More high-handedness from TSA

[4v50 Gary]

Trapper - after 9/11 I flew with a carry on filled with chisels, files, rasps, dividers, compass, saws, planes (wood removal types), screwdrivers, knives and flintlock gun parts. No one thought a thing. Nowadays if it looks funny, the TSA has a knipshunfit.

I think some TSA guys are cool and pretty friendly, but I've met some neo-nazis who have no sense but an overbearing sense of authority.

 

[Sergeant Bob]

Breeching the skin of the aircraft is not what they are worrying about. The most feared incident on any aircraft is fire. That is what the issue is.

I remember back in '75 when I flew down to San Antonio, (Lackland AFB), butane and those sealed "view lighters" (the clear plastic ones in which you could see the lighter fluid and you had to turn them upside down and push in the button to wet the wick) were on the prohibited list.

The problem is with the pressure differential between the inside of the lighter and the cabin pressure. If the cabin pressure is significantly lower than the pressure inside the lighter it can cause it to flare up if used, or possibly leak or burst (possibly causing the afore mentioned fire).

I had one of those view lighters (Scripto) and decided to use it. I lit it and no problem. Then, just for the purpose of experimintation, I pushed in the button while it was lit. It shot flame out about six inches!! Really cool but I decided the rest of the trip would be dedicated to trying to sneak in some adult beverages before we arrived in Texas.