TSA Rules on Tools in Carry On

[TXpintail]

Learned the hard way this morning that TSA requires hand tools in carry on bags to be less than 7 inches in length. Almost missed my flight on account of a pair of Klein end cutters.

Seems common sense in hindsight, but never crossed my mind before.

 

[mrjaw14]

I had a friend that had a screwdriver with a removable bit that was just over 7 inches. The TSA guy took the bit out, placed both back in the bag and said the bit can't be re-inserted until landing lol

 

[tez929rr]

I had a TSA agent and supervisor at PWM spend about 15 minutes deciding if a folding Cruz Tool was OK to carry on. This tool had been in my briefcase for maybe ten years and through security probably 25 times before this day. They finally unfolded it and measured the overall length and said I was good to go. I always put my Leatherman Skeletool in a checked bag.

 

[JR 42]

I accidentally left a 1/2"x 9/16" DOE wrench and a loose Stanley framing hammer head in a carryon several years ago... they took the hammer head and let me keep the wrench.

 

[Stooge]

I don't know what the rules are for battery electronics, but catching up on emails yesterday from over the long weekend and saw one of our field service guys was requesting a new fluke (117 I think it was) multimeter after TSA confiscated his other one

 

[Wamsutta]

What a bunch of stupid ****. Makes me angry.

 

[HaroRider]

I don't know what the rules are for battery electronics, but catching up on emails yesterday from over the long weekend and saw one of our field service guys was requesting a new fluke (117 I think it was) multimeter after TSA confiscated his other one

What was he going to do stab someone with the test leads. Lol

 

[Spacey_G]

Does anyone know why the limit is 7 inches? I'm not seeing the common sense in that at all...

 

[Lassen Forge]

IMO none of the arbitrary rules TSA keeps putting into effect has nothing to do with common sense, and more of "See how thorough we are, we stop a tradesman from carrying their tools on a plane to give you the illusion of being safe"...

Sorry, but when TSA people tell me it's all an act to keep people cowed, that most of what they do is unnecessary for safety and security, it really bothers me. I had a puma knife lost in my carry on go thru TSA 20 times... only to have the Russian FSB agent at THEIR checkpoint (unfortunately) find it.

 

[mrjaw14]

I don't know what the rules are for battery electronics, but catching up on emails yesterday from over the long weekend and saw one of our field service guys was requesting a new fluke (117 I think it was) multimeter after TSA confiscated his other one

i'd have to ask about the specific rule here. sounds like the tsa guy wanted a multimeter. There's no specicif rule I know of barring any electronics like that. If they wanted to confiscate something I'd say you can have the leads but you can't have my meter

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

I have never been able to make sense of these types of restrictions. I just end up putting tools in a checked bag or shipping them to myself at the destination. What they let you carry on for one leg of the trip, they take away on the return!

 

[CJM8515]

they took my panel popper i forgot was in my bag, but let me keep the screwdriver..funny thing was the panel popper (i bought another one) was 6.2 inches..

 

[2ndGearRubber]

IMO none of the arbitrary rules TSA keeps putting into effect has nothing to do with common sense, and more of "See how thorough we are, we stop a tradesman from carrying their tools on a plane to give you the illusion of being safe"...

Sorry, but when TSA people tell me it's all an act to keep people cowed, that most of what they do is unnecessary for safety and security, it really bothers me. I had a puma knife lost in my carry on go thru TSA 20 times... only to have the Russian FSB agent at THEIR checkpoint (unfortunately) find it.

TSA is an obvious farce, as are the metal detectors. On vacation with my father, he and I were stopped by security. Why? His hip had been replaced. He carried a card stating such, but obviously the detector went off, and they gave him the wand treatment. It went off for me too, I had about 3/4 pound of titanium in my leg, due to a severe break. The rods were left in approx 9 months after I could walk again, to ensure proper alignment. BEEPBEEP, off the detector goes, I pull up my jeans showing two somewhat fresh scars. No problems.


On our return flight, the airport was very busy, and numerous flights were running behind. Security was quite backed up, and what do you know? My father and I both walked through the detectors, not a BEEP to be heard. Same amount of metal in our respective legs, as when we had gone through security a week prior.

 

[Dagny]

thats a good thing.

 

[134k]

I always travel with my Fluke DMM through security (I do field service work for lasers). I've never had a problem with them including the Probe Master leads I have on them. Both are in a fabric hard case I got from Amazon. I put them in the same bin as the bare laptop. I also carry my WFMC mini ratchet set, and they only once took it out to measure it with the extension mounted. It was below the maximum length of 7". I noticed

 

[Stooge]

i'd have to ask about the specific rule here. sounds like the tsa guy wanted a multimeter. There's no specicif rule I know of barring any electronics like that. If they wanted to confiscate something I'd say you can have the leads but you can't have my meter

