The nation’s flight attendants are planning to fight the Federal Aviation Administration’s controversial decision to allow small knives on board jetliners once again, their spokeswoman says.
“We are hoping that we can put a stop to this before it starts in April,’’ Leslie Mayo, communications coordinator for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants told Newsmax TV's “The Steve Malzberg Show.’’
“That’s what we’re moving toward right now . . . It’s just a little disconcerting that we are the first responders on the aircraft and we were not consulted."
Mayo said the organization has a good relationship with the TSA “so it came as quite a surprise to us. I don’t think this was one of the more well thought out moves.
Urgent: Obama or GOP: Who’s to Blame for Budget Crisis? Vote Now!
“There’s no question that having a knife on board, no matter how small, is not necessary.’’
She said her organizations plan to meet with federal aviation officials to discuss the new decision.
The FAA has said the relaxing of the pocket knife ban free up flight crews and TSA agents to keep an eye open for more serious contraband, such as explosives.
But allowing for small knives still doesn’t make sense, according to Mayo.
“What confuses me the most is if you’ve collected 43 or so pocket knives a day, now you’re going to have to get out a measuring tape because 2.36 inches is allowed — 2.37 is not,’’ she said.
“This is just another level of confusion and that is one of the biggest problems is the level of confusion it will add to traveling now. It’s not necessary to bring a knife on board, period.’’
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.