Luggage question for you Frac Pilots...

[highflyer]

I am all done with training and will be starting IOE with NetJets here in a couple of weeks. I currently have a Samsonite hardside pullman and am guessing it will be too small for 6-7 days on the road. Any thoughts on the Travelpro series of rollerboards? I am looking at the 22" Expandable Suiter Rollerboard for $179 on one of the websites. (Free shipping even) I am on the Falcon so space isn't the issue! How about commuting and dragging it on the airlines along with a laptop attache? Thanks in advance for your responses! HF

 

[FracPilot]

Luggage

After destroying several inexpensive suitcases in my first 2 years doing this type of work, I decided to purchase a good, sturdy bag. I saw that several pilots had metal framed bags that had lasted though many years of commuter service, and still going strong. I purchased one about a year ago, and it was the best piece of luggage I have ever owned. Go to their website for more info. They are expensive, but worth it. The standard size is great for 4-5 day trips, the International size is better for the longer trips.

http://www.purdyneatstuff.com/

 

[ukipilot]

I have had my bag which is one of those airline ones for 5 years now, had to have it fixed 1 time when Delta crushed it and they shelled out the $150 to fix it, but I also have the snap on bag that goes on the front, let me say this, when that bag was in the shop, I was able to make it 8 days on the road out of a little duffle bag, and I still do that, I have a change of undies, and socks and t-shirts, for every day, carry 1 pair of pants, and 2 work shirts, plus 1 polo shirt, and I also carry a pilot bag that has my manuals and paperwork and my IPAQ Pocket PC in there so that I don't have to carry a laptop anymore(does everything my laptop does). You guys that need a new change of clothes for each day are nuts, half the time you get in late to your destination and don't need to change anyway, if you got rid of all of that clothes and packed your bag like a man insted of a woman, you could make it in a small bag for 7 or 8 days, I find it much easier to get through security and much easier to pack, I do my laundry, add the socks, undies, and t-shirts and I am done, I just wear my polo shirt with my dress pants and keep everything simple, you guys that have 3 bags and complain that you can't make it for 7 or 8 days are idiots, what do you need? that you can't pack in 1 bag for a rotation, I guess us ex-military types know how to pack lite!!!

 

[LR45JI]

When I went to work for the airlines a relative bought me a Briggs & Riley bag and it's awesome. I've had it for over 4 years now and it's still in great shape. On top of that I flew the ATR for 2 years and on every legs it had all kind of junk packed on top of it - ALWAYS!!

The Briggs bags run about $300+ but it's well worth it. Also, mine has a tri-fold garment secrtion so I can hang all my extra shirts, pants, polo shirts, tie, etc.....and leave the bulk of the area for other stuff so packing for a 5-7 day trip is a little easier. It's still hard to pack 7 days of stuff in a 23" bag but its easier with this bag than with others.

Have fun in the Falcon and don't turn your nose up as us little Cessna drivers!!

http://www.briggs-riley.com/

 

[Diesel]

I've had a ton of bags.

JP can back this up. I was on the road my travel pro broke and I bought a 50 dollar 26" monster bag. I bring everything i need with me on the road, winter and summer clothes.

I'm waiting for the bag to die but for 50 bucks it's still going strong.

I check my bag everywhere I go. And the great thing with Sept. 11th is that when the company calls and says get off the plane we have a new plan. I can actually go to the desk and say i want my big ass bag back it's the one with all the duct tape. Duct Tape makes even the dumbest ramper pick it out.

Just a thought I used to carry on. Now i just check and say screw it.

