On-board saftey feared

[l8rd8r]

Check out the AFA website. They are furious :angry:. While some people think a screwdriver is harmless, others fear it can be sharpen into a dangerous blade. Here's a partial quote from the article..."The website is www.leaveallbladesbehind.com and is a new tool to tell TSA and Congress that it is wrong to put flight attendants and passengers at risk because they can not focus on more than one task at a time. The Director of TSA, Kip Hawley, has stated that they (the TSA) need to focus on keeping explosives off commercial flights. We could not agree more but not at the expense of the safety of those in the aircraft cabin. It should not be one or the other but both."In addition, yes the cockpit door has been fortified but, the fwd bathroom wall has not and it is a weak area that TSA is aware of. Why take the chance...vote no please.

 

[flyingcat]

Wouldn't it take a while to get through the lav wall? Nothing is 100% fool proof and short of installing a three inch iron plate between the cockpit and the cabin there is not much that can be done. Can't someone just bust through the floor than go up from the avionics bay? How about the wall in the galley? 🙄

Lets be honest the no blades thing while nice does not change the fact that anything can be used as a weapon. For example the souvenir statue of liberty the airport shop sells at JFK and LGA. The list is endless, I'm suprised someone has not mentioned passengers come onboard with nothing but a robe.

 

[PITbull]

Take the time sign the petition. It takes a little time but follow the instructions on how to sign you signature using a mouse.

 

[FWAAA]

Check out the AFA website. They are furious :angry:. While some people think a screwdriver is harmless, others fear it can be sharpen into a dangerous blade. Here's a partial quote from the article..."The website is www.leaveallbladesbehind.com and is a new tool to tell TSA and Congress that it is wrong to put flight attendants and passengers at risk because they can not focus on more than one task at a time. The Director of TSA, Kip Hawley, has stated that they (the TSA) need to focus on keeping explosives off commercial flights. We could not agree more but not at the expense of the safety of those in the aircraft cabin. It should not be one or the other but both."In addition, yes the cockpit door has been fortified but, the fwd bathroom wall has not and it is a weak area that TSA is aware of. Why take the chance...vote no please.

More irrational fear. Afraid of small screwdrivers, scissors, pliers and wrenches?

If so, I'd suggest counseling or a career change. Ever since September 11, 2001, glass bottles have been allowed. Break one of those and you could practically slice a head off.

Afraid of aluminum cans? Break one in half, and you could get a very nasty slash.

What about razor blades? Doesn't take too much time or smarts to break a disposable or Mach 3 blade assembly apart, add some tape (also never prohibited) and you've got a nice prison-style knife.

FAs who are so easily spooked (at the thought of a more sensible and relaxed prohibited items list) are being betrayed by their emotions rather than dispalying rational, logical thought processes.

This is one area where Hawley and the TSA have got it right. Too bad small swiss army knives weren't also allowed.

 

[N965VJ]

Brand X gave me a metal knife to slice through my chicken on a flight across the pond the other day.

Sound the alarms!

 

[SKY HIGH]

FAs who are so easily spooked (at the thought of a more sensible and relaxed prohibited items list) are being betrayed by their emotions rather than dispalying rational, logical thought processes.

SKY HIGH states: it's NOT about being spooked, IT'S ABOUT "NOT FORGETTING"--->

http://www.afanet.org/Flight%20Attendant%2.../Jean_Roger.htm


http://www.afanet.org/Flight%20Attendant%2...anne_snyder.htm

http://www.salemstate.edu/athletics/news/ATH-news_fund.htm

http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories/20020601/FP_002.htm

http://www.afanet.org/barbaraaresteugi.htm

http://www.afanet.org/Flight%20Attendant%2...eidenberger.htm

http://www.afanet.org/Flight%20Attendant%2...es/reneemay.htm

http://www.db.erau.edu/campus/alumni/alumn...e/charlebo.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/2001...3greenbiop8.asp

http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/2001...3lylesbiop8.asp

http://www.victorsaracini.com/

http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/2001...3welshbiop8.asp

http://www.michaelroberthorrocks.com/

http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/DPS/NewPage/AL/...%20MARCHAND.htm

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cfburling3.htm

http://www.cantcryhardenough.com/

.......3000 PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE OTHERWISE! BUT THEY CANT.
THE INDUSTRY FAILED THEM.

