MissChief wote
"(In any event, no jests about fire axes)."
you must know the Fire axe story?
A certain Captain, working a flight, for my Airline, had his nail clipper taken away by a zealous Security Screener in YYZ.
He returned to the Rapidair Lounge, with the Fire Axe from the cockpit. And told the Screening Agent,
"You may have my nail clipper, but I have this !"
Think Jack Nicholson in The Shinning..
I wasn't there, but knowing the Captain I believe it.
Later I was passing through YOW airport, in uniform working a flight waiting on the gate. The security screener wanted to take away a pair of tiny
needle nosed pliers I had just bought. I asked for the Supervisor, and explained to her , quietly, I had a 5 foot fire axe in the cockpit, so taking away my pliers was a bit extreme.
I offered to get the Fire axe and show it to her.
She let me go with the pliers.