Those nylon lapel daggers look mighty cool, though.

Well, our politicians have to do something to justify their inflated salaries and to further their oily careers.

“they intend to introduce a bill called the "Leave All Blades Behind Act" to preserve the current prohibition on sharp scissors, tools and knives in airliner”

I knew it was too good to be true. I have felt positively naked flying without my leatherman and AL Mar Ultralight. My poor PSK gets gutted for flights.

I was fully planning on buying a high-grade set of 4” round tip scissors (with SV30 blades and cool mil-spec hard anodized handles) and a 7” long survival screwdriver (with precision tip and carbon fiber grip). I don’t need either while flying, but I’ve got to put some kind of cool tool in my empty pockets while flying.

Till they sort this out I’ll go back to carrying a half-dozen flashlights on airline flights.

TSA (Terminally Screwed-up Agency)

TR

I guess someday I may get caught absent mindedly packing my obsidian and jawbone skinner aboard, someday...

Do you think they would recognize a fireboard and spindle if they saw one?

Sue

"frozen rabbits or cats"
Please, I beg of you to elaborate!

Likely not, but that won't stop them from hassling you about it.

If it looks suspicious, they will be inclined to prevent you from boarding with it, whether they know what it is or not.

I wonder what they think of a 6" long mirror with a plastic handle, that with one brief exertion becomes a glass dagger?

I'd laugh, only I still have to fly home and back for Christmas.

"Now imagine the same situation but this time the gentelman is fitting terrorist profile and arguments get heated and there is a potential threat to me (an innocent bystander). Than I surely will do something about it."

Why would it make a difference if he fits a 'terrorist profile', aka looks middle eastern or muslim? An actual terrorist would never be stupid enough to draw attention to themselves by harassing a flight attendant.

In any case, if someone is abusing a flight attendant or anyone else, I think we have an obligation to intervene.

Matt, for confidentiality reasons I can't go into too many details, but the other employees were either secured in the cockpit or too frightened to help. My patient didn't "deserve a beating".. it came out of nowhere. I agree with your thoughts that flight crews often get the anger built up from other events (TSA, ticket counter, etc.). But.. the outcome remained the same: no one helped.. no one spoke up.. no one stood up..

As for you getting involved in the terrorist scenario in which you might be at risk. I don't doubt you. You make your living getting involved. Sadly, too many people find a way to vanish just when they need to be counted on. I remain pessimistic that anyone would actually stand up, even with 9/11 in their mind. Perhaps Forum members would.. but I have less and less faith in the public.

It seems to me that in almost every story I read these days about a drunk, unruly passenger it is being mentioned that they were restrained by crew and passengers. The shoe bomber was certainly restrained by passengers, including a 6'8" college basketball player. Maybe we should let anybody over 6'3" fly for free. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards, Vince