For years I have dreamed of being able to do some woodworking during the many nights I spend in hotels across the country. However, even pilots have not dodged the scrutiny of the TSA. So for the last twelve years I haven’t been able to bring even the smallest knife to work – much less a chisel and a saw. When I read the news last month that the TSA was going to allow small knives back on board the aircraft I was overjoyed. Unfortunately many of my fellow crew members were not nearly as happy about it and made their voices heard.
I was all ready to order my cheap folding chip carving knife to be able to practice chip carving in the hotel rooms. Alas, the TSA caved in to the pressure even though there are things permitted on the aircraft today that could be much more dangerous than a small knife (have you seen those 12″ knitting needles!?)
Today was supposed to be the day that the new policy went into effect. So, I guess I’ll have to leave that knife on my wish list and hope that maybe, someday, they realize that if I already have the controls to the airplane in my hands, maybe I can be trusted with a small knife.
Gunpowder Woodworks 
Dag nabbit!
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Mark, I had mixed feelings when I heard that they were going to allow small knives and thought the same as you. Wow! I’ll get a pocket knife made for carving and carry a few sticks or pieces of wood. But, I also thought, wait a minute, a small knife can still be a life threatening instrument.I have to admit, that I don’t trust logic to much of the fed. I deal with several fed depts. and logic is not a tool that is commonly in use. Having flown 4 times this week, I would love to have had it. Wonder what they would think if I tried carving on the plane?Alan
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Even if it’s a permitted item expect some strange looks from your fellow passengers. Even if they are permitted I think seeing them in use on the airplane would freak a lot of people out.
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Watch for Mark’s new book: Wood Carving with a Hotel Restaurant Butterknife!
Okay, just being silly.
Chris
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Come to think of it, I guess I could take my stones.
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You could check a bag too, I thought small knives were always allowed as long as it was in a checked bag.
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You have to be ticketed on a flight in order to check a bag. As a working crewmember I am not ticketed and therefore have no mechanism to check a bag. However, even if that was permitted it simply wouldn’t be practical because the time required is not built into the transportation from the hotel to the airport, and vice versa, that the airline has scheduled for the crew.
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I have left several knives with the TSA. You’re welcome to use them. Just return the to the TSA when you are done for other flying wood workers.
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Oh if only it were that easy! I remember one year at Thanksgiving just after they had implemented the "liquids and gels" ban – I saw a TSA agent pushing a cart with six pies on it. I asked him where he was taking them. He replied that he was taking them down to the USO for the troops. I commented to him how nice it was for them to all chip in to buy pies for the troops and siad "No, these are confiscated pies!". I said "So, let me get this straight. You confiscated the pies because they may be dangerous due to the fact that they have ‘gels’ in them. But you are sure enough that they are safe as to give them to our troops to eat. So tell me again why you confiscated them." He looked at me dumbfounded. I had to leave so I never found out what became of the suspect pies. It just goes to show how idiotic the system is though.
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Nice to see a fellow crew member in the same boat…was soo looking foward to that one
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