What are ATA Flight Cases?
ATA Flight Case is the acronym for the full name: "Airline Transport Approved Flight Case". As the name implies, equipment carried in an ATA flight case can be shipped as cargo on airplanes and other methods of freight transport. These cases protect against equipment damage. Failure to use such protective cases can lead to damaged equipment and denial of coverage by applicable insurance.
Who Uses ATA Flight Cases?
Originally, such cases were used by rock and roll touring bands to transport sound equipment, lighting equipment and musical instruments. Today, flight cases are used to transport various types of delicate equipment. In addition, flight cases are regularly build customized for purposes outside of just regular storage and transport, but as functional purposes like display merchandize cases.
Why Use ATA Flight Cases?
In addition to providing protection, the case can allow rack mount equipment to be left largely interconnected and ready for use. Custom foam inserts are often created to cradle particularly expensive gear within the case and protect it from shock or vibration in transit. Accessories such as slide-out drawers, flip-out tables and hanging clothes bars can be incorporated into the design to create portable wardrobes or workstations.
Extracted from Wikipedia