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Reversing a decade long trend toward ever-tighter security regulations, the US FAA will again allow passengers to carry small knives and an assortment of clubs and bats onto flights.
The policy change will bring US security standards into line with those overseas and allow the Transportation Security Administration to focus on more serious threats, the FAA said.
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But the change drew an immediate outcry from unions representing flight attendants, who said the decision was meant to make life easier from ground security personnel at the risk of endangering passengers and crew.
The change also drew a puzzled reaction on social media, with many commentators pointing out that passenger could now bring knives or hockey sticks aboard flights, but not bottles of water or shampoo.
Under the new policy, folding knives with blades less than 6cm long and 1.25cm wide will be permitted on board. Those measurements are meant to include pen knives, corkscrews with small blades and other small knives.
Novelty-sized baseball bats, plastic toy bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks and up to two golf clubs will also be allowed on board. Box cutters, razor blades and knives that don’t fold or have molded grip handles are still prohibited.
Wayne
says:This always was propaganda designed to instill fear and a disgusting waste of taxpayer money.
Ben
says:So they obviously weren’t paying attention when that guy went all ‘Buffy the vampire slayer’ on the QantasLink 717 cabin crew a few years back.
Your average plastic kids cricket bat would at the very least deliever the person on the recieving end a large headache and I’m no doctor, but a 5.9cm knife used by someone trained (in unkind deeds)…
The TSA has really lost it this time.
DB
says:Security regulations (like fences) are for honest people. Remember 9/11 happened with the hijackers holding box cutters, something perfectly legal at the time. The difference now is that no-one is going to sit there an let some nutter go berserk. The mental image of being flown into a building will overcome the strongest cowardice!