MD80 captain was not allowed to take required diagonal side cutters past airport security.

Attributes
ACN	528806
Time
Date	200110
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	528806
Person 2
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Company
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

On arrival at security check point, I was asked to turn in the small set of wire cutters that I carried to remove the flex cuffs. I whipped out the trusted part 1 and found out that not only was the knife requirement removed, but also the requirement to carry anything to remove or cut these things off. If we are not able to remove them then we should not be allowed to carry the flex cuffs. These straps can be pulled to tight and cut off the circulation on the person attached. Wire cutters pose no threat to anyone's safety, and should be allowed back on the flight deck.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CAPT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE REQUIRED DIAGONAL SIDE CUTTERS PAST ARPT SECURITY.

Narrative: ON ARRIVAL AT SECURITY CHECK POINT, I WAS ASKED TO TURN IN THE SMALL SET OF WIRE CUTTERS THAT I CARRIED TO REMOVE THE FLEX CUFFS. I WHIPPED OUT THE TRUSTED PART 1 AND FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE KNIFE REQUIREMENT REMOVED, BUT ALSO THE REQUIREMENT TO CARRY ANYTHING TO REMOVE OR CUT THESE THINGS OFF. IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THEM THEN WE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CARRY THE FLEX CUFFS. THESE STRAPS CAN BE PULLED TO TIGHT AND CUT OFF THE CIRCULATION ON THE PERSON ATTACHED. WIRE CUTTERS POSE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'S SAFETY, AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED BACK ON THE FLT DECK.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.