Violins on a plane.

[tjwmason]

Not quite my suggestion for a sequel to 'Snakes on a Plane' but rather a small part of the conductor's speach at yesterday's "Last Night of the Proms".

Conductor criticises air security

UK security measures that prevent musicians from taking instruments on board planes as hand luggage have been criticised by a leading conductor.

Mark Elder - a guest conductor for the BBC Symphony Orchestra - made the criticism in a speech on the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

He said performers faced "enormous difficulty" as a result of the policy.

Last month the Musicians' Union said the security measures were having a "devastating impact" on musicians.

It says its members "are reporting significant lost earnings" because they are unable to travel with their instruments as hand luggage.

cont'd

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5331694.stm

I'm in no doubt that they mean well in trying to prevent terrorist attacks, but do the bureaucrats from the Department of Transport seriously think that anybody even half sane is about to check a Stradivarius into the hold of an aeroplane?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I certainly understand that concern for transAtlantic flights

but one of the stories featured in the UK press was about a musician who was scheduled to perform in Brussels and was upset about not being allowed to take his instrument onto a plane.

And I thought, "He could take surface transportation--boats and trains."

[fortyfeetunder]

2. Aside from all the viola jokes....

There was a case in Canada where a ~$13,000 viola was literally demolished (in its case) when stored in a cargo hold.

My internet connection is locking up but will get the post up in a few minutes.