Origins
The flight cases They date back to around the 1970s. With the increase in tours and concerts by music groups and the need for safely transport delicate equipment such as microphones, amplifiers, mixers…
Tours typically involve long periods of travel time on the road or by plane, so they had to be designed to resist vibrations, strong impacts, humidity and sudden changes in temperature.
Over time, its use has become popular in other sectors besides the audiovisual one, also being used in the industry aerospace, technological either military.
And the road cases and ATA cases?
You have probably heard the terms often road case either ATA caseAre they the same thing or different things? The answer is yes, they're more or less the same, but not entirely.
Road cases
Starting with the term road case, this is used interchangeably with flight case, but there are some subtle differences between them.
They are generally similar in that they are designed to meet the same needs, but the difference lies in their use and connotations in different regions and industry contexts.
The term road case It is common in North America, especially in the audiovisual industry. In this context, it usually refers to rugged, heavy-duty cases specifically designed to withstand the conditions and wear associated with road tours.
On the other hand, the term flight case It's more common in Europe and other parts of the world. The idea is the same, but there may be some differences in design and construction depending on the manufacturer and the intended use, such as whether the travel will be by air or road.
ATA cases
A ATA case is a specific type of flight case that meets the standards of the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), now known as Airlines for America (A4A). These specifications and features were designed to ensure the containers' resistance to air transport conditions.
The difference between the two is in the standards of the aeronautical industry that they must comply with, being those of the ATA cases generally stricter. That is, while all the ATA cases are flight cases, not all of them flight cases are necessarily ATA cases.
Evolving over time
Design, materials, and functionality have evolved in line with the changing demands of different industries. These advances have allowed for greater protection, portability, and ease of use, as well as increased safety and comfort during transport.
Although the plywood is still common, new composite materials have been developed, such as reinforced plastic laminates with fiberglass or carbon fiber. These offer greater impact resistance and reduce the weight of the containers. The exterior finishes have also been improved to make them more resistant to scratches and other external conditions, in addition to improvements in the closing and sealing systems to ensure protection against dust and moisture.
Flight cases tailored, to your liking
Nowadays many manufacturers offer the possibility of developing suitcases and flight cases personalized to fully adapt to each client's individual needs, and at Otayco we are no exception. Options include customizing size, color, accessories, as well as various types of custom machined foams for additional protection inside, among other things.
If you're interested in our services, you can contact us through our contact page. Tell us about your project and we'll give you a free quote!
Thank you so much for reading! See you in future posts.