Ok this is a start, now they just need to start thinking about lifting the ban on liquids (excluding 3 oz or less) as well.
FAA to lift ban on cigarette lighters on airplanes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal aviation authorities have decided to stop
enforcing a 2-year-old rule against taking cigarette lighters on airplanes,
concluding that it was a waste of time to search for them before passengers
boarded.
The ban was imposed at the insistence of Congress after a passenger, Richard
Reid, tried to ignite a bomb in his shoe in 2001 on a flight from Paris to
Miami.
Lawmakers said that if Reid had used a lighter, instead of matches, he might
have been able to ignite the bomb, but Kip Hawley, assistant secretary for
the Transportation Security Administration, said Thursday that the ban had
done little to improve aviation security because small batteries could be
used to set off a bomb.
Matches have never been prohibited on flights.
The policy change, which is to go into effect Aug. 4, applies to disposable
butane lighters, like Bics, and refillable lighters, like Zippos. Torch
lighters, which have thin, hotter flames, will still be banned.
Security officers have been collecting some 22,000 lighters a day
nationwide.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/fire/chi-lighters_natjul20,1,6764483.story
FAA to lift ban on cigarette lighters on airplanes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal aviation authorities have decided to stop
enforcing a 2-year-old rule against taking cigarette lighters on airplanes,
concluding that it was a waste of time to search for them before passengers
boarded.
The ban was imposed at the insistence of Congress after a passenger, Richard
Reid, tried to ignite a bomb in his shoe in 2001 on a flight from Paris to
Miami.
Lawmakers said that if Reid had used a lighter, instead of matches, he might
have been able to ignite the bomb, but Kip Hawley, assistant secretary for
the Transportation Security Administration, said Thursday that the ban had
done little to improve aviation security because small batteries could be
used to set off a bomb.
Matches have never been prohibited on flights.
The policy change, which is to go into effect Aug. 4, applies to disposable
butane lighters, like Bics, and refillable lighters, like Zippos. Torch
lighters, which have thin, hotter flames, will still be banned.
Security officers have been collecting some 22,000 lighters a day
nationwide.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/fire/chi-lighters_natjul20,1,6764483.story
