Props for Kenya's Planes

Q. I am planning on going to Nairobi, Kenya, and will be getting around on small flights. Are small planes considered safe there?

Carol Spiegel, Syracuse, N.Y.

A."If you are going to Africa or any developing country," says Todd Curtis, president of the AirSafe.com Foundation ( http://www.airsafe.org/), which tracks airplane safety records around the globe, "it's up to that country to make and enforce the aviation safety rules."

International flights are considered to be the safest because the aviation industry must adhere to international standards. However, the rules change on flights within a country's borders. "There is a higher risk of flying a small plane in Africa than there is of flying the same size in the United States," Curtis says.

That said, he adds that Kenya's civil aviation system is among the best in Africa. (South Africa's ranks at the top.) For example, Curtis says that since 2000, Kenya Airways has had two fatal crashes internationally, on the Ivory Coast and more recently in Cameroon. Within the country, there have been a few small plane crashes, including a cargo plane in 2004 and a tourist flight over the country's highest peak in 2003 -- but that was "an unusual route," Curtis adds.

For accident updates and a safety database, check the Web site ( http://aviation-safety.net/index.php) of the Aviation Safety Network, a private organization that compiles a database on airline accidents and safety issues, among other things.

To protect yourself, inspect the airport facilities and plane before you board. Smaller airports might not have the most modern infrastructures -- some may lack radar or emergency medical facilities -- but your plane should be in good working order. For instance, look for leaks or "something visibly wrong," Curtis says. Also, take only scheduled flights on established airlines, rather than some guy's plane that leaves in five minutes. If you sense something is not right, don't board the plane; reschedule or ask your hotel if your destination is accessible by car, bus, train, elephant, etc.

Is there a product that straps wheels onto a small suitcase so it can be pulled?

Dan Schuman, Falls Church

Unfortunately, immobile luggage can't easily sprout a set of wheels. Short of buying a new bag or attaching roller skates to your luggage, the choices are limited. Laila Mahmud, public relations coordinator for eBags ( http://www.ebags.com/), an online vendor that carries more than 400 travel product brands, came up with a solution: a collapsible wheeled cart. Mahmud recommends the Travelon Adventurer ($24.99) for smaller bags and the Travelon President ($39.99) for larger luggage. The Adventurer weighs seven pounds and can carry two full-size suitcases or 80 pounds; the President is a bit heftier at 11 pounds, with room to hold up to 135 pounds. The wheels on both can be folded up and the cart stored in a plane's overhead compartment. A bonus: You'll no longer have to spring for the airport luggage trolley.

For other models, check luggage retailers and major department stores such as Target, which currently lists online a 3 1/4 -pound steel model for $16.

Postscript

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Sonia Fledderjohn of Purcellville and Ilene Wieselthier of Silver Spring submitted suggestions on scales ideal for weighing luggage (May 27). Fledderjohn recommends a WeighMax postal digital scale, which she bought on eBay for $8.99. "It has a 75-pound capacity and is smaller than a bathroom scale with a platform," she says. Wieselthier uses the Conair Thinner scale, a flat glass-topped digital model she purchased for about $40 at Bed Bath & Beyond.

John Flood of Vienna and Gilbert Johnson of Bethesda have advice for the senior traveler who wants to visit the Taj Mahal (May 27). Flood suggests planning a European layover on the flight to India. "Rather than make the 18-plus-hour trip in one continuous stretch, consider breaking up [the] journey with a stopover in London, Paris or Frankfurt. All three cities offer connecting service to India." His other suggestion: Pack some favorite snacks, in case the Indian food is not to the senior traveler's liking.

Johnson recommends visiting during the winter months, when temperatures are not as stultifying. Also, eat yogurt. "Increasing one's consumption of plain yogurt prior to traveling is said to reduce the likelihood of contracting Delhi-belly," he suggested by e-mail.

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