Anybody know for sure if a 3" piece of hacksaw blade is TSA approved or not? I realize a lot of it is up to the individual screeners but anybody know the official line?

Thanks, Vince

Probably not. Just one of the things they don't like.

Not that I've done it, but lay it on a piece of masking tape then fold it over, completely covering it. That way it can't poke its way out of the package. It will show up on an Xray but should pass through a hand search.

Don't get mad at me if you do get caught though.

Just to make things clear: the only blades allowed are here:

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_12_18_2003.pdf

Any other blades are prohibited on board. A tape covered blade is easily confirms the hidden weapon badge and leans toward a more complete search (delays included) and possibly legal prosecution.

(For my disclaimer, I'm not a fan of the present regulations, but don't want anyone to spend his/her holiday season in a terminal, or even worst places.)

Thanks for the link. That's exactly what I needed.

Vince

I realize that I may be confusing the TSA with any sort of logic, but anybody have a clue why pliers are not allowed in carry-on???????

TSA doesn't allow any tools. Probably because they don't want somebody dismantling the aircraft in any way, especially the locked door to the cockpit.

Robert

I was once told (by a ticket agent) that I would not be allowed to take a 50-foot rope on board an aircraft. What would a terrorist do with a 50-foot rope? Cut it into 5-foot lengths (with a knife I don't have) and strangle 10 passengers without anyone noticing?

The problem is that designing security into a system, like a lot of other things, is something that should be done by trained experts but is often done by people who think it looks easy, but don't really know what they're doing.

In the case of the TSA, it seems obvious to me (as a trained expert - I hold a CISSP from the ISC2 organisation, and a CPP from the American Society of Industrial Security, among other designations) that nobody did a formal Threat Risk Assessment to figure out the most cost-effective (or even an effective) way of securing the system. They simply put together a committee to list all the things that they thought might possibly be used as weapons, and ignored far more effective (and less costly) security solutions. Okay they also put Air Marshals on selected flights (which I consider an incredible waste of money) and they may have done some other things we're unaware of, but in general I find the whole TSA security model amateurish and completely ineffective. (The ad hoc security provided by the passengers is the only real security being provided on US and Canadian airlines, IMO.) Admittedly, I don't work for the airlines or the TSA and so I don't have the whole story, but I believe I could easily bypass the official security measures. In fact, I've already done so by accident - I took a Leatherman Juice on board an airplane because I forgot I had it in my raincoat pocket. Nobody stopped me, because nobody at security spotted it.

Pretty hard to pick a lock with a pair of pliers while the pilots are bouncing you off the ceiling. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I would think locking picking tools would fall into the "tools" category and wouldn't be allowed either. I wasn't talking about picking the lock with a pair of pliers. How about dismantling the tray table in front of you, or removing something from the bathroom.

I don't agree with the TSA. I'm just trying to explain what I think their line of thought is.

Robert

Airport security is ridiculous and designed to placate scared PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. rather than protect us from terrorism. That said, I wouldn't mess with them because I hate the delays and drama airports love to heap upon anyone with a nail file these days. Check with someone working in the airport before you take something onboard. Its a shame but thats the way it is for the forseeable future.