Small airports, big security hassles
None but a blockhead
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Small airports, big security hassles
Last yyear, I was returning to Edinburgh from Lerwick, and had a pebble confiscated from my hand luggage. It was a nice pebble, not very big, and I did ask what particular rule it contravened. I was told, rather unpleasantly, that pebbles over a certain size were not allowed, and this one was just over.
Common sense says don't react to snarky security, and never ask more than one question if they're not playing ball, so on I went.
Now I read that other Scottish island airports are getting a rep for over-zealous security, with Islay in particular turning into something from an Ealing Comedy.
I don't want to revive the tired old security theatre arguments again. But have other users of the HIAL airports found them OTT even by modern standards?
Common sense says don't react to snarky security, and never ask more than one question if they're not playing ball, so on I went.
Now I read that other Scottish island airports are getting a rep for over-zealous security, with Islay in particular turning into something from an Ealing Comedy.
I don't want to revive the tired old security theatre arguments again. But have other users of the HIAL airports found them OTT even by modern standards?
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Common sense says an oversize pebble may not be as it seems..That's probably why it was confiscated.
Palma can be worse that that - My wide bought a souvenirs that contained a liquid - Not only was it took, she suffered verbals..A male gave it her back after close scrutiny and realising it was bought in Majorca,
For some reason I always seem to get frisked, or my bag searched at BLK - Who cares?..Better a little inconvenience that being blown out of the sky.
I would be more worried if the security was lax.
Palma can be worse that that - My wide bought a souvenirs that contained a liquid - Not only was it took, she suffered verbals..A male gave it her back after close scrutiny and realising it was bought in Majorca,
For some reason I always seem to get frisked, or my bag searched at BLK - Who cares?..Better a little inconvenience that being blown out of the sky.
I would be more worried if the security was lax.
StandupfortheUlstermen
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Common sense says an oversize pebble may not be as it seems..
My experience of a certain Belfast airport is quite the opposite.
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I was operating out of Stornoway, and had poped into the station office to say hello. On the way out through security the security 'manager' proudly showed me a gun she had confiscated from one of our passengers. It had come from a christmas cracker, which should give you some idea of it's size, was coloured and would have fired a (tiny) stream of water!
I laughed and offered to take it and give it back to the passenger at the end of the flight and this, predictably, went down rather badly.
I laughed and offered to take it and give it back to the passenger at the end of the flight and this, predictably, went down rather badly.
Last edited by TDK mk2; 8th Feb 2012 at 06:14.
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They get it just right at Alderney - a couple of very kind people who check through bags uniformly.
At Guernsey, however... one woman going back up to Alderney was carrying a goldfish in a large polythene bag and had to persuade them not to put it through the x-ray machine. They're awful there.
At Guernsey, however... one woman going back up to Alderney was carrying a goldfish in a large polythene bag and had to persuade them not to put it through the x-ray machine. They're awful there.
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Oh well, here goes :-
256 mm diameter : Boulder
64 to 256 mm dia : Cobble
4 to 64 mm dia : Pebble
2 to 4 mm dia : Gravel
1/16 to 2 mm dia : Sand
1/256 to 1/16 mm : Silt
1/256 : Clay
Sediment Description
256 mm diameter : Boulder
64 to 256 mm dia : Cobble
4 to 64 mm dia : Pebble
2 to 4 mm dia : Gravel
1/16 to 2 mm dia : Sand
1/256 to 1/16 mm : Silt
1/256 : Clay
Sediment Description
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In 2004 I took a house brick through Manchester without any problem.
(And should you want to know why it was a sample of reclaimed Victorian engineering brick for an extension to my Victorian brick house)
(And should you want to know why it was a sample of reclaimed Victorian engineering brick for an extension to my Victorian brick house)
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Odd security
When flying out to Scilly from penzance on Skybus in October 2001, they took away my Swiss army knife, put in in an envelope which was placed on the co-pilot's seat in the Islander - I was satin the seat behind the pilot!
Also again on my way to Scilly (I am a keen Birder) on the chopper this time, I was told on board by the cabin crew ladyI could'nt drink from the water bottle I produced from my pocket, on returning it to said pocket I felt my clasp knife, which I thought prudent not to mention!
St Mary's airport is a cracking place... Once saw a pilot land his twin otter, saunter over to the ground crew, who were practicing their putting, and have a few goes himself.