That's what I was assuming as well. I (we on this board may have a skewed perception of things) would assume most adults know what a multimeter/ voltmeter is, including someone who is supposed to be versed in things people may be carrying around. I know I've heard of some of the field guys getting things confiscated before, but with atleast 150+ people in the field just in America, that are constantly travelling with a lot of very niche equipment that can be pretty unrecognizable/ hard to explain to someone outside of the line of work, its bound to happen. As far as I know, we just sent him out a new one. we rotate them out of service after awhile anyways, along with things like temperature probes, so we always have some on hand to send out if someone needs a new one, and even at a few hundred dollars, the meter is probably the cheapest piece of equipment they use so no one cared, I just happened to be cc'd on the email the other day and thought of garagejournal

 

[RPH]

I had to mail home from Milwaukee a set of metric ignition wrenches and a current pick up. I was told I might sit in the bathroom of the plane and take it apart during the flight. The current pick up I knew they would freak over as it has wires wrapped around two toroids. I forgot that they were in the computer case.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Does anyone know why the limit is 7 inches? I'm not seeing the common sense in that at all...

Anything that can be used as a bludgeon is prohibited. Most people think of swing such an object like a hammer, but you can punch with something like a wrench in the same way you’d use an icepick and inflict a lot of damage.

I travelled with 6 large Pelican cases full of tools, jigs and parts for many years. Shipped from site to site. If I found something that didn’t get packed, I just used Fedex or UPS to ship it. Even if what you are carrying is okay, if it raises a question you’ll get pulled aside and delayed. Not worth the headache.

 

[tez929rr]

When the FFDO (armed pilot) program started, there was a period of time where my wife could carry a loaded handgun onto her plane but not a corkscrew.

 

[sweet victory]

Here are the FAA's regulations on batteries for those who travel with cordless tools:

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...fo/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf

 

[Empty Pockets]

TSA= Transportation Screw up Agency.

Flying back from Florida with the family, they wouldn't let my grandson carry on a toy Light Saber.

They didn't realize that if I was a real Jedi, I could have used Jedi mind tricks to make the pilot crash the plane. What a bunch of clowns.

 

[Wrench97]

And back in the late 70's I use to fly into Detroit with brief case full of tools and a small duffel bag as carry on.................

 

[Billy Jack]

A few years ago I was flying to Florida to help a buddy by checking out a new-to-him motor for his street rod. I had a dial indicator and a just-calibrated set of mikes 0-1, 1-2 and 2-3 in my carry-on. Of course I was searched.
agent-"What are these" ?
me- "Precision measuring instruments, accurate to less than 1/1000 inch"
agent- "Why are you you carrying them"
me- "I'm traveling to fix an engine and just had 'em all calibrated. Don't want to risk them banging around in cargo"
agent- "You know they could be used as weapons"
me- "True, but then they'd be worthless until I had 'em calibrated all over again"
agent- "Pack 'em up and get out of here"

Bill

 

[JerryC]

I laugh at being forced to turn off cell phones.

If you could crash a plane with a cell phone why would you need to sneak in a knife, gun, bomb?

 

[tez929rr]

I laugh at being forced to turn off cell phones.

If you could crash a plane with a cell phone why would you need to sneak in a knife, gun, bomb?

Not to derail the discussion, but that’s not why they ask you to turn off cell phones.

 

[JerryC]

Years ago they told us the phones would affect the planes instrumentation.
Now it's because "we say so".
My last trip I was told I could wear my noise cancelling headphones on takeoff but they had to be off "because electronics are bad for the plane ya know".

Another funny thing in every plane ride I remember they check to make sure your seat belt is on before doing the demonstration of how use the seat belt.

 

[Al Borland]

And they let me keep a 6" #1 Phillips screwdriver.

 

[PelicanPines]

Back in the day... I was forced to check a clamshell portable computer... in a soft bag... I explained it was worth $5000 and contained very important data... they took it ... tossed into the baggage compartment... and I could tell it was immediately destroyed.

United airlines cut a check for it about 45 days later...

This was back when you climbed stairs to get in the plane...

 

[RedneckWelder]

I have found that paying $25 to check my main bag is worth it to not deal with the TSA stupidity. I get to take a knife, not have to drag my bag with me through security and the terminal, not have to fight for bin space, etc. And for traveling for work my company reimburses me the check fees.

 

[Zippercat]

I have found that paying $25 to check my main bag is worth it to not deal with the TSA stupidity. I get to take a knife, not have to drag my bag with me through security and the terminal, not have to fight for bin space, etc. And for traveling for work my company reimburses me the check fees.

Apparently you’ve never had an airline misroute your bag?

 

[HenryAZ]

The tool thing was enforced long before TSA existed. Back in the 1980's, I had a long screwdriver and hammer in my carry-on bag. They made me remove them, and then proceeded to tape them to the bottom of a huge box that went in the cargo hold.

 

[bwringer]

Here are the FAA's regulations on batteries for those who travel with cordless tools:

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring

A large part of the problem is that the TSA morons routinely ignore or are completely unaware of the regs and make up their own on the spot. It's a real crapshoot.

Not to mention the actual regs can change minute-by-minute.


