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

Tou can go Here for a link to the TSA Gen Aviation guidelines. I didn't download it myself, 'cuz it is in PDF and for some reason my computer doesn't like PDF very much.

Hope there is info there to answer your question...

General Aviation applied to my message would be the private use of aircraft. It could apply to small commercial air traffic, I suppose, but I'm thinking basically of about a 6 seat, privately owned and operated aircraft. In my case, I typically fly a Piper Warrior, which is a 4 Seater. Pretty well industry-wide, General Aviation would be anything that is not run by a large company or airline. I should also add that it's not my airplane, its a Rental, which is why I'm forced to keep my Kit in a bag with me on the ramp, rather than being able to leave it in the plane, where searches aren't really an issue.

I changed my post on you, sorry.

I am going to assume that, as the pilot and renter, you can pretty much carry what you want. Having a razor blade on board or not is not going to have much effect on the nut who wants to crash his rented 172 into something. But that is just my hopefully common sense talking, and common sense is not always factored in when they write laws.

As far as I know, "bush pilots" in Alaska are still REQUIRED to carry a specified amount of survival equipment for the number of soles on board, AND a specified firearm. Plus they haul hunters all over the state with knives, guns, etc...

You raise a good point with Alaska, but I know there a unique regulations in place there. Unfortunately, the link you sent was basically an instruction manual on making your airport less inviting, and didn't provide any legal advice. Ah well, thanks anyway. I agree with your common sense, but if I've learned anything in this world, it's that common sense...isn't. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
-Kyle

haha yea me too.

Sorry it didn't help...