Airport puffer program scrapped – millions wasted

by Scott Carmichael on

It is no secret that the government can be a huge source of wasteful spending, but seldom is money wasted as swiftly as when it comes to purchases for our “national security”.

In 2004, the Department of Homeland Security purchased 207 “puffer machines” to deploy around the various airports.

These machines cost $160,000 each, and despite this insane price, they would break down quite regularly. Simple things like dirt and humidity could render the machines unusable, raising the yearly operating costs to just under $50,000 (per machine!).

Total loss: $33 Million.

Worst of all, only 94 of these expensive contraptions were actually put into service protecting us – the rest are still in a warehouse awaiting airport deployment, something that will never happen.

I hope they’ll be able to get a good price for them on Ebay, though I doubt they’ll ever fetch anything close to the $17 Million the taxpayer spent on them, even if they are new in box.

Scrapping the program won’t bother the TSA too much, they are about to spend close to $50 Million on those nifty new full body image scanners.

Daily gear deal – Swiss Clipper airport friendly multitool for $23

by Scott Carmichael on

Today’s gear deal is for the new Wenger Swiss Clipper AT multi tool.

This airport friendly tool complies with all TSA regulations, and in the special “AT” version, the knife has been removed, and replaced with a mini screwdriver. You also get a pair of scissors, a nail file and (for the first time on any Swiss knife), a nail clipper.

Of course, you also get the signature toothpick and tweezers hidden away in the handles.

The Swiss Clipper AT normally retails for about $30, but is available from Buy.com for just $22.99 (plus $7 shipping). Clip this thing onto your key chain, and you’ll always have 7 handy tools with you.

That said – I do recommend carrying a copy of the TSA regulations with you, as the agency has a nasty habit of making up rules at the checkpoint, and you are bound to eventually run into a checkpoint worker who will tell you to surrender your dangerous weapon.

Flight attendant arrested for trying to get guns through security

by Jeffrey White on

A flight attendant for Great Lakes Aviation has been arrested when police discovered her trying to get two handguns through security at Denver International Airport.

The woman’s name is not being released to the public, according to KMGH-TV in Sacramento.

Police nabbed the FA at a security checkpoint. They discovered two guns stuffed into her carry on. She was passing through security on her way to board a flight.

Police say both guns were not loaded. Federal authorities are currently weighing whether to charge the FA with a crime.

Always good to see the TSA alert to catch this stuff, given some of the weird items people try to get through security these days.

Cremated remains missing from passengers luggage – TSA says “oops”

by Scott Carmichael on

Several days ago, I wrote about an airline passenger who arrived home to discover that his shock absorbers had been removed from his luggage, and replaced with a note from the TSA letting him know they had inspected his bags.

Today’s episode is far more disturbing – a passenger flying on Alaska Airlines from Seattle to Denver arrived at her destination, only to discover that the cremated remains of her mother were no longer in her plastic urn.

The container itself was still there, but it was empty, and like the other incident, the only evidence was a note left by the TSA letting her know they had inspected her checked bag.

The TSA at Sea-Tac airport is now worried that a screener “made an error” and removed the contents of the container. They are attempting to track down the screener, to find out what happened to the remains, and what prompted them to empty the container.

Initially, the passenger blamed herself, and was worried that she was to blame for the incident, but she followed the TSA regulations for carrying cremated remains, and the TSA web site clearly states that under no circumstances will they open the container.

Fingers crossed that the TSA finds the remains, or the mother of this poor lady will be laid to rest in the bottom of a trash can at Sea-Tac airport.

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The TSA wants you to stop wasting their time – what to know before you go

by Scott Carmichael on

Now Winter is finally over, and Spring is (slowly) making its way to us, this can only mean one thing – in about 2 months, the airport will once again turn into a madhouse of once-a-year fliers, and families with 20 suitcases trying to make their way to the Disney express.

With inexperienced passengers, comes a lot of people who will be treated to their first encounter with whatever the TSA has changed in their rules in the past year.

Even after all these years, there are still passengers who show up at the checkpoint with full sized bottles of toiletries, knives and other items they will have to throw away.

So, one of the writers on the TSA’s own blog, “evolution of security” has compiled a list of all the things you need to know before you leave for the airport.

The site even includes video clips for those of us that don’t like lots of words.

I used to think these overviews were stupid, but after seeing how many people don’t have a clue how the checkpoint works, it really does make sense to be prepared.

If you are heading for the airport for the first time in years, please take a moment to go over the information, you’ll help the TSA, and you’ll help those of us that are just trying to get to the other side of the checkpoint as quickly as possible.