Scott Dorsey wrote:
terryS wrote:
Then before boarding a twenty minute hop between two airports within
the M.E. my pocket neon test screwdriver, with a blade all of two
inches long, was confiscated! "Not allowed"!

It's a tool. You aren't allowed to have tools on US airliners. They took
my Allen wrench away. When I asked, I was told that I could use it to take
the plane apart. I pointed out that we were flying on an Airbus which is all
metric, but it didn't help.

too bad you didn't have a micrometer on hand to prove the size...but
then they would have taken it, too. It really would suck if they
allowed an Allen wrench on board, and some fool took the wings off the
plane while it was en route. g

I was in line for security in Vegas last year. When I opened my
carry-on to pull out the laptop, I realized I had packed a little cheap
'computer tool kit' in there, rather than in my checked luggage. I
simply tossed it in the trash. I wasn't going to give them the
satisfaction of taking it from me (and getting to keep it), or an
opening to hassle me any more than usual.

Any idea of where to acquire another one? Preferably cheap! Also do
some have a resistor in series with the little NE-2 type neon; but
others not?

As far as I know, they all have a resistor in series, because without it
they could not be used on the 110V AC line.

What you want is a Blackburn 19-079. Wesco carries it, so does Tristate
Electrical Supply. Ask your local Graybar if they carry the Blackburn tools.

P.S. Rather interesting is that on one leg of one flight we were
served a meal, complete with 'metal' knife and fork. This was a nice
airline, but wasn't in business class; just back in steerage.
Estimate blade of that knife was longer than my later confiscated
pocket screwdriver, which had been tucked into a row of pencils/pens
in my brief case for many years including three other international
trips, 2005 to 2008.

Certain lack of security consistency; eh?

The War On Liquids isn't about actual security, it's about annoying customers
so they feel like Something Is Being Done.

I think it's an agreement between them and the airport vendors. Throw
your water away at the gate, and buy more on the other side.

jak

What airline gave you metal utensils? US airlines don't even serve you meals
any more, as far as I can tell...
--scott