MagLight too big?

[ultrarunner]

Ok, right after Sep 11, I went out and replaced my flashlight with the biggest freaking MagLight that would fit in my flight kit. It's the 4 D Cell, 15 incher.

Well, no one took notice of it when I was in the airlines. But now, I'm flying corporate, and it's garnering more attention than I would like. I give 'em the "I'm crew" statement, and that has worked. In ORD I had to show my license.

Some security agent mentioned a super had said a 3 D cell was the limit for folks other than flight crews.

I like having the large light when I'm sitting in the back. I think it an excellent weapon in the event someone in the cabin get's out of hand.

Anyone else have any problems?

 

[fr8tdog227]

I've flown commercially a few times since Sept. 11 and I have been asked about my flight bag a few times. Questions like "What are these headsets doing in here or what are these charts for and even what are you going to do with this flashlight" are very interesting. My 4D cell Maglight always draws the most attention. Once I told the TSA person that I was a freight pilot and showed him/her my company badge and pilot certificate, he/her figured out that I might need flight equipment to fly.
Always something new with TSA.

 

[vschip]

I had the same problem last week, got questioned about my mag light, explained my job, and they let me thru. I looked at the tsa web site for prohibited items, and didn't find anything even close to a flashlight being prohibited, so I emailed tsa to ask them about it, here was their response: "Thank you for your email message. Maglights are not on the prohibited item lists. However, this list is not intended to be all-inclusive. A screener may determine that an item not on the list is prohibited" It is really scary the power that these guys have.

 

[ultrarunner]

Great. The first time someone tries to confiscate it, I will wait patiently at security, with a LEO and a TSA supervisor, until a "airline pilot" comes through...that ought to be fun.

Then I can simply ask "ok, how are you going to apply this standard?"

 

[ILikePlanes]

Here's another good one...

I'm a mechanic at KMDW. The TSA tried to take away my gerber (the tool not the baby food) once. I told them what i did and still no help, and yes i was in full uniform. The TSA supervisor lady told me that no tools are allowed on the air side. I then asked if she meant all tools, and gave her examples, i.e. picks, knives, ratchets, prybars, etc., etc. She proceeded to tell me all of those things, including "ANYTHING" that is a tool is not allowed to be on the airport grounds. Yeah lady, lets see you change a FFG, IDG, you name it, without any tools. I paid good money for those tools, and they best not be messing with them.

 

[2000flyer]

As a corporate pilot I've never had to travel with a flight kit, however I've had TSA demand I take off my company luggage tage with the word "CREW" on the reverse side since it could be assumed that I was a crewmember on that particular flight. I've also been questioned as to why I'm carrying a bag full of FSI maunuals onboard. This, ofcourse, coming from recurrent training.

As for the 4 D-Cell Mag, I like that idea!

2000Flyer

 

[jstock]

4 D Mag

I understand that the TSA is attempting to get a 1 week waiting period passed for the purchase of 4 D Mag lights. Buy them while you can.

 

[ShawnC]

I guessed that they have placed an outright ban of the 6 D Cell MagLite. This thing is like a little baseball bat.