To minimize shock of sudden pressure change, damage from forcing it open, etc., I would suggest just waiting and taking it with you on your next flight.

Simulating high pressure is relatively easy. Low pressure - not so much. Unless you're near some tall mountains or have access to a vacuum chamber, the flight school idea may be your best bet.

I'm pretty sure those work by releasing excess pressure inside the case. That's the opposite problem.

Think "Hair Dryer".

that's a good idea.

Would likely have to be a slightly higher than normal flight though, training flights are usually not that high unless stall training or something like that.


Careful here -- heating plastic to temperature needed to release the pressure may put you in danger of warping the plastic, before the air inside reaches temperature close to releasing. And while you're heating the plastic, the outside pressure will be pushing the walls in.

Stall training is an integral part of flight training as is spin control.

Problem Solved
 

I strategically wacked the side of the case 4 times with a hammer, and the seal opened up, without breaking the case- although it may have damaged the seal (I must say it's strong).

Camera is safely out. I decided my hundreds of photos, and $200 camera (+SDHC card) were worth potentially breaking a $25 case over.

I also emailed the company asking them to send me a fresh case or a refund, because they don't advise against using it in low pressure situations, and checking photos on an airplane is a normal use case that shouldn't impede use. We'll see how that goes...

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

the wife is flying a week from tomorrow, if you don't have it open by then I'll pick it up next weekend, and she'll give it a shot.

Our house use to be in Weston, they moved it when they flooded the reservoir.

congratulations on getting it out.

But why do you think the company owes you a refund or new case? It did exactly what it was supposed to do. You were the one who sealed it while on an airplane... The "use case" you're suggesting they should warrant / warn against is opening and closing it at altitude.

How would the product work if it didn't behave as it did?

I think the OP has a point. IF there were no clear WARNINGS, they owe him one. My gut is they will send him one and if smart will incorporate the warnings.

And when the blue shirt at the TSA checkpoint sees something inside the case that needs checking, then what? :eek:

"You say this case CANNOT be opened here? No problem, the boys on the bomb squad got some toys that WILL open it." :p

Case was almost certainly jammed for another reason. Air pressure at 8000 feet is only 70-75% of SLP–a fairly insignificant difference that most people could overcome with minimal effort.

Another possibility comes to mind--a school might have a small vacuum chamber. Obviously it would only work if you can open the latches so it falls open when the pressure inside exceeds the pressure outside.

You sure about that? That would be about 4psi times the surface area of the container, which could easily be 40in^2 or 160 pounds pressure to open it. Or something like that, I'm too lazy to do the calcs right now.

Makes you wonder how those vacuum food containers and wine bottle corks ever caught on, huh?

Yes, I'm sure, if only because this is the first time I've ever heard of it.

So what are your calculations on the amount of force holding it closed, if it was opened (and shut) at altitude?

Vacuum containers and wine bottles don't have 4psi difference with that large a surface area holding them shut.