WE OWE THEM, SAFER SKIES.

 

[FWAAA]

SKY HIGH states: it's NOT about being spooked, IT'S ABOUT "NOT FORGETTING"--->

[.......3000 PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE OTHERWISE! BUT THEY CANT.
THE INDUSTRY FAILED THEM.

WE OWE THEM, SAFER SKIES.

Good grief. Sadly, their deaths would have happened whether or not the 19 worthless pieces of garbage who attacked us that terrible day carried box cutters or other knives. All the blades did was hasten the deaths of those who were stabbed/slashed. Like it or not, the carnage happened for many more complex reasons than the fact that small blades were permitted items.

I completely disagree with you: It's all about irrational, emotional fear rather than adult, rational, logical thought. And it makes Pat Friend and the AFA look very foolish. Jeez, put down the Cosmo and US Weekly and think for a change.

 

[SKY HIGH]

And it makes Pat Friend and the AFA look very foolish.

sky high states: Foolish?...hardly! I would expect nothing less of AFA. It has a long HISTORY of "safety" accomplishments. Constantly Lobbying Congress for changes in the industry. Carry on limits, floor level lighting, smoking ban, OSHA protections, security legislation,increased penalties for crewmember interference, less flammable cabin interiors, duty time regulations..........to NAME A FEW.

Your Union at AA: Self serving!

 

[FWAAA]

sky high states: Foolish?...hardly! I would expect nothing less of AFA. It has a long HISTORY of "safety" accomplishments. Constantly Lobbying Congress for changes in the industry. Carry on limits, floor level lighting, smoking ban, OSHA protections, security legislation,increased penalties for crewmember interference, less flammable cabin interiors, duty time regulations..........to NAME A FEW.

Your Union at AA: Self serving!

We'll have to agree to disagree. Cry wolf too often, and all that. And whining about the relaxation of the prohibited items list is, IMO, a warning for a non-existent wolf. Doesn't help the credibility of the AFA when a wolf actually appears. 🙂

By the way - I am not employed by AMR nor any of its subsidiaries. It's not MY APFA. 😀

 

[pitflyer]

As a flier I am not concerned. Basically any trained fighter would probably be much more lethal than I would be even if I had a knife on a plane. Let alone how easy it is to make weapons out of every day objects (see any prison). What will keep us safe is no pax will ever let hijackers overpower them and take over a plane -- back on 9/11 people would hijack planes, ask for money or something, and then when they get it, let everyone go. Now we know that is not likely, and EVERYONE would fight back. That is more security than the bloated, waste of money TSA can ever provide, no matter what they allow in and out of planes.

 

[N965VJ]

Compare the picture of knives on AFA’s silly website with the text of prohibited items below that I copied and pasted from the TSA website.

Personal Items
Cigar Cutters Yes
Corkscrews Yes
Cuticle Cutters Yes
Eyeglass Repair Tools (including screwdrivers) Yes
Eyelash Curlers Yes
Knitting and Crochet Needles Yes
Knives - prohibited as carry-on except for plastic or round bladed butter knives (not serrated). No
Nail Clippers Yes
Nail Files Yes
Personal care or toiletries with aerosols, in limited quantities (such as hairsprays, deodorants) Yes
Safety Razors (including disposable razors) Yes
Scissors - plastic or metal with blunt tips Yes
Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades longer than four inches in length No
Toy Transformer Robots Yes
Toy Weapons (if not realistic replicas) Yes
Tweezers Yes
Umbrellas (allowed in carry-on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed) Yes
Walking Canes (allowed in carry-on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed) Yes

Sharp Objects
Box Cutters No
Ice Axes/Ice Picks No
Knives - prohibited as carry-on except for plastic or round bladed butter knives (not serrated). No
Meat Cleavers No
Razor-Type Blades, such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors No
Sabers No
Scissors – metal with pointed tips and blades longer than four inches No
Swords No