 

[machspeed]

I've bought 2 samsonite hard shell bags in the last 10years. 8 years of commuter and 2years corporate. Samsonite has replaced the bag after damage 3times for no charge. The older models had trouble with the feet stands and the corners cracked easy. The newer bags are better but they have a small charge to repair. I can carry about 5 days clothes but the frax are 6 and 7 days but you can make it. It takes more clean pilot shirts at the frax. It stores easy in the overhead bin and the aircraft. I highly recomend samsonite.

machspeed

 

[NJA Capt]

I started out at EJA with the Samsonite hardside. It is a great bag for short trips, but....it just does not have enough room for 6-7 days on the road. I switched to a Travel Pro 22" bag immediately and have been pleased ever since. I even have a T.P. Crew3 waiting when the current one wears out. They are good bags and have a great warantee.

22" is the largest size the airlines will accept (On paper anyway...).

 

[Anaconda]

2 work shirts for an 8-day? you must be a pleasure to fly with in the cockpit...

 

[niteflyr]

Smellycat, is that you?

I guess wearing 2 shirts for eight days would give a guy a nickname like smellycat! I guess it depends on the aircraft you are on also. I know on the ultra after working my but off all day in a non APU cooled aircraft my shirt is not going to cut it for a second day. Also on the ultra I can't see how I would ever have time to do laundry to wash the 2 shirts. On the positive side, keeping busy everyday does cut down on the casual clothes you have to pack, because you are always in uniform if you aren't sleeping!

On the luggage, I have had a travelpro crew 2 for the past 7 years, mostly flying freight. It has held up pretty good, but is due for replacement. They have improved the newer ones I have seen. Most the problems I have had have been addressed in the newer Crew 3 and Crew 4 series. I do think my next bag will be from Purdy Neat Stuff though. They look like a solid bag.

 

[FracPilot]

Washing shirts

Also on the ultra I can't see how I would ever have time to do laundry to wash the 2 shirts.

There is a quick and easy way to wash shirts if you need to. You can carry a small container with some powder detergent in it(just act suprised and say "that's not mine!" when the airport security people find it during a bag search). Dump some in a sink, fill it with water, and hand wash it for a few minutes. Rinse well, and then hang it in front of a heater or a/c vent. It should be dry within an hour or so.

It's not a way I would normally want to wash my shirts - but I have done this many times in my career when necessary.

 

[Diesel]

Yes I do have duct tape all over my bag. The reason is because the company has called me more than once while I was sitting on the plane to get off the plane they have a new plan for me. It makes it a lot easier for the rampers to pick out my bag because i check it.

I think when this 50 dollar bag finally bites it I might get a purdy neat bag. The only problem is I don't need all those outside pockets that they have.

My wife and I have had travelpro's and their service is great. They also have a nice qualtiy to them.

It's all in what you want. Bring what you want unless your on the 800xp you will have the room for it.

 

[ukipilot]

Stop being Cheap and go get yourself a new PURDY NEAT BAG, so that you can use it as a carry on, what a waste of time it is to check your bag to find out that you have to get off to catch another flight, if you had your bag with you, it would be no problem at all, plus, I doubt that a few extra pockets will kill you, I use all of them on my bag, I put reading materials in the back pocket, and put my SKYGUIDE in the small front pocket, and so on, plus if you can't put everything that you need in that bag for 7 or 8 days, then you got problems, When I fly international for a few weeks at a time, I still make it on that 1 bag with plenty of room to spare, I can say that with over 1000 hours around the world, I have been able to survive with 1 roll bag, never taking more than I need, I bet that you guys never wear half the stuff you take, When I was in the Navy, I packed 6 months in 1 sea bag, so it can be done!!!

 

[Diesel]

UKpilot- I'm not being cheap i just want to use this bag up before i get another one. Checking my bag is great. I don't lug it around the terminal. Criminals working security don't go through it every time. If they lose the bag it's not my fault and the company shuts me down till i get it.

Since I'm in the ultra I take 1 shirt for every day plus one incase I extend. I take an extra pair of pants incase i damage the ones i have on. Underware for tour +2, shirts for tour +2. Long overcoat, jeans, shorts, sneakers, sweater, polo shirt. a book, and some other stuff that I found is necessary for being stuck in craphole places.

I like to make sure that i'm comfortable on the road. So if the company changes plans on me i have to get my bag it's no big deal. I hate fighting for spots in the overhead or wishing i had this or that.

When this bag dies i'll be getting a travelpro 26 or 28". Big and comfortable that's my motto. Of course I'm in the smallest most uncomfortable plane.

 

[ukipilot]

ITS CALLED ROUGHING IT!!!!!, I fly in the Beechjet and carry 2 shirts for an 8 day rotation I wash them while on the road, 9 pairs of underware, 4 t-shirts, socks, no jeans, no sneakers, 1 polo shirt that goes with my work pants, and some flying magazines that I need to read and that is it, plus I carry a pilot jepp bag that carries my manuals and POCKET PC, and other paper stuff, plus I never trust those idiots that throw the bags in the cargo, they damaged my bag once and it was not worth the time it took to get a claim from the airline for the damage, plus I don't have to wait at the baggage claim either and I am picky, plus being a premer frequent flier, I never get serched anymore anyway

 

[Diesel]

why would i rough it? I'm not living in a third world country and i'm not washing my clothes in the sink.

What do you wear going out to dinner? The same work pants you've been wearing all day. No thanks. I'll be comfortable and bring my sneakers and all the shirts I want.

That's the great part about checking it. I never get searched from the airlines, but i do get searched from the moron's that work the scanners.

Some days i just go home and leave my bag going round and round at the baggage claim. I send signature over there with the ticket to go pick it up in a day or two.

Whatever works best for you.

 

[NJA Capt]

Diesel,

While I see your point about checking, here are some other considerations. For a little history perspective, I was one of those baggage handlers for several years. I don't check a bag unless I ABSOLUTELY have to.

On more than one occasion, the company has called or paged me while I waited in the gate area and told me not to board the plane. To either change destination, or go back to the FBO. That creates major hassles (for you and the airline) to retrieve that bag. It also wastes a lot of your time that you may be needing to get YOUR plane ready. I personally don't like getting to our destination and having to wait for my FOs bag to come around the carousel. I would rather use that :10 minutes on OUR plane.

Yes, I pack for 7 days on the road.
Yes, I carry 3 sets of "go out to dinner clothes," and
Yes, it fits in a 22" Travel Pro.
(2 extra dress pants, 2 extra pilot shirts, 1 extra tie, daily underwear/socks, sneakers, etc.)

No offense intended, just my observation.

 

[tdvalve]

NJA Capt:

Are you saying your FO will be on your sh**-list if he/she checks a bag? Do FO's accept this level of control without calling the PM?

 

[NJA Capt]

NJA Capt:

Are you saying your FO will be on your sh**-list if he/she checks a bag? Do FO's accept this level of control without calling the PM?

No, I think you misunderstood.

You are NOT going to be on anyone's "list" if you check a bag. Many of our guys check a bag. (There have been several guys loose their bags lately too.)

I'm not sure where you got the idea that we could control what an FO does with his bag. No-one has any "control" over whether or not you choose to check a bag. If we have to wait on a bag, we wait. It's no big deal.

 

[tdvalve]

NJA Capt:

Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought your statement that you didn't like waiting on an FO's bag to show up implied that the FO shouldn't have checked it.

 

[JPB]

saving money

here's the trick
a pair of underwear goes front/back and inside/out: that's 4 days. let s be safe: take 2; going 2 days without underwear is an alternative
Socks 2x inside/out, you need 2 pairs
no T-shirt of course; 1 shirt
If you shave your hair, don t brush your teeth all you need is a rasor.
If your pilot bag is big enough to bring back soap and shampoo from hotels, that should do

 

[servicemonkey]

You can get a couple more days out of your underwear if you get the bikini kind and rotate 'em.

