Knives on airplanes again?

[cb51]

I guess it must be true, I saw the TSA bulitin that will be effective this April 25th will again allow some small pocketknives on planes. Blades must be 2.4 inches or less, and must not be .5 inch wide or wider. No locking blades, of course. So I guess small pen knives and Swiss Army Knives will again be okay to have with you.

 

[Roneut]

Finally. It's not well known, but the TSA was going to do a complete revert to pre-9/11 rules on knives years ago, but it's the Flight Attendant Unions that raised a stink about it.

 

[rob-cubed]

While I'm relieved the agency that levied all these ridiculous security restrictions AND HAS STILL NOT CAUGHT A SINGLE TERRORIST IN OVER A DECADE is regaining its senses... it's a shame to rule out small locking knives. Kind of negates the utility of carrying a small blade around.

 

[RaVis]

Reminds me of those thousands of Swiss Army Knives that were sold in huge lots on e-bay shortly after TSA began its seizures. Those knives are now legal, it seems.

 

[ToneGrail]

Reminds me of those thousands of Swiss Army Knives that were sold in huge lots on e-bay shortly after TSA began its seizures. Those knives are now legal, it seems.

Looks like only the smallest SAKs like the Classic are legal. The 91mm models have blades that don't fall within the length limit.

 

[ToneGrail]

Finally. It's not well known, but the TSA was going to do a complete revert to pre-9/11 rules on knives years ago, but it's the Flight Attendant Unions that raised a stink about it.

I used to bring locking blades in my carry on baggage all the time pre-9/11. The rules are still stricter, just not as strict.

 

[cb51]

While I'm relieved the agency that levied all these ridiculous security restrictions AND HAS STILL NOT CAUGHT A SINGLE TERRORIST IN OVER A DECADE is regaining its senses... it's a shame to rule out small locking knives. Kind of negates the utility of carrying a small blade around.

It never was about catching any terrorists. It was just more insane 'feel good' legislation that was never going to do a single thing but show the sheple that they, the positions are doing something.

Now, years later, TSA is tired of spending hundreds if not thousands of man hours handling those boxes and barrels of little knives. In this age of budget cuts and tight money, they simply can't afford to do this anymore. This, plus the pressure from the international airlines association that they get in line with what the European airlines and other countries do.

Besides, I really pity the foolish terrorist who pulls a box cutter with half the passengers holding 24 inch souvenir ball bats or driving irons. It ain't gonna be pretty!

Swing batter!

 

[Nemesis]

I think the reality here is that something like 9/11 wont happen again the same way it did (with box cutters or even small knives)...these days if 3 dudes whipped out box cutters there would be 20+ people on them beating them beyond belief, they would be lucky to get off the plane alive...

 

[Roneut]

I think the reality here is that something like 9/11 wont happen again the same way it did (with box cutters or even small knives)...these days if 3 dudes whipped out box cutters there would be 20+ people on them beating them beyond belief, they would be lucky to get off the plane alive...

With what happened, I think 3 guys could pull submachine guns and get the same response. Before that point, everyone "knew" that hijackers just wanted to take over the plane and fly it somewhere to either escape or use the people to get ransom money. And so the best strategy was to just be passive. But now, with the concept of a crash that would kill not just them, but thousands others, now very real in everyone's mind. I don't doubt most people would immediately pounce on a hijacker and take them down even if they knew they would die trying, because of the lives it would save.

 

[pseudonym]

Can bring a small pocket knife through security but still can't bring a bottle of water...

 

[Pinecone]

Do you realize why?

There is no fast inexpensive way to screen bottles of liquids to be sure they are no explosives or elements of a binary explosive. There was a case in the Far East where a terrorist got two bottles of the parts of a binary explosive on board and assembled a bomb.

So instead of arguing with everyone about which liquid is OK or not, they just ban them all.

 

[K31]

Finally. It's not well known, but the TSA was going to do a complete revert to pre-9/11 rules on knives years ago, but it's the Flight Attendant Unions that raised a stink about it.

This. I remember when they first proposed removing the silly rule about scissors these same groups were the ones that stopped it. Who knows, maybe in a few years you'll be able to travel with 4 onces of shampoo again.

UFB.

 

[d_c]

They don't ban them all. Parents of small children are able to bring plenty of sealed liquids on flights without scrutiny. Ask me how I know.

Do you realize why?

There is no fast inexpensive way to screen bottles of liquids to be sure they are no explosives or elements of a binary explosive. There was a case in the Far East where a terrorist got two bottles of the parts of a binary explosive on board and assembled a bomb.

So instead of arguing with everyone about which liquid is OK or not, they just ban them all.

 

[Pinecone]

Subject to individual inspection.

Can you imagine the lines if EVERYONE had things to hand inspect?