Large Scale Central

NT-OT TSA restrictions on toy RC carry on baggage

General Discussion
#1

I thought this might be of interest to any of us that travel commercially.
JimC.

TSA: Don’t pack remote-control toys in carry-on luggage

By Jim Tharpe
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 10/01/07

The Transportation Security Administration warned passengers Monday not to pack remote-control toys in carry-on luggage unless they want a lot of additional attention at checkpoints.

The TSA, the agency that provides security at the nation’s airports, said the warning is based on new information gathered by federal officials. Agency official declined comment on the nature of that new information.

“While not associated with a specific threat at this time, TSA is aware that remote control toys can be used to initiate devices used in terrorist attacks,” said Washington-based TSA Administrator Kip Hawley.

Atlanta-based TSA spokesman Jon Allen said if screeners detect a remote-controlled toy in carry-on luggage, the passenger may be subjected to additional screening.

“The biggest thing people can do to help is not to bring these items through the security checkpoint,” Allen said. “They’ll be subject to additional security screening. It may take a few more minutes, and it could include a pat down.”

Allen also stressed the new procedure is not connected to a specific threat.

“This reflects how our agency and our officers have evolved from a check-list mentality to a work force that’s flexible and adaptive,” Allen said. “We have to be adaptive because those who want to do bad things to us are adaptive.”

The new procedure was not having much impact early Monday at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Security lines at the world’s busiest airport were running about 10 minutes.

#2

Interesting, but we can’t really object. This morning’s newspaper reported a very recent posting on YouTube showing how to convert a toy R/C control system into a remote controlled bomb detonator.

This information was put up by a couple of Arab students attending a university in Florida. I had always thought the murdering Arab terrorists wanted to die along with as many of us infidels as they could murder, thus becoming “martyrs”. Turns out this guy’s mantra is that the ‘martyrs’ can be ‘saved’ to commit multiple acts of ‘martyrdom’ by using remote controlled explosives. I’m certain he would claim Allah has revealed this to him, but it does makes one wonder how much his American university education is contributing to his methods and intentions!

Happy RRing,

Jerry Bowers

#3

Jerry & Jim, as you may have noted I chose to drive to Marty’s this year. I’ll be damned if I’m going to trust my locomotive, battery car and remote to some inept baggage handler. I’ll walk first!!

#4

Jerry,
an unfortunate fact of life is that perpetrators of crime are protected under the laws of the country in which they carry out those crimes, an advantage that the victims of their crimes do not share. Until terrorist crimes are seen for what they are, cold blooded murder and not politically motivated crimes against the state, then these perpetrators will ‘get away with murder’, particularly if the crimes are committed in countries who espouse the same religion as the terrorists. There will always be human rights activists who will defend the rights of individuals to express their beliefs. However, are these same activists out there fighting for the rights of individuals maimed by alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, effects of industrial pollution on our society. It is a strange quirk of our society that criminals have more rights to life than victims of their crimes. The latest supreme court injunction on capital punishment is testament to that. A prisoner on death row will have a ‘stay of execution’ as regards lethal injection, until the court rules on the ‘level of cruelty’ that the injected drugs impose on the inmates body. Apparently the lethal cocktail has shown that dogs suffer when injected with the same drugs. It is OK for a torturer to inflict pain and suffering on a victim, but it is not OK for the inmate to suffer when he is being executed for his crimes. The law requires a minimum degree of suffering during the execution process.

    We educate our new breed of terrorist to some day turn on us.  We train them in our aviation facilities to fly civilian aircraft.  We give them all the benefits of living in a 'civilised' country that espouses rights of the individual,  a benefit that they do not share in their own country.  Britain is suffering from 'home grown' terrorism.  These are students born in the U.K.,  educated in the U.K.   Their parents moved to the U.K. for a better life for themselves and their families.  Radical activists have been an element of the American psyche for many generations.  How long before a home-grown terrorist cell surfaces?  These days we no longer import our terrorists,  we breed them in our own backyards.


    I find it a little incredulous that one is able to document a process on development of an explosive devise, with impunity and yet if one were to televise an anti-semitic program, then that person is liable to imprisonment.  I think that we all need to step back and look at how we are morally educating our fellow human beings,  in relation to the 'real value' of a single human life in our society.   We have become indoctrinated that loss of human life is socially acceptable, if in small numbers and the perpetrators of this loss are of more value to society,  than the lives of their victims.
#5

Warren,
Actually, when I saw this, I thought about you, ChiliCharlie and others that traveled to Marty Cozad’s last week. More than one decided to drive rather than risk damage to their equipment by inspectors.
JimC.

#6

Since 09/11/01, we have slowly flown less and less. It has really lost its charm and does not fit our current lifestyle. Security and time have made it less convienient to travel by air and made driving an easier option. I know some jobs require it, but for pleasure - the best I can say is for us the pleasure of flying is gone.

That is why we purchased the large van. We have literally paid for it with the money it would have cost us for airline tickets. Our choice, for our life and that is what living in the USA is about, freedom to make your own choices.

Enjoy your flight, please turn off your electronic items and make sure your seat is in an upright position and your tray is put away. Due to the rights of others, nothing will be served on this flight and you were required to dump all of your liquids before boarding. Have a nice day.

#7

Next will be “key-fobs”, remote control you know!! And the AirLines wonder why businesses are going to VLJ’s… Can leave any time you want, go right to the airport & board your plane, fly to the business location, have a car waiting for you, “no inspectors” to make you take off your shoes, belt, & put every think in your pockets in the pan!!! The rest of us should follow this, “Drive, she said.”

#8
Bob Burton said:
"Drive, she said."
Hehehe! Stan Ridgeway! Bob, Care for some BBQ'd Iguana???

A major reason flying has become a 1st class royal fubar is that the airline have stupidly scheduled more flights than the airports can physically handle, why do they do this? cause theres no rules telling them they cant, and in thier warped corporate minds if they dont overschedule flights for non existant takeoff spots, they are paranoid that the flyer will bolt to some other airline , which I always found an odd conclusion since all the airlines are doing this. And once the plane is held at takeoff or landing, your essentially legally held hostage by the airline for up to several hours and off course if you protest or resist or try to pull the door handles and activate the escape ramp so you can make your connecting flight, they call you a terrorist and ship your ass off to Gitmo…

Can you tell I hate taking airlines? I love being up in a plane, but I HATE flying…