What's TSA's rationale for allowing Bic lighters?

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items

This has always confused me. I have read that fire is about the worst thing to occur in a plane in flight. By the way, one book of strike-on-box matches is also allowed.

I can't answer your question, but at least I can carry my beloved security snow globe with me on the plane now. Oh, snow globe, you are so round and comforting. You'd never do anything bad to me, would you?

But, hey, we should be happy. It looks like we can have some tools for fixing things and even the ability to build a fire, in the unlikely event that we survive a plane crash on a desolate, icy mountain side. Heck, we'll even have entertainment! Who's up for some hockey (both the sticks and the skates are allowed). McGyver would be able to get himself out of any situation with all this stuff, plus a rope made of the hair of all the passengers.

Why not? Where are you going to start a fire? Cabin is full of people and lavatory has smoke detectors. Besides if someone is hellbent on doing it they don't need a lighter.

You don't watch Sons Of Anarchy, do you?

Can you explain the reference to Sons of Anarchy? Is it about a snow globe gone amuck?

Apparently Jax beats someone to death with a snow globe. At least this is what I found googling around.

It is perception vs reality. The reality is that on 9/11 attackers used box cutters and took advantage of the then in place rules that flight crews must always obey hijackers. The response to that threat should have been hardened cockpit doors, armed flight crews, and rescinding the rule that flight crews obey hijackers and these steps were in fact taken. That's it, end of story, you fixed the problem with just those three changes.

But in addition to those rational changes in security, the government imposed an enormous bureaucratic system of security focused on passengers and did nothing about cargo, mail, and only cursory security changes to passengers' baggage procedures. Banning lighters means nothing if there are 2 tons of unsearched, unsniffed priority mail boxes in the baggage compartment.

Thus the perception vs. reality. The perception is that the government is doing something and you're safer. The reality is that it's all for show. While you wait in line and have your pockets and shoes searched for too much shampoo, thousands of pounds of mail and cargo are being loaded onto your plane with hardly a second look.

Specifically addressing your lighter issue... Using a lighter on a plane nowadays would elicit an immediate response from every able bodied male on that plane and the flight crew would not obey your commands. This makes a bic lighter all but useless to an attacker, much like knives or shampoo bottles or shoes or all the other unreasonable prohibitions placed on passengers.

Do you think things would actually be safer if BIC lighters were banned? I call it "pretend safer". Let's all pretend we are safer, sing Kum Ba Ya, and all that. Banning the inconsequential things, while ignoring the big problems, is pointless. Next they'll be trying to ban high capacity magazines, the ones with more than 100 pages, on airplanes. Sheesh.

It's okay to discuss the TSA's rationale or what we think their rationale might be. Let's stay away from politics and keep the tone positive.



chaosmagnet

I have to check my weapons bag when I fly. It's annoying but understandable. But then they hand me an interesting assortment of lethal weapons when we're in the air. Including a drinking straw. Not to mention the writing instuments, etc I;m allowed to board with. But they wont let me take my razor in my carry on shaving kit. They need to rethin k thier entire approach and start overr. Just my opinion, you're welcome to yours.

Oh no!!! No more Sky Mall to look at!!!!!!

EEEEKKKKK!!!!!! I love Skymall. All the pretty things I want but don't need. And I'm not allowed to buy since I went a little nuts at TravelSmith, Levenger and a few other places with shiny, pretty things :,(

Since starting this thread, I read an article that explained the rationale. Basically, TSA was spending too much time confiscating matches and lighters. Plus, people could easily smuggle them by using simple tricks. So, TSA punted on this one.

Here's a wild guess that has no evidence backing it. TSA had to ban either marijuana (including medicinal) or lighters and matches. TSA chose the former. See the list.

As Cheech and Chong found out the hard way, you can't smoke even in the lavatory. Not sure I buy your thesis. But that's a funny one!

From the beginnings of passenger flight, it was ok to carry a lighter, matches and to smoke on a plane. The smoking went away, to many health concerns. However, smokers are in dire need of a cigarette when they land, especially at another airport waiting for another flight. How do they light their cig? Buy a lighter and have to ditch it again before the next flight.

Lighters are not much of a weapon, nor are P-38 can openers or tiny Swiss Army knives, yet all were banned for awhile. it makes perfect sense to me to re-think some of the "security" changes made as a reaction to 9/11. I personally do not feel safe on a 40 year old airplane that takes off and lands 10 times a day, or more.

That old plane gets regular care, inspection, and maintenance, unlike many of us. The air frame may be forty years old, but many, if not most of the moving parts are much younger.

I have flown regularly on charter flights to the Channel Islands (U.S.) since 1982 on a plane that was old then. It is probably pushing fifty years. It gets very good care, and I know the pilots are thoughtful and cautious.

With every passing year, I appreciate old things more and more.