<rant>
All this airport security hype is worthless. Checking passengers' shoes is not going to make a hill of beans of difference in actual security, only in perceived security. People seem to think the longer the line and more harrassing the security checkpoint, the safer they are. This is rubbish.
I can fly my small single-engine Cessna into just about major airport I'd like. I can her tie her down, walk across the tarmac to the main terminal, and jump on any sort of luggage wagon or fuel truck I'd like. I can walk up and touch a 747. If I'm wearing the right clothes, not a single person will ever know I don't belong there.
Anyone who really intends to blow an airplane up is not going to go on as a passenger through the stupid metal detectors. They're going to personally throw a bomb in a nice Samsonite into the plane's cargo hold, and detonate it with a cell phone. There is NO security on airliners. NONE. Get over it. If you can't handle it, find another way to your destination.
There are 4,000 flights every day in the US alone, and something like 11,000 worldwide. Your chances are being killed on an airplane because of a sabotage or bombing or hijacking event are literally smaller than your chances of being killed by a lightning strike while taking your morning shower.
The concept that I might have my dive knife confiscated from my checked baggage as a "security risk" just about makes me scream. The concept that I might have my nail file confiscated for the same reason just about makes me laugh.
</rant>
- Warren