AK airport crap

[crazyhorse]

Heh. Pun intentional?? You might want to get the op re-done; sounds like they stuffed it up.

Not at all - worked a treat. I healed well, cause of my younger age having one done. Didn't even pick up on the pun... so good spotting! Just annoying to travel now.

[avgas]

Wouldn't want some loon to hijack a plane and fly it into the behive now would we?

Hell I would almost pay for someone to hijack that flight and crash it. The cost of life would almost be worth it.

[SPORK]

My favourite airport moment was when I got questioned by several security people as to why I was carrying a half-empty roll of masking tape. Masking tape is the lifeblood of architecture students!

[vifferman]

I'm sure a determined (or smart) terrorist isn't phased by metal detectors and x-ray machines. F'rinstance: I never remove my watch - it's titanium, and so doesn't cause any induction in the metal detector's induction loop. OTOH, my shit-metal belt buckle does.
There are many many weapons easy to smuggle onto a plane - even a length of nylon fishing line can be lethal in the right wrong hands. Weapons can be made from plastics or reinfoced plastics - there are even handguns which have no ferrous metal parts.
As others have said, the 'security measures' are there to reassure passengers, to dissuade the casual or terminally stupid terrorist, and to justify the use of collection of personal data, biometrics, etc by US agencies.

[Disco Dan]

I fly domestic regularly, never had problems.

Last time I forgot I had a bic lighter in my pocket... walked through no problems. Realised as I stepped on the plane I had it and asked the flight attended if I could give it to her. Her reply? "it's okay, I never saw it *wink* just don't use it okay!"

Bit of a worry.

[Jeaves]

I fly domestic regularly, never had problems.

Last time I forgot I had a bic lighter in my pocket... walked through no problems. Realised as I stepped on the plane I had it and asked the flight attended if I could give it to her. Her reply? "it's okay, I never saw it *wink* just don't use it okay!"

Bit of a worry.

I think off memory your allowed a single lighter.

[Miscreant]

to dissuade the casual or terminally stupid terrorist,

Hmm a casual suicide bomber? I dunno, sounds like a career move to me.
Or a life sentence.

[Swoop]

The only reason metal detectors are there is to create the perception that we are safe.

Its all a waste of time anyway. Even the strip-ya-naked millimetric radar so popular in Europe is useless.
There is no way the checked baggage can be well screened...

As others have said, the 'security measures' are there to reassure passengers, to dissuade the casual or terminally stupid terrorist, and to justify the use of collection of personal data, biometrics, etc by US agencies.

Quite true, gentlemen.
There is NO such thing as a safe commercial aircraft, since too many people have access to it. Think of the amount of servicing, cleaning, catering, maintenance people who can do whatever they want with an aircraft... But the public will give away their freedoms for the perception of safety.

[Pussy]

Another funny bit is the pilots have to go through the security process as well.

I presume in case they want to take over the plane......

That's highly unlikely....

[Mully]

That's highly unlikely....

That they'll want to take over the plane?

True. According the Pacific Blue ad, they spend most of their time singing.

[Chooky]

Brisbane is the worst place I've had to go through... The pricks there should be running a POW camp in Iraq.
Auckland is usually OK, last time there,I told the big maori fella, titanium bones.
He said so you have, have a good time.
It shits me to tears the crap you have to put up with when you've got artificial joints.
There are thousands of travellers with tin joints, its not like ya got a fukin towel on ya head ya know...

[swbarnett]

All I have to say on the matter of knee-jerk "security" measures is in the first two lines of my sig.

[Lias]

I think it depends on the route and size of the aircraft.

During a project I did a fair bit of flying for work last year, and have only encountered metal detectors etc on major trunk flights (IE 737's Welly to chch etc). Never get them on regional services (Hamilton, Gisborne, Palmy, etc) , although I'm pretty sure we did have to go through security when exiting chch to return to Hamilton last time.

[Pussy]

My favourite airport moment was when I got questioned by several security people as to why I was carrying a half-empty roll of masking tape.

Did they want to know about the hamster, too?

[Pixie]

Hey,I 'm back at the airport again and the fuckwits still have had their scanner fixed.
Weren't amused when I asked them why not and do they expect it not to give 100% false positives.
Maybe they are doing a "Parliamentary Security Dept." and trying to look busy to protect their jobs.