Hey everyone. I was wondering how everyone (pilots especially) deal with the TSA regulations about their emergency kits? I was at the local FBO the other day, and I had a knife clipped to my pocket, as always. They're pretty well indispensable tools, I can't count how many times a day I think of a use for it. A guy standing in the FBO, whom I know has an affiliation with the local Sheriffs Office (I don't know exactly what he does) says to me: "Son, you'd best be careful with that knife. you know they can search anyone on the ramp now?" I'd like to just interject that he wasn't telling me not to carry a knife, just that I might get hassled for it. I thanked him for the heads-up, because it wasn't really something I'd thought of, and as I walked away, I started thinking.....

If they have a problem with me having a knife clipped to my pocket, they're going to have a field day when they go through my bag and find my survival kit...

How do you fellow aviators deal with this? What will you expect to happen if you get searched? I'm not really worried about it at this particular ramp, as long as you're not being suspicious, no one hassles you. Small airports help too, I know most everyone there.

The FAA has a huge arguement to be prepared, but would I be harrassed for my "Big Knife" in my bag? It's not exactly rapidly deployable, but I'll bet that arguement won't get me far. Remembering that this is General Aviation, what can everyone tell me?
-Kyle