March 2012 oVerture 5 New FAA Rules Music to Musicians' Ears newly reauthorized Faa bill allows musical instruments as carry-ons across all u.S. airlines BY lINDa raPKa instrument covered in an odd liquid sub- stance. "You definitely are risking a lot if Gone are the days of peppering your you have a typical cheap standard case instrument case with stickers pleading made out of wood or cardboard. If you TSA to "handle with care." check it, you're risking your instrument For the first time, a uniform national for sure." Photo illustration by Linda Rapka policy allowing musical instruments on Life Member trombonist Curt Berg SO LONG, "FRAGILE" STICkERS — New FAA regulations are more wel- airplanes has been established in the also knows the dangers of transporting coming to musicians boarding domestic flights with their instrument. Federal Aviation Administration bill instruments in the cargo hold; he has reauthorized by Congress last month. suffered two bad experiences in the past Luckily the incident happened on his With the new FAA allowances of Under the new provisions, any instru- two years. way home from the gig, sparing him musical instruments inside the aircraft ment that can be safely stored in the over- "The first time, they ran a baggage costly rush-repair costs. cabin, Acosta said, "This will take a lot head compartment, in-cabin storage clos- cart over my case," he said. "That time "Even with the union (TSA) letter, of pressure off the union having to deal et or underneath the seat may be brought the instrument came out fine but the some of the airlines would abide by it, with this stuff on a case-by-case basis." on board as a carry-on with no extra fee. case was totaled. The next time, they but others wouldn't," Youngstrom said. The AFM has spent the past 10 years The bill also sets standard weight and dropped it and the case was fine, but the "It's great to see the FAA is finally get- soliciting data on how many members size requirements for checked instru- bell (of my trombone) was crushed — it ting all the airlines to comply with the were being rejected by which airlines, ments and permits musicians to purchase was totally crumpled." regulations." how frequently, and on what kind of a seat for oversized instruments, such as Berg has now taken to packing his The FAA reauthorization, passed flights they experienced problems. "It a cello or string bass, too delicate to be trombone in the heaviest case possible through the House Feb. 3 and subse- was becoming a major issue," Acosta checked as baggage. and packing that up inside a double bag, quently through the Senate Feb. 6, is said. "We resigned ourselves that this While some airlines, notably United covering it in thick quilts. expected to soon be signed into law by was just going to be a chaotic thing, and and recently Delta, already follow bag- Musicians began regularly encounter- President Obama. The AFM, which has there would never be assurances. We cre- gage policies favorable to musicians, oth- ing problems boarding aircraft with their lobbied Congress to enact a musical ated the TSA letter, but certain airlines ers are notorious for imposing stringent instruments after the 9/11 attacks, when instrument carry-on policy for the past didn't recognize it. From airline to air- restrictions on instruments and for TSA restriction became more vigorous. decade, was quick to applaud the new line it was arbitrary, and within some air- changing policies at will. Existing law "Since then, musicians have had no legislation. lines themselves it was arbitrary from had allowed each airline to set its own assurance that they'd have their instru- "This is great news for professional city to city within the U.S. depending on policy on allowances for musical instru- ments allowed in the cabin," said John musicians throughout the U.S. and the flight." ments, and size requirements varied Acosta, Local 47 Vice President. "At Canada who carry the tools of our trade Acosta himself knows the pitfalls of widely for both carry-on and checked every juncture you were dealing with — our instruments — aboard commer- traveling with a musical instrument. He baggage — often within the same airline. apprehension and tension of having cial aircraft," AFM President Ray Hair brought along his beloved acoustic guitar This has made it frustratingly difficult for your delicate instrument checked and said in a statement. on a recent trip to Buenos Aires. "From passengers to know what to expect on possibly damaged." "This is huge," Acosta agreed. "It's L.A. to Miami and on to Buenos Aires, any given flight. In December 2002, in response to very exciting and welcome news, since it wasn't an issue. But traveling back, the With a uniform policy in place, musi- months of lobbying by the AFM, TSA we've been dealing with this issue for airline said it might have to be checked," cians traveling in the U.S. can rest easy began allowing musical instruments as many years now." he said. "I certainly did not want to part that the same rules apply to any flight, carry-ons in addition to the regular Just last month, Local 47 EMD with my instrument that was only in a on any airline. allowance of one bag plus one personal Administrator Gordon Grayson fielded soft-shell case." In the end he was "For most musicians traveling on item. The AFM has since advised musi- a frantic call from musician Farhad allowed to take it in the cabin, "but the planes, it's a huge plus to carry your cians to carry the letter documenting this Behroozi who was being denied board- uncertainty was pretty stressful." instruments," said Rusty Anderson, agreement to show to airport security in ing with his violin at the airport gate. AFM President Hair sent a letter Local 47 member and longtime guitarist the event of a problem. But because indi- "They were refusing him to carry on his dated Feb. 22 urging President Nicholas with Paul McCartney. Though the band vidual airlines were still allowed to set violin, in a case, insisting that he check E. Calio of Airlines for America (for- transports all gear and instruments with their own policies, the letter was often it," Grayson said. "He had no intention merly Air Transport Association) to Rock-It Cargo, a U.K.-based freight for- ignored. of checking his $100,000 instrument." facilitate the quick implementation of warding company, Anderson remembers Local 47 member Jim Youngstrom Unfortunately, despite Grayson's best the new allowances for musical instru- days before joining the McCartney band recently encountered problems trying to effort — emailing the TSA letter to the ments. when traveling for work wasn't so easy. board a plane with his baritone sax, musicians' smartphone and offering to Though the new regulations apply "One time I had to take out insurance despite carrying the letter. speak with the gate attendant (who only to flights within the United States, claims on a guitar because it smelled like "They made me check it, and it got refused) — there was little recourse, as the hope is that they will set a precedent weird fertilizer when I opened up the bent pretty badly," he said. "One of the the airline claimed it was only standing for airlines worldwide to make the skies case," he recalled, having found his posts almost got driven into the horn." by its own policy. a little friendlier for all musicians. FOR THE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN Studies in ORCHESTRATION & ARRANGING with IRA HEARSHEN COMPOSER / ORCHESTRATOR / ARRANGER Tel: 818-222-4116 E: [email protected].