Torches and planes

[Adrian Kelland]

I had a similar issue, also in Norway.

Torch was fine London/Oslo/Harstead. Not so fine Harstead/Oslo, but I was able to accompany it to the plane and see it store in the hold along with my hand luggage it was in. Oslo/London was fine. Weight of the torch as weapon was the problem. I wonder if they have ever come across drinks bottles as weapons...

Adrian

[Jenkins]

Manchester/Amsterdam, Amsterdam/Oslo (summer 2006, the day UK airports relaxed hand luggae restructions back to full size bags) - no problems
Oslo/Harstad - no chance, had to check the Greenforce battery into the hold

Norway did appear to have VERY sensitive scanners - my bra set off the metal detectors!


November this year flying out of Manchester one of our bags was pulled at security (nothing new there) but the guy was really nice and chatty. He instantly recognised dive gear and whilst he did check the whole bag it was very relaxed and he even let us off for "concealling" a tube of silicon lube we'd forgotton was in the bottom of the bag.

[Richard Mason]

This whole issue of "could be used as a weapon" is a load of bullshit frankly. The era in which you could hijack an airliner and then hold 100-200+ frightened/angry passengers at bay with a stanley knife ended on the morning of 9-12.

And a torch/truncheon/wrecking bar/samurai sword even? Don't make me laugh.
If you are going to do that now, the minimum requirement is going to be an Uzi and a box of hand grenades. And even then, you aren't going to get on to the flight deck, regardless of what you do.

It's a bit like the military, they always train for their last war.

[Jenkins]

I still reckon that if I get pissed off with the flight crew I will resort to the "Friday Night Special" - buy a bottle of duty free, smash the bottom and use it as an improvised dagger.

I have no objections to sensible controlls being improvised BUT in order for it to have any effect on safety they need to look at all potential weapons - but just think of the outrage if you couldn't buy glass bottles of duty free in the airports.

[David]

Originally Posted by Jenkins

I still reckon that if I get pissed off with the flight crew I will resort to the "Friday Night Special" - buy a bottle of duty free, smash the bottom and use it as an improvised dagger.

I have no objections to sensible controlls being improvised BUT in order for it to have any effect on safety they need to look at all potential weapons - but just think of the outrage if you couldn't buy glass bottles of duty free in the airports.

thats just plain silly a small battery in a sock is so much simpler. but hey a ballpoint pen is very nasty too. What ever they do they cant stop you having a solution on a flight. But they can make us feel safer.