Father and son going to NM for backpacking. Can anyone say Philmont?

Will the Osprey Airporter work? I know that at least one adult in our group of nine scouts and four adults will be using it for our high adventure trip to the Winds next month. I have told all that they need to have a duffel to stick their pack in for the flight. I remember seeing a pack being loaded into the belly of the plane on our trip to Calgary last September and cringed with everything left on it. Sure enough when it showed up on the baggage carousel, it was in two pieces.

I have a McHale, so I prefer not to check it even in a duffel. Fortunately with its bayonet system, it becomes compact enough for me to use as my carry-on.