Knives to be allowed on flights, change dubbed 'shortsighted'

Small knives are set to be permitted in carry-on luggage on flights, in a change to current guidelines announced by the TSA today.

Knives with blades no more than 2.36 inches in length from tip to where the blade meets the handle or hilt will be approved for carry-on.

The blade must be no more than half an inch in width.

The TSA also announced toy bats and sporting equipment such as hockey sticks and golf clubs will also be allowed on board aircraft.

Knives allowed on flights from April 25, 2013.

/ Transportation Security Administration

The TSA said the changes were made after a committee had reviewed the agency's prohibited items list.

"This decision aligns TSA with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and our European counterparts," the TSA said in a statement. The changes are set to come into effect on April 25.

But the changes were opposed by two industry groups.

The Flight Attendants Union Coalition, representing nearly 90,000 Flight Attendants said the decision was ''poor and shortsighted''.

''Continued prohibition of these items is an integral layer in making our aviation system secure and must remain in place,'' said the union in a statement.

Knives not allowed on flights.

/ Transportation Security Administration

"As the last line of defense in the cabin and key aviation partners, we believe that these proposed changes will further endanger the lives of all Flight Attendants and the passengers we work so hard to keep safe and secure.

"Flight Attendants are the front line safety and security professionals on board every commercial passenger aircraft in this country and must be given the tools and training to protect ourselves, our passengers and the aircraft.''

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The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, representing over 16,000 American Airlines employees, asked the TSA to re-evaluate the policy and questioned why ''such a momentous decision'' was made without consulting the group.

APFA ''categorically rejects a proposal to allow knives of any kind in the cabin,'' said Glading.

APFA Safety and Security Coordinator Kelly Skyles said relaxing restrictions on hockey sticks, golf clubs, and ski poles, meant ''the potential for passengers getting hit with these items during boarding and deplaning. It's a recipe for disaster."

[BloggerBob]

Hi. Bob here from the TSA Blog. For more information on the changes to the prohibited items list, please check out the latest posts on our blog.

http://blog.tsa.gov/2013/03/small-pocket-knives-more-support-than.html
http://blog.tsa.gov/2013/03/tsa-prohibited-items-list-changing_5.html

Thanks,

Bob Burns
TSA Blog Team
blog.tsa.gov

[showmespfld]

So, now that we all know that terrorists once used box cutters to gain control of planes and crash them, how been stopped by the screening many of us would just sit back and allow it to happen again because we were afraid of being cut? What's the difference? If several people jumped a terrorist and took them down, even if he/she had a knife or a razor and someone got sliced-if nothing is done, you are all going to die anyway so what do you have to lose? Man up and take the chance! These little knives, fingernail clippers and the like that have been banned for years have done nothing but serve to put money in the pockets of those who confiscate them and resell them. It is a racket through and through. Use your brains people. How many terrorists have been stopped by the screening? All have gotten through and have been caught when they attempted to light their shoe or their underwear so what does that tell you? THINK!!!

[bille777]

cant believe how stupid this is. America has gone insane.
we have stopped ZERO terrorists with all this control and Gestapo power grab.

[webgone]

I cant believe how stupid this is.
Can I take 20 of these knives or 10 with me, or what ?
Is this about awareness training ?
We are going into the next generation of have I checked my knife to be with me, before I go ?
Changing those rules showing to us how stupid we are thinking about it.
Soon we read in foreign papers,american knife attitude changed again.
Are we that stupid ?

[sickofwhiners]

Has anyone heard of a knife attack on any of the airlines in the world who already use this standard? I haven't.

[mullylin33]

Anyone of those jackknifes can cut anyones juglar veins etc....has the TSA gone crazy? This is stupidity at its highest and puts flight attendants more at risk muchless passengers!! I rather go slower than risk going down in a plane...unbelievable!!

[BludApfel]

Then you are welcome to take a bus, train, or ship to your next destination.

[deeneve]

I really hope that the people complaining about people being allowed to bring a pocketknife on a plane, are not the same ones advocating having more concealed firearms in movie theaters and elementary schools?

If I recall correctly, the theory behind that is that MORE weapons make us all safer.

[deeneve]

OK, now let's revisit the whole shoe and naked body scan things :). I have to admit I find it amusing that people (myself included) whined every time they made it more difficult to take things aboard and now that they are relaxing the rules, everyone is whining again LOL. I guess you can't please anyone, anytime ;)

[MrLiterally]

Just lock the pilot cabin and the passengers will take care of themselves. How else do you think the Flight 91 folks fought the terrorist on 911? They had KNIVES, personal pocket knives. Didn't show that in the film, but I can assure you that back in the day, half of the men who flew carried pocket knives.

Besides, there are lots of hikers and backpacker types with their multi tools and swiss army knives who ought to be allowed to bring those aboard. Let us not make ourselves into our own prisoners out of fear of the rare incident.

[Rocksman]

This is just another demonstration of how inept big goverment can be.