more on Got a light? (Not if you're flying...)

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: David Chessler <chessler () usa net>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 19:19:42 -0500
To: <dave () farber net>
Subject: Re: [IP] Got a light? (Not if you're flying...)

At 03:02 PM 3/24/05, David Farber wrote:
> Passing through Philadelphia airport today, I saw TSA signs stating that
> lighters and matches will no longer be allowed past security after
> mid-April. Nor will they be allowed in checked baggage.
>
> Either alone would be just another blip  in the endless stream of TSA
> pseudosecurity. Together, they mean many smokers will  pay a  TSA tax (in
> the form of a new lighter purchase) after every trip.

Matches will continue to be legal, up to 4 books per passenger.


> Not the end of the republic, certainly - but rather pointless given the
> empty slate of match- and lighter-related security problems on passenger
> flights.

Since the "shoebomber", who failed, in part, because he was using matches.


> A sidebar: I've carried a small digital camera in a Zippo lighter form
> factor for several months - a gift from colleagues who got tired of hearing
> me complain about not having a camera when I need one. I relish the chance
> to debate a screener over its fire-starting capabilities.

There are also tape measures in the Zippo form factor, actually made by
Zippo.


> Regards,
> Greg Brooks
> West Third Group
> www.greg-brooks.com

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=3d5c2d09db558f18

Thursday 24th March, 2005

Europe bristles at airline lighter ban


Big News Network.com     Monday 21st March, 2005  (UPI)

The European Union is reportedly preparing a formal complaint to the United
States about a proposed ban on airline passengers carrying cigarette
lighters.

Given technology restraints to date, the draft complaint reads, the only
realistic means of potentially detecting such items would be to subject all
passengers and their hand luggage to a hand search.

The complaint says such procedures would paralyze airport operations in
Europe and are unacceptable and inapplicable.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced earlier this year
it will begin banning all cigarette lighters from flights in the United
States on April 14.

The EU complaint, known in diplomatic jargon as a demarche, says that,
since the ban applies to incoming international flights, the union and its
member states would expect full consultation in accordance with ... the
Chicago Convention governing the regulation of airline travel.

The row comes as the United States and Europe debate air transport
subsidies, with each side threatening to take the other to the World Trade
Organization.




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