Air travel just got a bit easier for some athletes in the skies, as the Transportation Security Administration announced new changes, allowing for some sporting equipment to be carried onto planes.
According to ESPN.com, the TSA has revised its policy on a number of sporting equipment products as well as knives, as passengers can now carry some equipment and small knives on board planes. The report says that lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, pool cues, ski poles and golf clubs all will be permitted on planes.
The change in policy by the TSA will start on April 25 and stems from the department trying to conform America's travel safety procedures to that of the international community and to allow workers to "better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives," according to a TSA statement.
As regards to knives, the new rules allow blades that are no longer than 2.36 inches and no wider than a half-inch, including souvenir knives and Swiss Army Knives. The rules do not allow for larger blades, razor blades, fixed-blade knives or box cutters on board.
The sports world will now be able to travel a bit easier, as there is no limit on lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, pool cues, ski poles and golf clubs anymore. Bats were also part of the new changes, as ones that are shorter than 24 inches and weigh less than 24 ounces, including souvenir ones from games, are now allowed.
Bats that are longer than 24 inches, but weight less than 24 ounces can be brought on if it is something like a whiffle ball bad, but regular, MLB-style bats will not be permitted. Aluminum bats are also not allowed on planes.
The policy is a big change for the post-9/11 travelling community and the TSA is hoping that no major incidents will come of it as they try to get workers to focus on more pressing and dangerous items in people's baggage.
The TSA "Changes to the Prohibited Item List" was released on Wednesday and limits golf clubs to two clubs each. "This decision aligns TSA with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and our European counterparts," said the TSA release.
The FULL TSA announcement about the policy can be found at this LINK.