Don't see that at Heathrow!
Also again on my way to Scilly (I am a keen Birder) on the chopper this time, I was told on board by the cabin crew ladyI could'nt drink from the water bottle I produced from my pocket, on returning it to said pocket I felt my clasp knife, which I thought prudent not to mention!
St Mary's airport is a cracking place... Once saw a pilot land his twin otter, saunter over to the ground crew, who were practicing their putting, and have a few goes himself.
Don't see that at Heathrow!
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Teesside. Definately small these days and consistently unpleasant whether passing thru the terminal as pax or gaining access at the gatehouse to the apron. Vile.
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one woman going back up to Alderney was carrying a goldfish in a large polythene bag
A Runyonesque Character
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Is a small pebble more dangerous than a bottle of whiskey then?
There was a well-publicised incident at Newcastle a couple of years ago when a passenger had a portion of pease pudding confiscated, it was thought to fall into the 'liquids and gels' category.
The security at Hebridean airports would indeed border on the farcical were it not for the distressing effect on many passengers (not just the elderly and infirm) in situations where many are known to the staff.
Personally I will even brave the Calmac crossings in the depth of winter rather than subject myself to the indignities perpetrated by the jobsworths. Their excuse is that they never know when there might be a random inspection going on.
Quite frankly I do not believe that a terrorist would find it worthwhile in publicity value to target a Saab 340. Certainly that was the philosophy in New Zealand four years ago when the security screening in small airports was much more relaxed.
But then there is no place in the Bureaucratic Handbook for common sense. Mindless security is not good security.
Personally I will even brave the Calmac crossings in the depth of winter rather than subject myself to the indignities perpetrated by the jobsworths. Their excuse is that they never know when there might be a random inspection going on.
Quite frankly I do not believe that a terrorist would find it worthwhile in publicity value to target a Saab 340. Certainly that was the philosophy in New Zealand four years ago when the security screening in small airports was much more relaxed.
But then there is no place in the Bureaucratic Handbook for common sense. Mindless security is not good security.
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scotbill
All the more reason to have just as stringent security at smaller airports.
If terrorists were to believe that security was lax at small airports and they could quite easily overpower a small turboprop aircraft and fly it into a large building, trust me it would make headlines around the world.
If terrorists were to believe that security was lax at small airports and they could quite easily overpower a small turboprop aircraft and fly it into a large building, trust me it would make headlines around the world.
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All the more reason to have just as stringent security at smaller airports.
My last contribution to the pebble debate. Pebbles come in all sizes, being pretty is not a reason for it not being confiscated..Example where would it end. a piece of coal polished would look pretty, do we let big lumps of coal though security which like a pebble could have been altered and could contain explosive.would not take much of an explosion at 30,000 feet to bring down an airliner,
My opinion is let the security people get on with their jobs and keep us safe in the air.
Another thing at smaller airports are like at BLK - Spoilers to stop terminals being rammed - I don't like the front of Blackpool airport, but I would like even less being rammed with a car full of explosives, while I was having a pint.
We live in dangerous times and we have to put up with inconvenience, if it keeeps us safe then we just put up with it.
Not just airports that confiscate - I took my 13 year old daughter to the 02 Appolo in Manchester to see a group called All Time Low - I had a miniature Bells on me and I was frisked and they took it - My intention was to drink it after the gig as it was brass monkeys, no use arguing it had to go.
I had to make to with near a £5 a pint of beer instead. I suppose bringing your own in a 5000 venue was silly, as they are just as much a target as an airport.
Pebble , take off your sock and put it in = weapon
Removal of a pebble from a Scottish beach is an offence.
Security staff may know the passenger, but what of the "stranger" in the queue behind you....
Removal of a pebble from a Scottish beach is an offence.
Security staff may know the passenger, but what of the "stranger" in the queue behind you....
All the more reason to have just as stringent security at smaller airports.
In allowing the security pantomime to ruin the aviation experience to the extent that people avoid flying altogether, we have let the terrorists win.
Harrassing invalid pensioners rather than more likely suspects is not the way to go.
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take off your sock and put it in = weapon
Security staff may know the passenger, but what of the "stranger" in the queue behind you....
Removal of a pebble from a Scottish beach is an offence.
There is a common phrase at my alma mater, namely goive. Perhaps you should look it up and take note.
I rest my case.