 

[cgmason1]

What I got from NJA Capt's post was that the time you waste waiting on a checked bag could better be spent-at the aircraft-for example you might have an hour to get things ready instead of 45min.
When things are perfect-(ie weather, aircraft stock, Jepps etc)-it is easy to turn an aircraft in a short amount of time-but when things start piling up-and oh by the way-the owner/passengers show 15 min early-you might wish you had that extra time back.

I know thats pretty intuitive of me to get all that from NJA Capt's post-but my mom always said I was gifted.

Fly Safe
Chuck
Ps I never check my bag and I have plenty of room to carry changes of clothes, uniforms, workout clothes etc in a travel pro roller bag and a carry soft sided bag for 7 days-have to-the Hawker has the least amount of baggage space out of all our aircraft.

 

[tdvalve]

To each his own. I started checking bags after being the last one on the airplane (after security search) and finding all overhead space gone for about the tenth time. Also, i might have been influenced slightly by the security folks going through my carry-ons virtually 100% of the time. Then, I had to check it a couple of times because one of the RJ operators sends gate checked bags to baggage claim instead of giving them back planeside. Personally, I enjoy having a larger bag and taking extra stuff on long tours. Also, I can pack better and thus don't have to iron a shirt every night. All in all, I decided not checking wasn't worth the hassle. If the pax show early or not enough time is allotted to do a proper preflight, that's not my problem. I'll do the best I can and no more.

 

[ukipilot]

I don't get it, I personally enjoy a small bag, less crap to carry, and I make it for 8 days with a small bag, I have made it for 14 days in a small bag when I go International, plus I never get serched at the gate any more since I made premier status each year, I havent had my bag sarched for the last 5 months, plus I board right after first class passengers, plus, why would you Iron your shirts anyway?, I used to do that, but it is a waste of time, a few wrinckles ain't going to be noticed, plus it will just get wrinckled again after working all day, so who cares.

 

[Diesel]

On more than one occasion, the company has called or paged me while I waited in the gate area and told me not to board the plane. To either change destination, or go back to the FBO. That creates major hassles (for you and the airline) to retrieve that bag. It also wastes a lot of your time that you may be needing to get YOUR plane ready. I personally don't like getting to our destination and having to wait for my FOs bag to come around the carousel. I would rather use that :10 minutes on OUR plane.

Sorry my stupid laptop started ticking and ticking and then it meleted down.

It happens to me all the time when they change desitnations or make me go back to the FBO. It's not our problem that scheduling can't make up their mind.

As far as waiting for FO's bag's to come around the carosel what's the big deal. It usually takes the FBO a while to come pick us up.

If the pax show early I explain the situation that we are not ready but are working diligently to get the job done and will not compromise safety for schedule.

Off I go on the road tomorrow and you can bet a rampie will see my duct taped bag being thrown into the belly of the beast.

Oh put a union sticker on your bag. It seems to make the rampers get it to the front of the line. Especially at my gateway.

 

[1900cpt]

Were can i get a cool union sticker?!?! Long time, no talk.

1900

 

[TimsKeeper]

Where do I sign up to fly with JPB>....gross man, really hygenic.

 

[FLYLOW22]

The facts are these:

Luggage Works (FKA Purdy Neat Stuff) makes a kick ass bag.

I use a 26" metal frame LW bag that I love. I have used it for 4 years and only the velcro is starting to wear out.

Every time I send it in for repairs, they fix more than I ask for and at no charge.

LW customer service is awesome.

I carry on my bag but only becasue i consider my bag a very cool thing that I want to stay in good shape. I gate check my bag for RJ and turbo prop flights.

I could care less if my F/O or CoCa checks his/her bag. Personal choice and that is all.

 

[Diesel]

Still haven't lost my bag. Even took a later flight on my way home to have lunch at the airport with my father-in-law.

Changed flights and my bag still made it. Can't get rid of the damn thing.

 

[kman]

Travel Pro Series, Lifetime warr. I think, bought a bag 7 years ago for 149 and they have fixed it twice for free and give me a brand new bag after 6 years.
Dont let them know your a crew member though.