Note Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

Sporting Goods
Baseball Bats No
Bows and Arrows No
Cricket Bats No
Golf Clubs No
Hockey Sticks No
Lacrosse Sticks No
Pool Cues No
Ski Poles No
Spear Guns No

In case you missed it:
Knives - prohibited as carry-on except for plastic or round bladed butter knives (not serrated). No

I expect the picture to disappear soon since it shows items that are not allowed, but where in the text of the AFA website does it cite specific items that they feel are so dangerous? All I can find is vauge statements like this:

Recently, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) announced that it would lift restrictions on certain items from being brought onboard aircraft. They have announced that starting December 22nd, items such as scissors, large screwdrivers and other items will be allowed onboard the aircraft.

Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Joe Crowley (D-NY) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) have introduced legislation that would prevent TSA from changing or removing items from the prohibited items list – items that we believe can still be used as weapons to harm us or passengers, whether it’s a disruptive, drunk passenger or a terrorist hoping to replicate 9-11.

S. 2083 and HR 4452 the "Leave All Blades Behind Act" prevents TSA from allowing these potential weapons back onboard the aircraft. We must let our elected Congressmembers know that they must support this legislation and that it must be passed as quickly as possible.

Actually, the TSA is stepping up some processes. From the TSA website:

Airline travelers are seeing more random screenings, a smaller prohibited items list and a TSA work force more dedicated to detecting explosives. More specifically, passengers can carry small tools and scissors on-board aircraft.

Passengers will continue to walk through a metal detector and have their carry-on and checked baggage screened. However, there may now be a brief additional search of passengers or their property, including screening of shoes, hand-wanding, enhanced pat-down and inspection of carry-on bags. These searches will be generated at random and will take only about a minute to complete. They will allow Transportation Security Officers (formerly classified as screeners) to better screen passengers for explosives and other more serious threats to the aviation system.

Why is AFA distorting the truth, wasting money and scaring people with such shrill nonsense?

 

[FWAAA]

Why is AFA distorting the truth, wasting money and scaring people with such shrill nonsense?

Dunno. Like I said, they need to put down the Cosmo and US weekly and think for themselves. It makes Friend and the other stupid AFA leaders look foolish (and pretty stupid, since they can't even get the facts straight, let alone the argument).

 

[SKY HIGH]

As a flier I am not concerned.

sky high states: Of course, you're NOT. It's NOT your "work environment." It's NOT all about terrorism, prior to 9-11, hundreds of "air rage" cases were happening per year. "Crewmembers" being hit, attacked, bitten, and HOSPITALIZED.
Who needs to bring sharp scissors or tools such as screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches onboard an aircraft?
Imagine, a screwdriver in the hands of that BIPOLAR Manic Depressive Passenger several weeks ago. The Air Marshal saw a threat. BAM. DEAD.
SO DO I, A SCREWDRIVER TO MY THROAT. It doesnt need to be ONBOARD AN AIRCRAFT. IT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED. Once again, the FAA/TSA is turning it's head on Flight Attendant SAFETY!

...flights these days, can turn into the jerry Springer show! :angry: :down:

 

[UPNAWAY]

:unsure: Doesn't the AFA and the FA's realize that if pax could carry say a swiss army knife you would be protected from terrorist or the crazy's. I bet 10% of the males would carry and those FF in first who fly all the time and are aware of what is going on would pounce in an instant and sticking a 2 inch blade in the bad guys eye will defuse any situation.
It is the same as gun control "only the criminals" have guns. And it is a complete missuse of TSA resources as is pulling those lighters out of the 80 year old grandma's bags.
They could hire a million screeners and it wouldn't matter if they have to look for everyday items and search "everyday" people! It really is just common sense, people! ALPA has this 100% correct it is who gets on board not what and I would rather have a baseball bat or a golf club if I have to call out a few other PAX and say "LETS ROLL"! God Bless 'Em!

 

[Snafu]

As far as I can see, there is ZERO consistancy with the TSA. I have had a can of static guard pulled from my carry on the RETURN trip. I just had a lighter pulled from my coat pocket on the RETURN trip. Guess it depends which airport it is............it's all been pretty inconsistant from the beginning. If anyone wants to see real security measures, go overseas.