Friday, July 20, 2007

Ban on Lighters on Planes to be Lifted

This seems reasonable. 

Airline passengers will be able to bring many types of cigarette lighters on board again starting next month after authorities found that a ban on the devices did little to make flying safer, a newspaper reported Friday.

Starting Aug. 4, air travelers will be allowed to carry on disposable butane lighters, such as Bics, and refillable lighters, including Zippos, according to The New York Times. A prohibition on torch-style lighters, which have hotter flames, will continue.

Despite the annoying fact that the rules keep changing, it’s good to see that they reevaluate things like this on a regular basis.

(4) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0742 hrs
Law + Off-Duty

  1. Hopefully the absolutely stupid ban on liquids will be next.

    Posted by Nick on July 20, 2007 at 0902 hrs


  2. The ban on liquids is indeed the most idiotic.  Since they don’t (generally) do pat downs, a terrorist who wants to smuggle in liquids needs only to tape a bag to his body, and walk through the metal detectors.  Wow, the bad guy just defeated your billion dollar security with a purchase of $3.69 Ziplock bags and some tape.

    .. Reading this list, it sure sounds reasonable:
    http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2007 at 0922 hrs


  3. What do we need lighters on planes for anyway?

    As a former smoker: cough up the $10 for a new Bic at the airport bookstore when you land, or wait for your luggage. You can’t smoke until you leave the airport, anyway.

    Posted by Aaron on July 20, 2007 at 2217 hrs


  4. Remember, Richard Reid, the shoe bomber had to try and use matches to light his fuse on his bomb.  If he had a lighter, he could have blown that airplane to bits.  As Aaron says, why do they need lighters on the airplane?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 21, 2007 at 1623 hrs


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