TSA to allow scissors and screwdrivers
12-02-2005, 02:48 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: E170/175 CA
Posts: 334
TSA to allow scissors and screwdrivers
Well, it seems TSA (a.k.a. Taking Scisssors Away, and Thousand Standing Around) has made the first official government move towards pretending 9/11 never happened. Today it will be announced that scissors up to 4 inches and screwdrivers will be allowed through security checkpoints. Benefits? Drawbacks? Well, I guess we can go back to preventing some minor maintenace delays with the fix it yourself mentality. The ability to screw in a single screw would have helped me avoid a few delays over the past five years. And no, I am not an advocate of trying to do a trained mechanics job. I am sure we all have a few nuisance screws that come loose in the cockpit though. And I don't mean the ones holding on your fellow crew members' head.
I think this new ruling, however is a big loss for all of us. 4 inch scissors seem capable of filling in for box cutters if you ask me. Is this TSA's way of admitting that they went overboard on their prohibitions, or is it their way of saying the threats to airliners have shifted away from sharp objects. The new focus has apparently been on lighters and flammable liquids that could be brought onbaord in these devices. All I know for sure is we are now permitting objects on to our aircraft that have been proven to be effective weapons in the hands of lunatics.
Sure, it is unlikely that even a sharpened scissor blade could penetrate a cockpit door, but it could sure put our flight attendants and passengers at risk of fatal injury. I wonder if this move was just an attempt at saving money, at reducing passenger lines, or a shift in policy based on intelligence. Anyone care to offer an opinion?
I think this new ruling, however is a big loss for all of us. 4 inch scissors seem capable of filling in for box cutters if you ask me. Is this TSA's way of admitting that they went overboard on their prohibitions, or is it their way of saying the threats to airliners have shifted away from sharp objects. The new focus has apparently been on lighters and flammable liquids that could be brought onbaord in these devices. All I know for sure is we are now permitting objects on to our aircraft that have been proven to be effective weapons in the hands of lunatics.
Sure, it is unlikely that even a sharpened scissor blade could penetrate a cockpit door, but it could sure put our flight attendants and passengers at risk of fatal injury. I wonder if this move was just an attempt at saving money, at reducing passenger lines, or a shift in policy based on intelligence. Anyone care to offer an opinion?
12-02-2005, 05:15 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: B737, Capt.
Posts: 384
I think that the TSA possibly came in touch with reality. After four years, they finally have to admit that they can't stop leathal weapons from getting on our aircraft. It's akin to gun control...it only affects law abiding citizens with no criminal intent. Bad guys can get weapons on aircraft period. I knew of a pilot that carried a 4" pen knife in his shirt pocket for a whole year after 9/11 just to illistrate the lunacy of the TSA. Every time they 'wanded' him, they disregarded the beep at his shirt pocket as just a pen. He stopped when knives went from prohibited to illegal in the '03 time period. http://www.defensedevices.com/knife-pen.html
The only way to prevent all passengers from bringing these things on board is to have all passengers fly naked after a full body x-ray or MRI...ya sure. Perhaps this change may make things safer since the bad guys bring on what they want and currently all the law abiding citizens are unarmed. It could level the playing field. When 'scissors and knives' are illegal, only the criminals will have them. Defense never wins a battle. It may reduce your opponents 'scorring' on you but you must eventually go offensive to be victorious. Funny how that when states pass CCW laws, violent crime drops. Great Brittain outlaws handguns and crime goes through the roof. All CCW permit holders should be allowed to carry on board. The creation of the TSA in my opinion was an emotional response to make passengers 'feel' more safe and in the case of the general sheep...I mean puplic, they were successful. If they 'think' they are more safe, they will fly more and that's good for us. Just my $.02.
