Starting April 25, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will permit small knives and most sporting good equipment on planes in carry-on luggage, a new security conference held today revealed.

Bloomberg reported that the change is to conform with international rules, citing that travelers will be able to carry on knives with "retractable blades shorter than 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) and narrower than 1/2 inch at the widest point," and that "the agency is moving away from uniform procedures that apply to every passenger and toward efforts to perform background checks on passengers before they arrive at an airport."

Larger knives and items such as box cutters and razor blades must still be checked.

Sport equipment is also on the updated list of items allowed in carry-on luggage, including hockey sticks, ski poles and up to two golf clubs. Many baseball and softball bats will still be prohibited, but lightweight plastic, wiffle and novelty bats will be excluded from the ban.

The organization has not relaxed its ban on liquids over 100ml, however, and isn't likely to do so anytime soon.

This is, of course, mildly disconcerting to the already nervous traveler – what golfer travels with just two clubs? Who carries hockey sticks on a plane? Do they fit in the overhead compartment? Couldn't you do just as much damage with a five iron as you could with a baseball bat?

"These are popular items we see regularly," agency spokesman David Castelveter said. "They don't present a risk to transportation security."

What do you think? Will you now be bringing your putter and pocketknife on the plane?

[Image Credit: redjar]

Filed under: Airports, Consumer Activism, Travel Security