Pocket Knives and Planes

On April 25^th, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) is scheduled to begin allowing small pocketknives on-board commercial planes. This decision has been met with widespread criticism from a variety of organizations. Thus far, the following people and organizations have spoken out against this decision:

·         Bill Ris, American Airlines Vice President

·         Richard Anderson, Delta Airlines Chief Executive Officer

·         Doug Parker, US Airways Chief Executive Officer

·         Representative Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts)

·         Representative Michael Grimm (R-New York)

·         Flight Attendants Union Coalition

·         Coalition of Airline Pilots Association

·         Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association

To begin with, it is important to clarify exactly what the TSA has proposed. The change would allow knives under the following conditions:

(1)   Blade length must be under 6 cm (2.36”) and under 0.5” thick

(2)   Knives cannot have a locking blade

(3)   Knives cannot have a molded handle

This allowance is intended to streamline security checks at airports. TSA Administrator John Pistole indicated that TSA confiscated on average 47 knives per day.   This move is part of TSA’s risk-based policy approach. Frankly, this approach is one of the most laudable things that the TSA has done. Basing security decisions, fund appropriation and policy on the rational assessment of risk is the industry standard. In TSA’s assessment of risk, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the top priority.

The question remains, do these knives pose an acceptable level of risk? It is well known that the hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks used box cutters to force their way into the jet cabins and commandeer the plane. On the surface, these box cutters and the knives legal under the proposal are kissing cousins. Surely the risk level is similar? Not quite. For one thing, 6 cm blades afford neither the penetrative capacity nor the range to effectively overcome even the most rudimentary impact weapon or person capable of basic self defense.  Whereas true working knives (including box cutters) need a sturdy locking mechanism, the TSA-approved knives will not have this feature. Knives without a locking mechanism have an extremely limited functional utility. They simply cannot be relied upon for heavy-duty cutting. Moreover, such knives pose an inherent danger to the user when employed in a manner that applies force to the top of the blade (such as combat). Therefore, the combative utility of the approved knives will be practically nil.

Regardless of blade length or locking mechanism, the fears regarding these tiny knives are moot. In the world of post-9/11 airline security, passenger jets are equipped with lockable cabins, armed pilots, or Federal Air Marshals. Ask yourself, what would the effectiveness of these Lilliputian knives be in context? Again, the protective measures put in place by modern airlines render them about as threatening as nail files. I’ll not speak ill about the individuals and organizations that support the rescinding the policy, but…

I’ve been a “knife guy” all of my life. For many folks like myself, pocket knives are an instrumental part of everyday life. The knives allowed under the new TSA policy aren’t likely to be in the next Kill Bill movie. They might, however, peel an apple, trim a string, open a box, or whittle a stick. As with everything in life, unfamiliarity breeds fear. If you haven’t carried a knife in your jeans pocket for fourteen years (or more) like myself, then you might not know what they are all about. If you don’t, you owe it to yourself to get educated and make your decision based on logic and fact. Make the right decision and your next trip to the airport might just a bit faster and more enjoyable.