Don’t know about the lighter/match problem but I can relate to the security check.
We flew on a small aircraft (80 passenger?) from Zanzibar to Arusha with a stop in Dar es Salaam. I think the flight continued to Bukoba in the west of Tanzania. This is a domestic flight only and seems to continue in a circle making 3 or 4 loops a day. The flight from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam was about 30 minutes. The flight from Dar es Salaam to Arusha was about 90 minutes.
When we landed at Dar es Salaam, everybody had to take their carry-ons and walk to the terminal where we had to go through 2 security checkpoints (removing belts and shoes and inspecting medications). At no point were we anywhere near the public and still behind the security area. We then had to get to our gate immediately where we boarded a bus that took us to…the plane we just got off. Our luggage was never taken off.
I wonder if Australian aviation security wonks have figured out that a painted line is not an effective barrier yet.
I used to work at the Orlando airport, and I have been trying to spread the gospel of “give a lighter, take a lighter” for US domestic flights - when you go into the airport, you leave your lighter on the side of an ashtray outside.
When you reach your destination, you step outside, find an ashtray, and there should be at least a couple of lighters nearby.
“They don’t pay them much” = “They do not represent the best and brightest of modern security personnel” = “They take a person who can’t qualify for another job and send them to 100 hours of training and slap a uniform on them”
I guess you could have put something together on the flight that wasn’t allowed.
Air France flies to and from all sorts of destinations - security-wise, they wouldn’t be treated any differently to any other airline.
Imagine if someone did manage to smuggle something onto the plane and then blew up CdG airport because nobody at the other end checked. The staff there would either be in lots of trouble or dead. From their POV it’s better to check at their end rather than trust the guys at the other end to get it right.
I do dislike a lot of the current paranoid ‘safety’ crap, but I don’t think security checks either end and at transfers are an example of that.
Not a clue what was going on with the lighter, though. Weird.
I am intrigued by your idea and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. Please bill the next poster.
Seriously – With the vagueness and inconsistent enforcement in TSA’s prohibited objects list (excuse me, “security through obscurity”), a “share and share alike” exchange has merit.
Why were there lighters at security when lighters are indeed permitted on the flight? Because you’re allowed one per person, so the Bucket o’ Confiscated Lighters™ were the second, third, forth, whatever, that various people had with them.
I travel frequently, and see this scenario played out at security many times.
Reminds me of when I got my passport, the guy insisted I put in a middle name. I don’t have one. There isn’t one on my birth certificate. He said the form had to be filled in, so he handed it to me and I wrote “John” which was the name on his name tag."
When you fill out forms to apply for a DOD security clearance, if you don’t have a middle name (at least they realize this is possible) you put “NMN” in the spot for it (No Middle Name). You’d think the State Department would have figured this out.
Flying back to the US from St Martin this weekend we had some interesting things happen. Our flight (St Martin to Charlotte to Pittsburgh) was delayed to allow a repeat screening of the St Martin to New York passengers. For the NY flight, everyone was patted down carefully (including pilot and rest of flight crew) and their carry-ons were emptied and searched.
We watched this, wondering if something was suspected, or if it was just because they were landing in NYC. This was after going through regular security, etc.
Our flight loaded without any additional security. Guess North Carolina isn’t on any terrorist’s lists.
