ANN Looks Into The Relaxing Of TSA Carry-On Guidelines

As was reported in Aero-News, last Friday TSA Director Edmund "Kip" Hawley (file photo, right) announced the agency will relax its screening guidelines on certain items that have not been allowed in the cabin of a passenger airliner since 9/11.

"I am convinced, that the time now spent searching bags for small scissors and tools can be better utilized to focus on the far more dangerous threat of explosives," said Hawley at last week's press conference announcing the new guidelines.

Hawley cites the increased threat to aircraft from explosives -- and the decreased danger, the agency says, from terrorists attempting another 9/11-style attack -- as the reasons behind the allowance of small tools and scissors back into the cabin. Screeners' efforts can be better utilized in the detection of IEDs being brought onboard an aircraft, says Hawley in today's Aero-News Special Report, instead of searching a bag for a pair of scissors.

Mike Flores, president of the US Airway's flight attendants union, disagrees adamantly with Hawley's decision.

"It's about money, and about passenger inconvenience," says Flores. While the TSA does need to respond to all threats presented, he says, it should not be at the expense of established rules -- especially as any sharp object allowed into the cabin places flight attendants at risk.

"I can't see that Kip Hawley's assessment of risk with a 7-inch screwdriver impaled in my neck is not worthy of their protection," Flores says, as counterpoint to Hawley's remarks. We present both arguments in today's Aero-News Special Report Aero-Cast.

This feature is in addition to our daily news briefing -- available in either a quick "Touch And Go" format or an expanded Aero-Briefing.

Listen For Yourself!

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 12.05.05 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.05.05 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

Aero-News Special Report -- The TSA's Change In Carry-On Guidelines: 12.05.05 (Today's special feature, on the TSA's decision to ease carry-on regulations.)

Our DAILY programs consist of (at least) three separate products... the first is a short synopsis of the previous 24 hours of Aero-News, in brief, spanning only a few minutes (max) and in a size/format that will allow it to be mailed as part of a Daily Aero-Cast subscription; a more comprehensive DAILY news product that will cover the previous 24 hours of news in a somewhat more detailed fashion, and a feature Aero-Cast that will center on one of the more important subject or topics of the day in considerable depth and detail. This is how these products break down...

• ANN's Daily 'Touch & Go' Aero-Cast: A quick look at the most recent news of the day... short, succinct and to the point. The usual 'Touch & Go' takes but a few minutes and is a summary, only, of the day's events. It only takes a few minutes of your time and will be available by subscription, shortly.
• ANN's Daily Briefing Aero-Cast: The Daily ANN Report (ANNRep for short), is a more comprehensive look at the day's news. We'll give you the whole buzz... the news and features that occupy the forefront of aviation news as well as solid background on the subjects that aviators and other aviation professionals need to stay informed on.
• ANN's Daily 'ASR' Feature Aero-Cast: ANN will be offering a Daily 'Aero-News Special Report.' This involves a more in-depth view of a story or two that dominated (or will be dominating) the day's news. Far more detailed than any single story in our standard ANN Daily Reports, this is a solid chance to get a close look at the stories and topics that matter. ASR features may include exclusive interviews with Aviation's Newsmakers, ANN's Special Investigative reports and solid analysis of the stories that will have undeniable impact on the world of aviation and aerospace. We're tremendously excited about this particular product in that it truly adds nuance and background to important breaking news stories and personalities. While our current news format allows for extensive reporting and information dissemination, ANN's ASRs should set the bar even higher. ANN has become a pivotal force in the world of aviation in the six years that have passed since we undertook the immense task of becoming the aviation world's DAILY news and information service... but with the all-new news services we're offering as part of our Aero-Cast line-up, we expect to become even more indispensable to the industry we serve.

Check them out, let us know what you think and be sure to keep those news-tips and program suggestions coming... ANN is ALL about what YOU want to know about in the world of aviation and aerospace.

FMI: www.aero-news.net/podcasts