Taking the kits from Manchester on planes back to home base

[Ken Leung]

Just a quick question: Will there be a problem when advisors take the kits from Manchester back to their home town by plane? I know a lot of those advisors are going by air to Manchester for kickoff.

Even back at last year's kick off there the air lines didn't allow the batteries on the plane... Are we going to face a more serious problem this year? Will FIRST be forced to ship the kits before kick off to teams via ground travel? Will there be less team representatives going because of this problem?

[Nate Smith]

Originally posted by Ken Leung
Just a quick question: Will there be a problem when advisors take the kits from Manchester back to their home town by plane? I know a lot of those advisors are going by air to Manchester for kickoff.

Even back at last year's kick off there the air lines didn't allow the batteries on the plane... Are we going to face a more serious problem this year? Will FIRST be forced to ship the kits before kick off to teams via ground travel? Will there be less team representatives going because of this problem?

Based on my understanding of the new restrictions, they're being much tighter on mainly what can be carried onto the planes, with only a few new rules on what can be stowed. Considering that the only things in the kit that would have perhaps caused a hazard being stowed were the batteries, and that FIRST is (based on what I heard at the team forum) already looking at an alternate method of getting the batteries to the teams, I don't think stowing the kits as luggage for the trip back home will be an issue, especially if FIRST clears them with the airlines ahead of time. (Considering the problems with the batteries last year, I have a feeling they will...)

[Elgin Clock]

Here's an idea!

What if teams were to buy batteries locally and have FIRST allow for a payment difference? Ie: Have teams buy batteries locally and pay that amount less for the kit ?

The only problem I see with this is to make sure everyone has the same battery rated at the same power! But a provided "shopping list" would be helpful.

[Nate Smith]

Originally posted by Elgin Clock
Here's an idea!

What if teams were to buy batteries locally and have FIRST allow for a payment difference? Ie: Have teams buy batteries locally and pay that amount less for the kit ?

At the MI forum, they were talking about getting a certificate that was good for two of the "kit" batteries that you could take to a local auto supply store. Whether or not it will happen remains to be seen...

[Carolyn Duncan]

Why not just send batteries to rookie teams via ground transport? And only vet teams get them if they request them. Makes sense to me but that doesn't mean anything.