Knives, bats, and clubs on planes — oh no!

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took action in paring its forbidden items list a bit — a tiny bit. Passengers will soon be allowed to carry on small knives and some sporting equipment that after years of careful research and untold hours of committee deliberations have been determined to be non-threatening in terms of airline security.

These new rules are simply embarrassing and raise questions about whether those on this review committee are dealing with reality. At most, they are baby steps in the right direction. To some, they are a breach of personal security.

This action, without any explanation of its philosophy, rationale, or significant benefits, is generating more protests than plaudits.

The Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA) has been pressing for changes to the TSA forbidden items list for years. CTA efforts are predicated on changes that have taken place since 9/11.

In testimony before Congress, CTA has stated that:

• Cockpit doors are fortified
• Every passenger goes through a check against the terrorist watch list.
• Pointless searches for items that cannot be used to take over the cockpit of a plane or be used as an explosive should be discontinued.
• Eliminating searches for these items that do not threaten an aircraft will save millions of dollars annually.

Unfortunately, this effort by TSA to streamline security screening and focus on real threats will run into a public relations buzz saw. Those favoring such changes will be disappointed by such halfway actions and those favoring the current system will wail about personal safety.

Flight attendants are already up in arms.

When TSA spokesperson David Castelveter said, “There’s still an emotional attachment to that matter,” he hit the nail on the head. He was referring only to razor blades and box cutters, but certainly knives stir similar passions.

If the TSA had initially announced changes in forbidden items by allowing sporting equipment and tools like screwdrivers and wrenches, there wouldn’t have been much visceral reaction. But, knives and box cutters push emotional buttons.

Since the actual screening process is not changing at all, passengers might now feel less safe after dealing with the same security line hassles. Plus, flight attendants and air marshals will be upset.

Some see the TSA’s actions as designed to make their own work easier, while putting passengers and crew at risk. The opportunity to couple these forbidden item changes with benefits to the public with other dramatic security improvements has been lost.

Now the TSA is faced with the worst of both worlds.

The effects of this new rule may end up slowing security lines rather than speeding them along, costing more money rather than less, and adding a new level of confusion. Starting on April 25th, some baseball bats will be forbidden. If you can believe it, TSA security personnel will have to stop and measure them.

And just how TSA agents will begin measuring the size of items to the tenth-of-an-inch (in a country that has officially refused to adopt the metric standards) and install scales to weigh plastic bats and allow them aboard should they weigh less than 24 ounces, hasn’t been disclosed.

Here is the TSA announcement as it appeared on the TSA Blog.

TSA established a committee to review the prohibited items list based on an overall risk-based security approach. After the review, TSA Administrator John S. Pistole made the decision to start allowing the following items in carry-on bags beginning April 25:

• Small Pocket Knives – Small knives with non-locking blades smaller than 2.36 inches and less than 1/2 inch in width will be permitted
• Small Novelty Bats and Toy Bats
• Ski Poles
• Hockey Sticks
• Lacrosse Sticks
• Billiard Cues
• Golf Clubs (Limit Two)

Friends sent me Facebook rants about the fact that people can now bring knives and baseball bats on the plane, but they can’t bring on a cup of coffee.

However, I have some other questions.

Why is a larger-than-7-inch wrench more dangerous than a pool cue?
Why is marijuana (including both medical and non-medical) on the no-fly list?
Why is a larger-than-7-inch screwdriver forbidden when a ski pole is not?
Why is a larger-than-7-inch pair of pliers forbidden?
Why is a novelty bat, exactly the same weight and length as a billy club, permitted while the billy club is not? Aesthetics?
Why is a fencing foil considered dangerous when a hockey stick is not?

Anyone who has seriously discussed material changes to the TSA forbidden items list with pilots, flight attendants, and the public knows the emotional reactions that allowing knives on planes generate. The TSA should hardly have been blind-sided.

What could have been a positive modification to our airport security system, complete with savings of money and time and no decrease in real security, is on its way to becoming a public relations disaster. I’m expecting the TSA to backtrack.

Whatever path the TSA chooses, they need to present it as a way forward, not a step backwards. These kinds of changes need to be vetted carefully with the most important stakeholders in this process — airline crews, the flying public, and the TSA.

Tagged as: new forbidden items screening, TSA