Airplane security

[Chris]

Okay folks, I'm going to be doing some travelling by airline next year, for work(seminars and training) and for pleasure(a ten-year anniversary trip to Hawaii).  In the old days, prior to 9/11 and the birth of TSA madness, I used to carry a Victorinox Swiss Army knife with a 3.5" locking blade, a small Victorinox utility Swiss Army knife, and a Mini-Mag light on my person, and a full sized 3 D cell Mag light and a Spyderco Delica in my carry-on.  With the badge in my wallet, no one questioned anything.  (Except a couple of times when airline employess asked me why I wasn't carrying a firearm on board.)

Anyways, the badge is gone, and the new rules are in place.  Anyone have any thoughts on what I can carry on board the plane?  The knives and flashlights will go in checked luggage (and hopefully be there when I arrive).  What can I carry on board, not bring down the wrath of TSA, and still have something?

[client32]

Hot coffee.
That you have buy at the airport after you pass the check point.

I thought the small flashlight is still ok?

Lawdog might recommend a stick:
http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/2006/07/aw-nuts.html

[Jamisjockey]

Don't ask me, ask them
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm

[Ben]

I echo JamisJockey -- go by the TSA list. I'm flying Friday and haven't flown since the latest aviation elevated threat level (for liquids, etc.), so I reviewed it just to be safe. The prohibited gel shoe inserts thing was a new one on me. Guess the comfy shoes are being checked this time.

[Chris]

WOW!  That is about as mindboggling a list as I have seen.  I can't carry my keychain sized Swiss Army Knife on board, but I can take knitting needles?  And the shoe ineserts...I guess I'll be packing my running shoes and wearing something else.  Maybe I should take up knitting...

Anyone seen anything about flashlights?

I'm off to read more from their lists.  Thanks for the link.

[Jamisjockey]

WOW!  That is about as mindboggling a list as I have seen.  I can't carry my keychain sized Swiss Army Knife on board, but I can take knitting needles?  And the shoe ineserts...I guess I'll be packing my running shoes and wearing something else.  Maybe I should take up knitting...

Anyone seen anything about flashlights?

I'm off to read more from their lists.  Thanks for the link.

The government taught me a valuable lesson during my employment....if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.  Never more applicable than with the TSA regs.

[wingnutx]

I carry a new pair of tubesocks, doubled up, and something small and heavy like a large socket.

A good cane, or "Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches" might be good.

[ONE-SHOT-ONE]

if you want to do the cane it is a good idea,
also read that a good glued spine magazine and a handfull of quarters with tape or rubberbands makes a formable baton.

place quarters along spine inside of mag fold a couple of pages down over them roll tightly and secure with tape or rubberbands (all this can be done after bording the individual items will not spark suspesion)

[HankB]

I took a look a the list . . . interesting that they felt a need to specifically disallow meat cleavers, blasting caps, spear guns, and gasoline.

[Unisaw]

I keep a Surefire G2Z in my briefcase and have flown commercial as recently as two weeks ago.  In all, I have probably carried that flashlight on board at least 50 flights since 9/11 and have never had a problem.

[Eleven Mike]

Bring whatever you want, just wrap it up in your prayer rug.   

[wingnutx]

A roll of foil would make a good baton, and in a pinch you can always use it to make an emergency hat.

[Bob F.]

Gotta talk to my seamstress! A bandana with a pocket sewn into one corner is real inconspicuous. Put a few quarters in the pocket when things start going south.

Gonna cut a white ash tree for firewood. Will leave one section about 5' to split walking sticks out of. Ash is what ball bats are made from (call the grammer cops!). I always take a walking stick to the woods if I'm not carrying a long gun. Paracord or rawhide wrap makes a nice handle. A "fighting staff", up close and personal, makes a helleva weapon! Have a nice Sassafras stick and an Ironwood stick at present, plus a couple I'm not sure about. Incidentally, I always have a handgun in the woods. Didn't want that long gun phrase to be misleading.

Stay safe.
Bob

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I've not flown without a CDROM in a jewel case in the last 5 years.

A walking cane isn't overtly suspicious as long as you're using it. Mine's ironwood and has a 'loose' crook that's wider than those you commonly see.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[Jamisjockey]

If some A-rab starts getting out of hand on a flight, I'll use whatever it takes to bring things to a screeching halt.  If push comes to shove, pick up a liberal and use 'em as a battering ram
 

[roo_ster]

Liberals make terrible battering rams.  When faced with existential threats, they go all soft.

[Chris]

So, if I need to grab a liberal, I need to tell them something that will make them stand up and fight...maybe tell them that the terrorist is seeking to suppress women's and minority rights by encouraging white male tobacco users to grab fully automatic assault rifles and shoot endangered species?

Poor terrorist...   

[Modifiedbrowning]

Roll of quarters inside a sock.
Metal pen.
Heavy soled shoe or boot.
Key held between fingers.
Etc, etc etc, plenty of availbale weapons out there.