I recently read an article on The Daily Beast talking about the fear many people feel flying in today's airlines.  The fear is fairly erroneous, since we are currently experiencing one of the safest times in aviation history.  But what struck me was that governments are ceaselessly proclaiming that flying commercially is terrorist-proof.

This past summer, a relative of mine came to visit and brought along a colleague.  That person looked like an average, bookish individual.  Over 40, glasses, slim build, white and clean cut.  That person also made it on the aircraft with a Gerber multi-tool in their carry-on.

If this had been a terrorist, what could have happened?

What are your thoughts?

Travis wrote on Sep 5^th, 2009 at 5:04am:


I had a Gerber confiscated from me as I went through security at a base in the middle east. The fact I was already going to be in one of the front seats was lost on them. The fact it was in my suitcase was even more lost on them. Either way, they'd confiscated several items in total from the crew, and I'm sure cash changed hands to ensure they were returned to their rightful owners.

Travis wrote on Sep 5^th, 2009 at 5:04am:


The terrorist stereotype is the worst assumption made by people.  ANYONE could be a threat, and that includes even little children, but of course people assume oh that kid is innocent or that man looks alright so we're good. 

I've experienced inconsistencies with airport security myself, and something tells me that I only got treated this way because I'm a 20 year old white jewish boy.  The two that stand out are: once, I forgot to take my toiletries out of my backpack.  I had a big (20 oz?) bottle of contact solution and a full tube of toothpaste.  I honestly had forgotten about it, went through the x-ray, they checked my bag, saw the solution, looked at me, I said something along the lines of sorry, I forgot that was in there, and the guy said it's alright and gave it all back to me, and I know they are supposed to confiscate it.  It's not like it was unopened or anything, it very well could have not been contact solution.

The second was when I was taking my PS3 to school for the first time, I didn't know you had to take it out of the bag like a laptop.  It went through the xray, the guy watching the screen just asked me whats in that bag, I said it's a PS3, and he said sure, not even looking in the bag!!! 

I'd say someone at O'Hare likes Japanese candy.  Either that or the Japanese Customs agent recognized them and the TSA guy didn't know what they were.

I had a full tube of toothpaste that I forgot to take out of my carry-on last time I was flying out of Honolulu, they confiscated that and pulled me asside for questioning, fortunately the agent who talked to me realized that it was an honest mistake and let me go.  Ofcourse what got me was that they didn't catch it flying out of Lihue earlier that day, and it was after we came back from Pearl Harbor too!  if it was a bomb, I would have had plenty of time to use it, not only on the Inter-Island hop, but also on a major US Navy Base.

ive walked through security a fair few times and well i put a razor from a pencil sharpener in my wallet quite sharp (i forgot it was in there) and it made it through

also i had a few allen keys in my shorts (you know for surfing) and they made em through as well

i dont no

Quote:


Yum...red bean candy   Cant find those here, and my Taiwanese friend hasn't sent any over in a long time...loved those things

I hated that liquid ban.  I caught the worst of it coming home from Taiwan as it had just taken effect a couple days before my departure.  Didn't know about it at first.  Remember clearing the customs desks and the main security check point in the terminal just fine.  Having 2 hours before my flight I bought a Pepsi and walked around a bit.  Got to the gate, not sure about Taipei's Terminal 2 as Malaysia Airlines uses Terminal 1, each gate had its own "holding" lounge.  At the top of the stairs there was a second security point, metal detector and all...set up specifically for US bound flights.  Wasn't sure why, I hadn't heard any news in several days.  They took my Pepsi and informed me of the ban.  But what they failed to mention was that would be my last drink till boarding the flight.  An hour later, flight delayed an hour.  Getting thirsty, looked over and saw a pop machine in the corner.  Scrounging in my pockets for my last $100 in Taiwanese coins I hadn't set aside to bring home, walked over to the machine, only to find a note saying sorry but shut off due to ban   Looked over to a drinking fountain..."out of order"   Walked back up the stairs...can't exit that area once cleared Didn't get a drink till some 2 hours later after getting airborne.

But what really ticked me off, after the incredibly rude welcome I got while clearing customs at LAX...I made it to the American Airlines terminal, clearing security my carry on was "randomly" selected for extra screening.  They took one thing from my bag, an EMPTY beer can, I thought the can design was neat...It was a Taiwanese made beer.  Drank it and before getting off the plane I had taken it to the restroom and rinsed it out good.  But regardless of it being an empty can that @#$%@#$ crushed it in her hand and threw it in the trash   Lucky I still had one, not nearly as fancy, but unopened, tucked away in my checked bag that survived the trip

But airport security is still a pain...but I noticed a big difference between 2006 and 2009.  Still though...I was frisked at the Tulsa airport in February only because I had a sweatshirt on.  Yet all my toiletries made it through...including a 5oz bottle of expensive cologne...cleared Fort Wayne security as well on my way out...what happened to the "3oz" rule   Didn't realize it was over that limit while packing...glad it made it through because its about $70 a bottle, didn't have a checked bag to put it in.  But at the same time...that's not one...but two airports that it was missed...meaning staff at the checkpoints weren't really doing their job.  3oz is the rule...not 5oz.   Plus its flammable, and I also had a lighter in with a pack of smokes...made it through 2 security checkpoints and onto 5 aircraft in 3 days with potential "bomb" material in my bag

But when it comes to safety...I'm more worried about the maintenance of the aircraft I'm on, not some "terrorist" or just plain nut case that might have somehow cleared.  With airlines cutting costs I've noticed a slight upward trend in minor aircraft accidents involving shoddy maintenance procedures.

I still fear flying commercial a little bit but only from sound on takeoff and landing not the actual ride/cruise. I flew on one of the oldest Jetstar A320's taking off on a small runway at Hamilton Island and the landing gear went up it sounded like a *@!$*$# DC-3!!! I almost fainted lol

But i still love flying, my mate is going to Japan, probably on his way to the airport right now and he has been crapping his pants all day