.). We actually ship hand carts so we can manage the equipment at both airports. I think the baggade handlers enjoy seeing how high the carts bounce when dropped 10 ft. (We've had the bearings broken in wheels, frame bent, etc., all considered normal wear and tear).

Did I ever mention that the Championship should move out west for a couple of years? Jet lag, ticketing lines and cunfosion, waiting for luggage, explaining RC controllers to TSA, should be experienced by the whole FIRST community.

Oh, yeah. Next year there's a Hawaii regional. If your going, have a nice flight!!

[IndySam]

Call your airline and find out their policies. You should be able to check all of your tools but they will not allow any chemicals. If you arrange it before hand and get to baggage check early you shouldn't have a problem.

Just remember to not make anyone box too heavy. Baggage that is too heavy has a tendency to get lost.

[Courtneyb1023]

Ususally 1/2 the team wants to drive and the other 1/2 wants to fly. This works out nicely because if we have 6 car loads of people going down there anyway, it usually isn't that hard to bring a box of buttons or whatnot along. Of course the drive is only about 11 hours for my team, this option may not work for others.

[Freddy Schurr]

I would suggest that you talk to local teams that are attending the Championship. We had this problem last year and we had some local teams willing to help us bring our tools to the event.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

Yep, we fly to/from ATL. We arrive two hours before departure. We stay together as a group as TSA x-rays, opens, waves magic wands, etc. We then reseal the packages (no duct tape, but packing tape, zip-ties, etc.). We actually ship hand carts so we can manage the equipment at both airports. I think the baggade handlers enjoy seeing how high the carts bounce when dropped 10 ft. (We've had the bearings broken in wheels, frame bent, etc., all considered normal wear and tear).

Did I ever mention that the Championship should move out west for a couple of years? Jet lag, ticketing lines and cunfosion, waiting for luggage, explaining RC controllers to TSA, should be experienced by the whole FIRST community.

Oh, yeah. Next year there's a Hawaii regional. If your going, have a nice flight!!

Truer words were never spoken.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Protronie

How big of a hassle is getting the tools thru airport security these days?

No hassle at all - they simply will not be allowed past security. No wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers...

Checked luggage is a different story. Anything solid (metal, wood) shouldn't be an issue. Any liquids, powders, etc - forget it.

IMHO, options (in order of preference)
1. Drive (or have someone drive)
2. Ship to hotel/friend/local team/some parent's business office in ATL...
(2a - ship by bus! Cheap, reliable, and they'll hold it a day or two for you)
3. Checked luggage
4. Buy all new tools there

Don

[rfolea]

Hi Guys,

We are near Atlanta, and have extra room in our team trailer.

If you run out of options, give us a call. You can ship it to us and we'll haul it down to ATL for you.

You can find our contact info at www.ForsythAlliance.com.

- Rick Folea
Team Mentor

[Zyrano]

If you are from the west coast, carrying your tools is definitly your cheapest option. Back in the day, we packed a craftmens roll around tool box that locks with about 40 lbs worth of tools in it (10 lbs for the actual box), the rest we carried in individuals' suitcases and bags. We even checked dewalt drill cases and such without a problem. The trick is to make sure all of your tools is accounted for at the end, we had a couple of pieces that got lost in the process.

You can pretty much check anything. When the nationals were still at Disney world, I remember stopping by the racetrack and I picking up a used nascar tire for $5 bux (it just looked cool), I checked the tire in at the airport without a problem.

[sporno]

well the nice part about my team being on the east coast is we can easily take a bus down to atlanta with our tools and stuff

[santosh]

We too like the Forsyth Alliance are close to Atlanta. We are about 20 minutes from the gorgia Dome. I myslf am about 40 minutes. So if you need to ship tools to someone, let me know. I have to clear it with my mentor, but I highly doubt it will be a problem

[dapub]

Thanks ForsythAlliance and CircuitRunners. We are weighing out our options, and will contact you if we will would like to send our stuff your way.

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

Did I ever mention that the Championship should move out west for a couple of years? Jet lag, ticketing lines and cunfosion, waiting for luggage, explaining RC controllers to TSA, should be experienced by the whole FIRST community.

The only problem to that is there are not any cities ideally suited to host the Championship Event out west that are still warm enough in April to permit teams to spend time outside in tee shirts. The trick of finding a Convention Center right next to a football/basketball/hockey stadium is not that easy, and Atlanta right now has the best location/facilities for hosting the Championships of any city in the U.S.

[[527]phil]

2 years ago Delta airlines let our team onto the plane with 3 4' sections of angle iron and a 1" Diameter wooden stick onto the plane. But confiscated my mothers sewing needles O_o. I don't advise just showing up with stuff, in case they don't let you on the plane.

[sporno]

Originally Posted by [527]phil

2 years ago Delta airlines let our team onto the plane with 3 4' sections of angle iron and a 1" Diameter wooden stick onto the plane. But confiscated my mothers sewing needles O_o. I don't advise just showing up with stuff, in case they don't let you on the plane.

thats funny ... well thats america