There are rumours that airlines are planning to lift restrictions on liquids. On the face of it, this seems a good idea. Certainly the rules aren’t being applied consistently. One ARC trainer, passing recently through an airport security checkpoint in Moscow was relieved of his half bottle of rather delicious sparkling apple drink. Another ARC trainer at the same checkpoint, however, was allowed to keep his 1 litre bottle of whisky claiming it was for medicinal purposes!It is premature to consider allowing liquids through to airside. While the immediate threat of liquid explosives may have receded, there are frequent reports that terrorists will seek to initiate a poison gas release inside a cabin; this usually requires two substances (at least one of which would normally be a liquid) to be mixed together to form a binary chemical agent. My daughter is doing a chemistry degree at university. She tells me that there are enough unsecured binary agent components in her laboratory to gas the entire campus!
Even the most seemingly innocuous liquids can cause havoc inside a cabin. Take, for example, the lithium ion batteries supplied with most laptops (I took three onto two recent long-distance flights, unchallenged). If the plastic were to be peeled back a very serious fire could ensue, as lithium, when in contact with something as basic as water, burns violently.
If airlines weren’t so tight and gave us “mains” laptop power at our seats as standard, this risk could be eliminated. And while they are at it, can I have in-cabin broadband as well?
