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Randy Cassingham's BlogHistorical Details and Author's Notes from This is True®
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After 9/11: Flying the Friendly Skies
Exactly six weeks after terrorists turned several of our airliners into guided missiles, I flew again. Going through security at Denver International was interesting: because my shoes apparently have metal in them, they asked me to remove them so they could run them through the x-ray machine. I actually think that's fairly smart; if you want to smuggle razor blades onto an airliner, that'd be the place to do it. The only gotcha: do you think they provided chairs for the dozens of people they were doing this to so they could put their shoes back on? Nope.
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Then, on the way home, security at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas was interesting too. They weren't the least bit concerned that the metal detector beeped when they waved it over my shoes. But they were sure interested in my briefcase, since the x-ray operator spotted nail clippers inside. But wait: the government reassured us that nail clippers were OK! Yes, nail clippers are OK, I was told. But look at the included metal nail file with a (dull) point on it! That's a no-no, I was assured -- the 1.25" file is apparently enough to overpower a heavily armed air marshal, and the screener broke it off and handed me my clipper. They said nothing about the several pens I had on me, of course; a pen is "mightier than the sword" in more ways than one. It would be pretty darn hard for the tiny file (mounted on a pivot) to hurt someone, so I sure as heck wouldn't think a terrorist would choose that as a weapon over a nice long, sharp pen. At least Denver's worry about metal in my shoes had some logic to it, and they realized that a tiny nail file wasn't a weapon. But the opposite was true in Texas. It all comes down to the thought processes of a person who wasn't smart enough to get a better-paying job at the airport McDonald's.
I do think the airlines have to be careful, but they don't have to be stupid. They will make mistakes, but when they do they need to apologize for them. The airlines are whining about how the public isn't flying. Instead of offering more value to attract passengers, the airlines are cutting back on service (like reducing food service) and more and more treating passengers like cattle, a trend that started long before September 11. Will some airlines fail in the next year? Almost certainly. They'll blame it on terrorism, rather than putting the blame where it really lies. Clue: we're not scared of flying, we're fed up with how the airlines are treating us, their paying customers!
Anyway, I was in Dallas to do a consulting job. A large, non-profit Christian group dedicated to helping churches grow and better serve their members and communities needed help with focusing their e-mail newsletters to their mission and their president, a long-time True fan and Premium subscriber, flew me in. (Boy, is that going to confuse the ranters who insist True and I are anti-religion!) It was a fun and interesting session.
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Posted by Mike from Dallas on April 16, 2007:
Contrary to popular belief, airlines have never provided the security screening. That is the job of the Federal government. In turn, the the agency hires a local company as a contractor. Folks, this is the airport equivalent of mall security. Yes, $6 an hour rent-a-cops! They've got an x-ray machine and a metal detector. Don't let anybody through that looks suspicious. What's "suspicious?" Well, you know, just use your 'common sense'. And now those bozos are asking DHS to let them carry guns!
Posted by George- Garland, Texas on May 5, 2007:
After 9/11, I vowed that I would NEVER again set foot in an airline or airport terminal unless and until such time as "normalcy" returned. To this day, I refuse to patronise the airlines. I am not afraid of air travel per se, but I am fed up with stupid "security" restrictions. If I travel somewhere, I drive my car or motorcycle (and take whatever I please) or take a train or bus. If I can't do that, I will not go.
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You're far from the only one. However, I noticed long before 9/11 that things were bad with the airlines. 9/11 didn't start it; it just made it worse. -rc
Posted by Mike from Dallas on May 20, 2007:
"I noticed long before 9/11 that things were bad with the airlines."
Back in the 80's & 90's (long before 9/11), I traveled through airports a lot. I can only laugh since the other option is cry. Let me tell you how I had to pretty much undress to get through the overly-sensitive metal detectors. Belt buckle? Shoes? The zipper on my pants??? (It's PLASTICIZED, people!) In foreign airports they use wands to localize persistant beeps.
Back then it was still legal to carry lighter fluid and I had a butane dispenser in my briefcase. Security wouldn't let it through. I explained that federal tariff permitted up to 75 oz of lighter fluid. Well, they retorted, AIRLINE tariff prohibits it. (Airlines make their own tariff regulations?)
However, in that same briefcase, I carried a xenon arc tube, which is an incredibly bright light source for high powered industrial film projectors. It was about 12 inches long and 3 inches in diameter, looking in X-ray just like a stick of dynamite.
At high operating temperatures, it's possible for it to occasionally explode, requiring a rigidly constructed housing. But at room temperature, throwing it onto the floor only pebblizes the glass envelope. Still, just to be absolutely safe, it's packed in a plexiglass carrying tube, with a notice in bright orange, "WARNING EXPLOSION HAZARD".
"What is it?" they ask.
"Basically a light bulb," I answer.
"Okay, you can go through," they reply.
AFTER I've had to take off my belt, my shoes, ostensibly my pants, AND having to give up my lighter fluid...