It wasn't a bad question, though. Those other posts talked about airline security precautions and what to do, but I'd been thinking of starting a thread like this myself.

There's two ways to look at this:

1. What would I take aboard an airliner (on my person) that's "permitted" under the official guidelines?

2. What could I smuggle past the security guards, and how?

When I flew to Winnipeg a few months back, security went through my Altoids tin PSK quite thoroughly. The following items were confiscated, as I recall:

a. a needle (part of my sewing kit).
b. a Coughlan's wire saw. The security guard wasn't sure what it was, but another security guard recognized it; as soon as the word "saw" was mentioned, I was told I couldn't take it.
c. several waterproofed (dipped in paraffin) strike-anywhere matches.
d. a hexamine solid fuel tablet.

The rest of the PSK was returned to me. It contained:

a. The tin itself.
b. 4 lighter flints krazy-glued to the rim.
c. a whistle.
d. international orange marker ribbon.
e. a citronella tea-light candle.
f. some aspirin tablets.
g. button compass.
h. plastic fresnel lens (credit-card sized)
i. aluminium foil.
j. pencil leads.
k. dental floss.
l. approx. 6 feet of paracord
m. photon LED flashlight

On the return flight, the airline agent at the ticket counter inspected my hand luggage (well, the plastic shopping bag I was carrying) and told me that I wouldn't be able to take my climbing rope through security. I don't know if that was true or not, but I stuffed it in my checked luggage just in case. (I was in a hurry; I'd misread the departure time on my electronic ticket and arrived at the airport 10 minutes before departure time instead of an hour. Luckily, Winnipeg International ain't exactly LaGuardia. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> )

Next time I fly, I intend to take 4 books of matches, sealed in waterproof containers, one disposable Butane lighter, and a Zippo I inherited from my dad. I'd also like to get some books of wooden matches so I can try waterproofing them with nail varnish.