Sorry to have not responded sooner. Your reply slipped by and I just noticed it today.
As for your question, yes and no. Looking at the dimensions and what the airlines mention for a carry on, it should fit. When I bought the case, that was my concern. I went to the Pelican website and got the dimensions and went to a United ticket office near me. I talked to the agent there and we looked everywhere we could. On the tickets as well as other literature that was handy. The written dimensions were such that you could assume that the case would conform to the regulations.
Then, With that info, I bought the case for my up coming trip. I then went to the airport and when I tried to put it through the xray, it wouldn't fit through the template that goes over the opening. It was only an inch off. No doubt it would fit in an over head bin and all. If it were a soft case, it would have gone through. However, being ridgid, it wouldn't go. Problem was that the manufacturers dimensions didn't allow for the feet, handle and latches. The anchors for the hinges and the anchors for the latches made it about 1/2" or so too big. I tried to talk sense to the security person but she/he, (Can't remember) wouldn't yield. They forced me to check it through.
What I have taken to do is put it in a box and ship it back and forth when I go. I could just slap a label on it and send it FedEX as it does meat ATA (Airline Transport Association) Specifications for a cargo container. But I believe that it just screams, steal me. So, by putting it in a plain box, you disquise it a little. Also. putting in a box will protect it from some of the scuffs and wear that you might get from shipping or checking. You could, wrap it in a couple towels and put it in a larger, plain suitcase and check it. But, be advised that it may be an item that the airlines will specifically refuse responsibilities for. See back of your tickets for the airlines disclaimers of liability. Cameras, cash, pharmacuticals, jewelry, electronics.....
I find the case very useful for shipping, as I mentioned above. In addition to the padding and protection in that respect, Also, it is good for long term storage. Especially if you might have to store your detector in a garage or basement or other area of limited climate control and where there might be a flooding risk. The case has an airtite seal and will seal completely from humidity and moisture. There is a bolt on the front that, when tightened, will allow the case to be completely air and water tite. Thus why the cases are popular with divers for carrying equipement. You, as I have read, could drop it overboard from a boat and the case should float.
On the first trip, where I had to check it on the plane, I was nervous all during the trip. The detector was brand new and I was afraid it wouldn't be there when I got to baggage claim. I rushed down to claim it and then went right to the rental car bus. After driving from Fort Myers to Marco Island, FL, (about 45 minute drive), I got all my luggage up to the apartment and tried to open the case. It didn't have a lock on it but wouldn't budge. I was getting ready to get a screwdriver and try and pry it open, wondering what the hell could have happened to jam it so. Then, I remembered about the O-Ring around the case. I turned the little bolt under the handle and heard a hiss. Just like a jar of peanuts. The case then opened. Seems that during the flight, with changes in pressure and temperatures, air was forced out of the case during flight, causing a vaccum inside. A vaccum that, as I mention, lasted more than an hour and a half, probably.
Further, I use these cases for a lot of stuff. I have a MEADE LX90 8" Schmidt telescope that I have a Pelican case for.
I also have a small brief case size case that I carry the telescope accessories in. As another example of what these cases are capable of, on several occasions I set up the telescope outside in the middle of the winter. Generally you set up a scope a couple hours before you want to use it. To allow all the lenses etc. to cool down and change. (They change sizes in heat and cold). After about 5 or 6 hours in near 0 temperatures, it is usually time to head inside for the night. Problem with something like a telescope or camera or other such items is that when you take a cold item from the cold dry outdoors, into warm humidified air, like that inside your house, condensation will form and freeze on the outside surfaces of the cold item. Like your cold beer on a hot summer day. Except, due to the 0 degree temps, it will actually freeze. I have seen pictures of scopes with an inch or more of ice on them. Think of the damage to the lens coatings etc... that could occour. Anyway, what I do is, I take the cases out with me. Open them up and let them get real cold, inside and out. Thouroughly frozen if you will. Then, after a night of observing I pack the scope and all my accessories in the cases. I take my digital camera and any film etc. and put them in zip lock bags and force out as much air as possible. Then seal them. I close the cases and latch them and bring them inside. In a matter of minutes, ice begins to form on the outside of the cases. After about an hour, there can often be a thick coating of ICE on the cases. I leave them sealed up and open them later the NEXT DAY. After almost 24 hours, the cases will be all wet outside. Inside though the equipment is still quite cold but bone dry.
Of course, you won't need to worry about protecting your detector from such issues as you probably aren't using it in near 0 temps. However, if you were storing your detector in a garage, there might be some similar thermal protection from the cold, while it is stored. Mainly though, the above should illustrate the moisture protection that these cases can provide.
In my personal opinion of course.