The only way to prevent all passengers from bringing these things on board is to have all passengers fly naked after a full body x-ray or MRI...ya sure. Perhaps this change may make things safer since the bad guys bring on what they want and currently all the law abiding citizens are unarmed. It could level the playing field. When 'scissors and knives' are illegal, only the criminals will have them. Defense never wins a battle. It may reduce your opponents 'scorring' on you but you must eventually go offensive to be victorious. Funny how that when states pass CCW laws, violent crime drops. Great Brittain outlaws handguns and crime goes through the roof. All CCW permit holders should be allowed to carry on board. The creation of the TSA in my opinion was an emotional response to make passengers 'feel' more safe and in the case of the general sheep...I mean puplic, they were successful. If they 'think' they are more safe, they will fly more and that's good for us. Just my $.02.
Last edited by SWAcapt; 12-02-2005 at 05:19 AM.
12-02-2005, 06:29 AM
#3
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Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: E170/175 CA
Posts: 334
Hmm...government in touch with reality? If only that could be the case! I do agree that our revenue source will be somewhat happier having made to our plane without having their suitcase ripped apart. Maybe lines will move quicker too, adding to their pleasant state of mind. And like gas prices, the new standard for security will please the masses, although it will never return to its previous low level of invasion and ease. Are any flight crews out there still having problems getting past TSA?
12-04-2005, 06:32 AM
#4
On Reserve
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: MD80 FO
Posts: 10
I'm with the SWACapt.
This is FAR overdue. Much like the military having come to the civilian airports. A (politically) necessary move, but one with a shelf life, too.
The best defense is awareness/proper training/equipping of those who will engage the enemy. Meanwhile, the US Citizen --- in the land of the free & home of the brave --- should not be restricted from having his pocketknife.
For crying out loud, the barbers @ DFW have never ceased their operations. How hard would it have been to get a pair of their scissors onboard???
Al
This is FAR overdue. Much like the military having come to the civilian airports. A (politically) necessary move, but one with a shelf life, too.
The best defense is awareness/proper training/equipping of those who will engage the enemy. Meanwhile, the US Citizen --- in the land of the free & home of the brave --- should not be restricted from having his pocketknife.
For crying out loud, the barbers @ DFW have never ceased their operations. How hard would it have been to get a pair of their scissors onboard???
Al
12-04-2005, 06:35 PM
#6
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: Left or Right
Posts: 113
TSA is a group of incompetent idiots. They have no idea what is going on in the world. Overpaid Government workers with nothing better to do than change rules. Makes no sense allowing scissors and screwdrivers on airliners.
12-09-2005, 04:26 PM
#7
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: GA7
Posts: 128
I was flying from Houston Hobby to Las Vegas last year and I got through security with an exacto knife in my carry on bag (I didn't even realize it was there until I got to the hotel in Vegas. It was for an art class I was taking at the time.)
What makes TSA more of a joke is that the same people who were working for private airport screening companies for damn near minimum wage get a 300% pay raise, some new uniforms and "training" and all of a sudden people are supposed to feel safe. There was a lady I used to see at IAH all the time that was one of the most incompetent people I have ever met that worked at one of those companies (pre 9/11), and last I saw she was some kind of three stripe supervisor for TSA. If someone wants to get a weapon on board, they can. Last I flew, I don't remember using a plastic fork to eat.
I don't know about other cities, but Houston's TSA isn't anything near impressive. I probably could have gotten a pair of scissors and screwdriver onboard if I really put some effort into it.
What makes TSA more of a joke is that the same people who were working for private airport screening companies for damn near minimum wage get a 300% pay raise, some new uniforms and "training" and all of a sudden people are supposed to feel safe. There was a lady I used to see at IAH all the time that was one of the most incompetent people I have ever met that worked at one of those companies (pre 9/11), and last I saw she was some kind of three stripe supervisor for TSA. If someone wants to get a weapon on board, they can. Last I flew, I don't remember using a plastic fork to eat.
I don't know about other cities, but Houston's TSA isn't anything near impressive. I probably could have gotten a pair of scissors and screwdriver onboard if I really put some effort into it.
