• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Laptop ban on airplanes? Let's discuss.

Don't those vary depending on metro area?

If not, that's pretty sad.
 
RightCoastBias said:
How does that same battery being in the cargo hold make anything better?


In most of Asia, they make you carry on all lithium batteries for this exact reason.
Click to expand...

It doesn't, it makes it worse. Remember the UPS crash in the mideast because of a Lipo fire?

You're supposed to do that here in the US too. Listen to the announcements before you board next time.
 
Johndicezx9 said:
I suspect the TSA would be charged enforcement of FAA rules regarding these things, don't you?
Click to expand...

Nope. Story time.

Years ago, I was flying for a small freight feeder. I was based in Minot, ND, and flew back and forth between there and Sioux Falls, SD. The TSA was on the ramp doing random inspections. They climbed on the airplane, went into the cockpit and found our crash axe, a required piece of equipment per the TCSD (type certificate data sheet). We flew these airplanes around single pilot. They were converted passenger turbo props. They pulled it out of it's pouch, brought it to the office, and told us we couldn't have weapons on the aircraft, because it would make it easier to hijack the airplane. Mind you, we flew around with just one person on the airplane, who was going to hijack the damn thing? The TSA tried to ground us, the entire airline. The Chief pilot and director of operations tried explaining to them that it was a required piece of equipment to cut our way out if the worst should happen, and they weren't budging. It ended up with a call to Washington, to get a higher up with the FAA and the TSA to have a sit down, and say "look, we regulate the airplane, you handle the security of the passengers, capiche!" It was a huge political pissing match that put a stop to an entire airline for about 8 hours. It was a damn good thing it happened in the middle of the day when most of our airplanes were parked anyways.

The TSA is an over reaching, under achieving government agency that is nothing more than "it makes my feels better." They suck at what they do, horribly. I regularly get my hands swabbed for explosives. I've been through a 10 year FBI background check just to sit up front, the same type for a secret clearance yet THE TSA feels it's necessary to make sure I'm not building IED's. I also shoot as a hobby. One of our overnights is right across the street from an indoor range. That's always a pleasure when I rent a pistol, and go through security the next day.

To conclude, the TSA is tasked with security, nothing else. The FAA is in charge of everything else, and some security as well, just not passenger screening.
 
Last edited:
Johndicezx9 said:
I kinda don't like things on a plane I'm on blowing up at all, but I'm funny that way. :dunno
Click to expand...

So, no cellphones, tablets, battery packs, laptops, etc?

Lithium batteries generally do not explode. The reason laptops are being banned from certain flights is not due to the inherent risk of a lithium battery, but because Homeland Security is saying there's a threat of some terrorist group hiding explosives in a laptop.

The screening your bags go through when heading to the cargo hold is apparently more through. So they believe they can catch the hidden explosives in a laptop by forcing it to be checked.
 
RightCoastBias said:
So, no cellphones, tablets, battery packs, laptops, etc?
Click to expand...

I don't think the airlines would cry, they'd add or up prices for entertainment for a captive audience. :laughing

I get the ban and the feelgood aspects of TSA, it's one massive detriment to air travel, but there seems to be enough of an issue with over-heating lithium batteries, including the ones installed on the planes themselves. Wasn't it lithium batteries overheating that grounded brand new 787's a while back?
 
msethhunter said:
There are already restrictions on maximum capacity for Lipo's.
Click to expand...

I found a relevant document here. Turns out my 20,000 mAh backup battery is right at the max and I never knew that.
 
It's absolutely fucking ridiculous.

They can't train these monkeys to know what a tampered-with laptop is going to look like in an x-ray? There is so little room left in a fully functioning laptop. And cell phones/tablets? Are you fucking kidding me?
 
mlm said:
TSA just keeps us safe from stupid people. Which isn't entirely worthless considering how smart the typical suicidal terrorist must be.
Click to expand...

this is important.
Educated people with something to do don't do stuff like this. Why would you blow yourself up when there are motorcycles, EDM, and pokemans to catch. And the dubsteps. Kids love the dubsteps.

If you really want to die, there's always the turbo hayabusa.
 
The airlines can't even decide what's the bigger risk. Sounds like United is swinging off Trump's nutz, while Malaysia Airlines is more intelligent.

U.S. officials are concerned that explosives disguised as laptops could be directly detonated onboard an aircraft, the chief executive of United Airlines said at an aviation industry event on Monday.

Because there is little perceived risk of remotely detonating such a device, Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz said authorities believe there is less chance of them exploding in the hold of aircraft.

Senior executives at the International Air Travel Association's annual meeting said the risk of lithium batteries overheating on stowed laptops also presents a risk. "I think the greater risk is 40 or 50 laptops in the hold," said Malaysia Airlines CEO Peter Bellew.
Click to expand...

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...SKBN18W2TB?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews
 
I watched United 93 on my way back from France yesterday. Really disappointing how poorly we responded to that situation. Makes me wonder if we are any more prepared if it were to happen again?

Plus, I honk that scenario was a one hit wonder. They will never accomplish that again because pilots simply don't open the doors now. Breaking in wouldn't be possible either. A pilot would scuttle the aircraft before letting them take it over these days I am guessing?

So that would place using a bomb in air, to kill 200-300 people and destroy a plane. Surely that's not great "bang for your buck" (sorry had to, bad I know!), when you can rent a truck and drive brought a crowd and stab a bunch of people much easier...

TSA FTL
 
Ducky_Fresh said:
I watched United 93 on my way back from France yesterday. Really disappointing how poorly we responded to that situation. Makes me wonder if we are any more prepared if it were to happen again?

Plus, I honk that scenario was a one hit wonder. They will never accomplish that again because pilots simply don't open the doors now. Breaking in wouldn't be possible either. A pilot would scuttle the aircraft before letting them take it over these days I am guessing?

So that would place using a bomb in air, to kill 200-300 people and destroy a plane. Surely that's not great "bang for your buck" (sorry had to, bad I know!), when you can rent a truck and drive brought a crowd and stab a bunch of people much easier...

TSA FTL
Click to expand...

Define what you mean by "scuttle".
 
Ducky_Fresh said:
I watched United 93 on my way back from France yesterday. Really disappointing how poorly we responded to that situation. Makes me wonder if we are any more prepared if it were to happen again?
Click to expand...

Can't believe how many officials claimed they were trying to shoot it down, even though that order didn't come until after it crashed.
 
True story - about 5 years ago, I got a new camera bag for the first time in 15 years.

I took my old camera bag, which I'd used with, and flown with AT LEAST 20-30 times, and emptied it out, and moved over to the new bag.

In the side pocket, I found an old, rusty, 8" tent stake. I think I last used it in the Lake District circa 1994.

Was never noticed going through security.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top