I have quite a lot of titanium in my left leg, and even in the surface scanners I usually get a little extra "attention".

"There's something odd about your left leg."

"Yeah, there's a LOT odd about my left leg."

Usually I just quickly mention it's been broken three times and there's a lot of titanium bracketry in there, and they send me on my way after a few quick pats.

One guy was still very doubtful until I said "Look, I can show you the scars pretty easily. I mean, you've already got my belt..."



For the record, the restrictions on cell phones and other devices are ******** from a technical perspective; they're not going to bring the plane down.

The real reasons the restrictions are important and will remain are because they need people to be paying attention during takeoff and landing and because the devices need to be secured so they don't fly around if things go wrong.

Also, a crowd of idiots stuffed into a metal tube and screaming into their cell phones is a guaranteed recipe for chaos and passenger-on-passenger violence. No one rational wants to fly in a world where we have to deal with that...

 

[sweet victory]

A large part of the problem is that the TSA morons routinely ignore or are completely unaware of the regs and make up their own on the spot. It's a real crapshoot.

Not to mention the actual regs can change minute-by-minute.


I have quite a lot of titanium in my left leg, and even in the surface scanners I usually get a little extra "attention".

"There's something odd about your left leg."

"Yeah, there's a LOT odd about my left leg."

Usually I just quickly mention it's been broken three times and there's a lot of titanium bracketry in there, and they send me on my way after a few quick pats.

One guy was still very doubtful until I said "Look, I can show you the scars pretty easily. I mean, you've already got my belt..."



For the record, the restrictions on cell phones and other devices are ******** from a technical perspective; they're not going to bring the plane down.

The real reasons the restrictions are important and will remain are because they need people to be paying attention during takeoff and landing and because the devices need to be secured so they don't fly around if things go wrong.

Also, a crowd of idiots stuffed into a metal tube and screaming into their cell phones is a guaranteed recipe for chaos and passenger-on-passenger violence. No one rational wants to fly in a world where we have to deal with that...

What's kind of ironic is that to get your PPL, an ipad with cellular service + wifi is a must have tool for flight planning, charts, weather, logging, etc.


I'm still in the process of getting my PPL. I'm trying to avoid being stuck in a tube full of idiots.

 

[RedneckWelder]

The real reasons the restrictions are important and will remain are because they need people to be paying attention during takeoff and landing and because the devices need to be secured so they don't fly around if things go wrong

That logic doesn’t hold water when I’m allowed to be on my cell phone if I “turn on airplane mode” and stick earbuds in my ears and/or go to sleep as soon as I’m on my seat...

 

[crrcoal]

 

[PugetDude]

Kabuki Security Theater.
Yank a 90 year-old Norwegian Grandmother with an artificial hip out of a wheelchair for a cavity search and then wave someone wearing a burkha right through, all in the name of political correctness.
Yep, those Norwegian grannies have a long history of being known security threats...
The Israelis have it right- most of the security protocols are done long before you ever get to the security line; it might not be PC, but profiling does work.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Years ago they told us the phones would affect the planes instrumentation.
Now it's because "we say so".
My last trip I was told I could wear my noise cancelling headphones on takeoff but they had to be off "because electronics are bad for the plane ya know".

I think it is to prevent passengers from going berserk when the loud person next to them has an 8 hour conversation with Aunt Martha about her hemorrhoids that the whole plane can hear.

But cell phones do work in planes, at least at lower altitudes. I remember a flight where the captain came on the intercom 5 minutes before landing announcing that the airport had just fogged it. He told us all to call our loved ones and tell them we were going to be really late. The phones worked fine but you have a short window to talk before getting disconnected. But that was years ago. With current cell phone technology, I do not know if that is still the case.

 

[BFBOB]

I had the same thing happen to me - shipped all the parts & tools to the job site, then flew out to do the job. Flying back, the few tools I needed fit easily in carry-on. You guessed it. What they zeroed in on was a stapler. A STAPLER!! And it measured under the limit until they carefully measured the diagonal, being careful to include the magazine release lever. At least they checked it and gave it back to me at the other end.

But the kicker is they weren't at all concerned about the screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutter/stripper/crimpers, nut drivers, crescent wrench and miscellaneous hardware.

 

[BFBOB]

Here are the FAA's regulations on batteries for those who travel with cordless tools:

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring

Did you read the ! bullet point on the first page? Final decision rests with the TSA agent.

WTF??? Why bother with standards/procedures at all if any TSA flunkie can do whatever whenever to you??



P.S.> I was bitterly disappointed when my arms full of scrap metal didn't set off the metal detector.

 

[sweet victory]

Did you read the ! bullet point on the first page? Final decision rests with the TSA agent.

WTF??? Why bother with standards/procedures at all if any TSA flunkie can do whatever whenever to you??



P.S.> I was bitterly disappointed when my arms full of scrap metal didn't set off the metal detector.

I just realized I posted the wrong link. This is one I meant to post:

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...fo/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf