Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 73537 

1See 49 U.S.C. 114(d). 

2See 49 U.S.C. 44901(a). 

3See 68 FR 7444 (Feb. 14, 2003) (initial 

interpretive rule); 68 FR 9902 (Mar. 3, 2003) 

(technical corrections); 70 FR 9877 (Mar. 1, 2005) 

(prohibiting lighters); 70 FR 51679 (Aug. 31, 2005) 

(permitting certain small scissors that persons with 

ostomies need); 70 FR 72930 (Dec. 8, 2005) 

(allowing small scissors and small tools); and 72 FR 

40262 (July 24, 2007) (new enforcement policy 

regarding lighters, allowing one lighter). 

4 68 FR at 7445. 

requirements for new DTV allotments in 

section 73.623(d) of the rules. In 

addition, the allotment point complies 

with section 73.625(a)(1) of the rules as 

the entire community of Alamogordo is 

encompassed by the 35 dBm contour. 

This is a synopsis of the 

Commission’s Report and Order, MB 

Docket No. 23–281; RM–11958; DA 23– 

998, adopted October 20, 2023, and 

released October 20, 2023. The full text 

of this document is available for 

download at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs. 

To request materials in accessible 

formats for people with disabilities 

(braille, large print, electronic files, 

audio format), send an email to fcc504@

fcc.gov or call the Consumer & 

Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202– 

418–0530 (voice), 202–418–0432 (tty). 

This document does not contain 

information collection requirements 

subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act 

of 1995, Public Law 104–13. In addition, 

therefore, it does not contain any 

proposed information collection burden 

‘‘for small business concerns with fewer 

than 25 employees,’’ pursuant to the 

Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 

2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(4). Provisions of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601– 

612, do not apply to this proceeding. 

The Commission will send a copy of 

this Report and Order in a report to be 

sent to Congress and the Government 

Accountability Office pursuant to the 

Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 

801(a)(1)(A). 

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73 

Television. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Thomas Horan, 

Chief of Staff, Media Bureau. 

Final Rule 

For the reasons discussed in the 

preamble, the Federal Communications 

Commission amends 47 CFR part 73 as 

follows: 

PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST 

SERVICE 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 73 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 301, 303, 

307, 309, 310, 334, 336, 339. 

■ 2. In § 73.622(j), amend the Table of 

TV Allotments, under New Mexico, by 

adding an entry for Alamogordo to read 

as follows: 

§ 73.622 Digital television table of 

allotments. 

* * * * * 

(j) * * * 

Community Channel No. 

* * * * * 

New Mexico 

* * * * * 

Alamogordo .......................... *4 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2023–23663 Filed 10–25–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Transportation Security Administration 

49 CFR Part 1540 

Prohibited Items 

AGENCY: Transportation Security 

Administration, DHS. 

ACTION: Interpretive rule. 

SUMMARY: The Transportation Security 

Administration (TSA) is amending its 

interpretive rule that provides guidance 

to the public on the types of items that 

TSA considers to be weapons, 

explosives, and incendiaries, which are 

prohibited in airport sterile areas, in the 

cabins of aircraft, or in passengers’ 

checked baggage. This document adds a 

limited type of unpressurized gas 

cylinders for air guns used in 

competitive shooting to those items that 

may be placed in checked baggage but 

continue to be prohibited in sterile areas 

and aircraft cabins. This document also 

provides clarification on prohibited 

sharp objects and certain self-defense 

items. 

DATES: This rule is effective October 26, 

2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Justin Keear, Requirements 

Development Branch, Requirements and 

Capabilities Analysis, Transportation 

Security Administration, 6595 

Springfield Center Drive, Springfield, 

VA 20598–6016; Telephone (571) 422– 

7202; email ORCAPIL@tsa.dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability of Rulemaking Document 

You can find an electronic copy of 

this rulemaking using the internet by 

accessing the Government Publishing 

Office’s web page at https://

www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/FR/ to 

view the daily published Federal 

Register edition or accessing the Office 

of the Federal Register’s web page at 

https://www.federalregister.gov. Copies 

are also available by contacting the 

individual identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section. 

Statutory and Regulatory Background 

TSA is responsible for security in all 

modes of transportation, including 

aviation.1 In addition, TSA is required 

to screen all passengers and property, 

including carry-on and checked 

baggage, and other articles.2 Under 

TSA’s regulation on acceptance and 

screening of individuals and accessible 

property, 49 CFR 1540.111(a), an 

individual (other than law enforcement 

personnel or other authorized 

individuals) may not have a weapon, 

explosive, or incendiary, on or about the 

individual’s person or accessible 

property— 

(1) When performance has begun of 

the inspection of the individual’s person 

or accessible property before entering a 

sterile area, or before boarding an 

aircraft for which screening is 

conducted under this subchapter; 

(2) When the individual is entering or 

in a sterile area; or 

(3) When the individual is attempting 

to board or onboard an aircraft for 

which screening is conducted under 49 

CFR 1544.201, 1546.201, or 1562.23. 

Under 49 CFR 1540.111(c), a 

passenger may not transport the 

following items in checked baggage: any 

loaded firearms; any unloaded firearms 

unless it meets specific packaging 

requirements and is properly declared; 

or any unauthorized explosive or 

incendiary. 

Since February 2003, TSA has 

published a series of interpretive rules 

that provide guidance to the public on 

the types of property TSA considers to 

be weapons, explosives, and 

incendiaries prohibited on an 

individual’s person, accessible property, 

or in checked baggage, as well as items 

that may be permitted, if they clear 

TSA’s required screening.3

As noted in the first interpretive rule, 

neither the prohibited items list nor the 

permitted items list in this regulatory 

interpretation contains all possible 

items.4 As a result, items not 

specifically included on the prohibited 

items list may be prohibited in a sterile 

area and the cabin of an aircraft. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
73538 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

5 49 U.S.C. 44935(h)(1). 

6https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/ 

whatcanibring/all. 

7 Division K, FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, 

Public Law 115–254 (132 Stat. 3186; Oct. 5, 2018) 

as codified at 49 U.S.C. 44901 note [hereinafter, 

TSA Modernization Act]. This provision is 

consistent with recommendations from a 2015 

review by the Government Accountability Office 

(GAO) of TSA’s approach to prohibiting items 

aboard passenger aircraft. GAO published a report 

recommending that TSA review and revise the 

prohibited items list regularly, and engage with 

internal and external stakeholders, including the 

ASAC, in the course of these reviews. See GAO–15– 

261 Report, Aviation Security TSA Should Take 

Additional Action to Obtain Stakeholder Input 

when Modifying the Prohibited Items List, GAO–15– 

261 (Feb. 2015). 

8TSA Modernization Act, at § 1962(b). 

9 Id. at § 1962(c). 

10 Id. 

Screeners have discretion to prohibit an 

individual from carrying an item into a 

sterile area or onboard an aircraft if the 

screener determines that the item poses 

a potential threat, regardless of whether 

the item is on the prohibited items list. 

Moreover, if future information or 

events demonstrate the need to prohibit 

items that TSA has previously 

considered permitted, TSA may prohibit 

individuals from bringing these items 

into the sterile area or onboard the 

aircraft without first publishing a 

change to this interpretive rule. This 

flexibility is consistent with Congress’ 

direction that screeners be proficient in 

recognizing new threats and weapons 5

as well as TSA’s mission and authorities 

to protect transportation security from 

evolving threats. To provide as much 

notice to the public as possible, TSA has 

created an interactive capability for the 

public on https://www.tsa.gov that 

provides up-to-date information on 

prohibited items, including hazardous 

items prohibited by the Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA), and 

those that are permitted if properly 

packaged and screened.6

Statutory Requirements for Revisions to 

the Prohibited Items List 

Section 1962 of the TSA 

Modernization Act requires TSA to 

periodically review and amend, as 

necessary, the prohibited items list.7

Before determining whether to include 

or remove an item from the prohibited 

items list, TSA is required to: (1) 

research and evaluate the impact, if any, 

the amendment would have on security 

risks and screening operations, 

including effectiveness and efficiency; 

(2) research and evaluate whether the 

amendment is consistent with 

international standards and guidance, 

including those of the International 

Civil Aviation Organization; and (3) 

consult with appropriate aviation 

security stakeholders, including the 

Aviation Security Advisory Committee 

(ASAC).8 With the exception of plastic 

or round-bladed butter knives, TSA is 

prohibited from amending the 

interpretive rule to authorize any knife 

to be permitted in an airport sterile area 

or in the aircraft cabin.9

TSA established a process to ensure 

compliance with these statutory 

requirements. TSA Management 

Directive 4000.2 (August 25, 2021) 

establishes TSA’s Office of 

Requirements and Capabilities Analysis 

as the lead office for revisions to the 

prohibited items list. All changes to the 

prohibited items list require review and 

approval by TSA’s Executive Risk 

Steering Committee, a risk assessment 

(to include determining potential 

impact on operations), and a robust 

process for engagement with internal 

and external stakeholders. When 

determining to make these revisions to 

the prohibited items list, TSA 

considered, among other factors, known 

security risks based on intelligence, 

incidents, and feedback from 

stakeholders. From information 

provided by the U.S. intelligence and 

law enforcement communities, TSA 

knows that terrorists remain focused on 

attacking commercial aviation. The use 

of simple weapons in the aircraft cabin 

to overpower the flight crew is a known 

threat tactic. 

Impact on screening operations. TSA 

also considered the effects of these 

changes on screening operations, 

including effectiveness and efficiency. 

For example, the clarifications to the 

definitions of sharp objects being made 

through this revision to the prohibited 

items list are intended to reduce 

confusion and training burdens across 

the screening workforce, thereby 

enabling TSA screeners to focus more 

effectively and efficiently on searching 

for prohibited items. 

Alignment with International 

Standards. TSA reviewed all 

corresponding passenger screening 

security standards from the 

International Civil Aviation 

Organization and determined that all 

clarifications to the list are consistent 

with those standards. 

Engagement with stakeholders. TSA 

solicited input and feedback from the 

FAA, the ASAC, and several industry 

trade organizations with an interest in 

aviation security on the changes relating 

to gas cylinders for air guns. No external 

stakeholders provided substantive 

feedback. As discussed below, the 

remaining changes relating to 

definitions of sharp objects and clublike items are clarifications to the 

prohibited items list consistent with 

current screening policies; they do not 

represent changes to current limitations 

or requirements, and they neither add 

nor remove items from the list. 

Accordingly, TSA did not engage 

extensively with ASAC or other 

interested stakeholders when preparing 

those revisions. 

Clarifications to the Prohibited Items 

List 

Sharp objects: Blade holding devices 

and table knives. TSA is making 

clarifications to the prohibited items list 

for categories of sharp objects prohibited 

under Section I.B. of the interpretive 

rule. As shown in Table 1, these 

changes include a minor revision to the 

types of permitted knives, intended to 

clarify the features of some common 

table knives that may be carried in the 

passenger cabin. The current text of the 

prohibited items list prompts recurring 

questions by TSA screeners regarding 

the identity of the knife as a butter 

knife, the existence of a point, the 

features of the blade edge, the presence 

of serrations, and how to decide if a 

knife with a particular combination of 

those features is permitted or not. 

Consistent with the requirements of the 

TSA Modernization Act,10 the revised 

text is intended to clarify that only 

knives with no sharp edges, no points, 

and no serrations are permitted. 

Commonly permissible examples would 

include plastic cutlery and butter knives 

(the butter knife exception is limited to 

knives that are round-bladed, bluntedged, without serration, and no longer 

than a common table knife). There is no 

change to the allowance for plastic 

cutlery, which continues to be 

permitted. The new definition will 

simplify training and operational 

requirements and will allow TSA’s 

screening workforce to focus more 

appropriately on screening for more 

dangerous items. 

The second change provides 

clarification regarding box cutters and 

utility knives. Recognizing the potential 

for empty box cutter and utility knife 

housings to be used to enhance the 

lethality of a hidden blade, TSA 

determined it is necessary to provide 

clarification that both the blades and 

housings are prohibited. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 73539 

11See Sections I.A(2) (compressed air guns) and 

I.F(2) (compressed gas cylinders). 

12Public Law 96–354 (94 Stat. 1164; Sept. 19, 

1980) (codified at 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended 

by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 

Fairness Act of 1996). 

13Public Law 96–39 (93 Stat. 144; July 26, 1979) 

(codified at 19 U.S.C. 2531–2533). 

14Public Law 104–4 (109 Stat. 66; Mar. 22, 1995) 

(codified at 2 U.S.C. 1181–1538). 

TABLE 1—CHANGES TO THE DEFINITION OF SHARP OBJECTS IN THE PROHIBITED ITEMS LIST SECTION I.B. 

Current wording New wording 

(5) Knives of any length, except rounded-blade 

butter and plastic cutlery.

(5) Knives of any length, except plastic cutlery and butter knives (the butter knife exception is 

limited to knives that are round-bladed, blunt-edged, without serration, and no longer than a 

common table knife). 

(7) Razor-type blades, such as box cutters, utility knives, and razor blades not in a cartridge, 

but excluding safety razors.

(7) Razor-type blades, such as blades for box cutters, utility knives, and non-disposable safety 

razors. This prohibition includes box cutter and utility knife housings, with or without the 

razor blade, but excludes disposable safety razors and safety razor blade cartridges. 

Club-like items: Cat-Eyes. Cat-eyes are 

a type of brass knuckle made in the 

stylized representation of a cat’s face, 

often made of metal, and commonly 

marketed as keychains. The eyes of the 

cat are finger holes and the ears of the 

cat are sharp points that extend beyond 

the fingers when the weapon is held in 

a closed fist, as with other brass 

knuckles. TSA screeners have requested 

clarification on whether these items are 

prohibited, seeking clarification of 

whether the items should be treated as 

a club-like item or sharp object. 

Clarifying that TSA considers cat-eyes 

to be a type of brass knuckle will 

simplify training and operational 

requirements and provide clarity to the 

public. 

Gas cylinders for air guns. TSA 

currently prohibits all compressed air 

guns and compressed gas cylinders on 

person or in accessible property.11 TSA 

permits unloaded compressed air guns 

to be transported in checked baggage, 

but the agency has not included a clear 

exception for the compressed gas 

cylinders used in these guns through the 

prohibited items list. In response to a 

request from the competitive shooting 

industry, TSA examined available 

intelligence information and the 

characteristics of unpressurized 

competitive shooting cylinders for air 

guns. TSA conducted a risk analysis 

that compared the gas cylinders to other 

similar items that are currently allowed 

in checked baggage and found that the 

carriage of a maximum of four of these 

unpressurized cylinders in checked 

baggage would not introduce an 

unacceptable level of risk to passengers 

or aviation security, even if carried 

along with their associated air rifle or 

air pistol. TSA has, in the past, made 

limited exceptions consistent with this 

change, such as for Olympic 

competitors and the Wounded Warrior 

program, without incident. 

Through this revision to the 

interpretive rule, TSA is permitting 

travelers to transport up to four 

unpressurized compressed gas cylinders 

of limited size and capacity intended for 

air guns. Each passenger may carry no 

more than four such cylinders, and none 

of the gas cylinders may exceed 24 

inches in length, 3 inches in diameter, 

or 0.1 cubic feet in total rated volume. 

All checked baggage will continue to 

be screened prior to being loaded on an 

aircraft. This screening will verify that 

the items within meet the criteria for 

transport described in this notice and 

are not concealing other prohibited 

items, explosives, or improvised 

explosive devices or components. The 

final decision rests with TSA on 

whether to allow items to be 

transported, and TSA reserves the 

ability to prohibit any items that it 

deems to be a threat to transportation 

security. As part of risk-based security, 

TSA may prohibit items discovered 

during certain types of screening that 

would otherwise be permitted. 

Future Changes to the Prohibited Items 

List 

Consistent with the requirements in 

the TSA Modernization Act, TSA 

intends to review the prohibited items 

list on a periodic basis and will revise 

the list as operational circumstances 

and the threat landscape may require. 

TSA will engage with appropriate 

internal and external stakeholders in the 

course of the periodic review, as 

required by the TSA Modernization Act. 

TSA will continue to announce future 

changes in the Federal Register and will 

continue to add any changes to TSA’s 

‘‘What Can I Bring?’’ list (or equivalent) 

on https://www.tsa.gov. 

Regulatory Impact Analyses 

Changes to Federal regulations must 

undergo several economic analyses. 

First, Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 of 

September 30, 1993 (Regulatory 

Planning and Review), as supplemented 

by E.O. 13563 of January 18, 2011 

(Improving Regulation and Regulatory 

Review) and E.O. 14094 of April 6, 2023 

(Modernizing Regulatory Review) 

directs each Federal agency to propose 

or adopt a regulation only upon a 

reasoned determination that the benefits 

of the intended regulation justify its 

costs. Second, the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act of 1980 (RFA) 12 requires agencies to 

consider the economic impact of 

regulatory changes on small entities. 

Third, the Trade Agreement Act of 

1979 13 prohibits agencies from setting 

standards that create unnecessary 

obstacles to the foreign commerce of the 

United States. Fourth, the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 14

(UMRA) requires agencies to prepare a 

written assessment of the costs, benefits, 

and other effects of proposed or final 

rulemakings that include a Federal 

mandate likely to result in the 

expenditure by State, Local, or Tribal 

governments, in the aggregate, or by the 

private sector, of $100 million or more 

annually (adjusted for inflation). 

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 

Assessment 

Under the requirements of E.O. 12866, 

as amended by E.O. 14094, and E.O. 

13563, agencies must assess the costs 

and benefits of available regulatory 

alternatives and, if regulation is 

necessary, select regulatory approaches 

that maximize net benefits (including 

potential economic, environmental, 

public health and safety effects, 

distributive impacts, and equity). These 

requirements were supplemented by 

E.O. 13563, which emphasizes the 

importance of quantifying both costs 

and benefits, of reducing costs, of 

harmonizing rules, and of promoting 

flexibility. 

The Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) has not designated this 

interpretive rule a significant regulatory 

action under section 3(f) of Executive 

Order 12866, as amended by Executive 

Order 14094. Accordingly, OMB has not 

reviewed this regulatory action. 

In conducting these analyses, TSA 

made the following determinations: 

1. This interpretive rule explains to 

the public, airport personnel, screeners, 

and airlines, how TSA interprets certain 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
73540 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

15See, e.g., 70 FR 51679 (Aug. 31, 2005) and 70 

FR 72930 (Dec. 8, 2005). 

16See supra note 6. 

17As codified at 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347. 

18As codified at 42 U.S.C. 6362. 

terms used in an existing rule, 49 CFR 

1540.111. 

2. This interpretive rule will not 

constitute a barrier to international 

trade. 

3. This interpretive rule does not 

impose an unfunded mandate on State, 

Local, or Tribal governments, or on the 

private sector. 

This interpretive rule provides an 

interpretation of an existing regulation, 

49 CFR 1540.111, to provide clarity 

regarding existing prohibitions and to 

narrow the scope of the prohibition by 

permitting certain compressed gas 

cylinders in checked baggage. As was 

the case with previous interpretive rules 

narrowing the scope of the 

prohibition,15 TSA does not anticipate 

that the public or industry will bear any 

compliance costs associated with this 

interpretive rule. 

The decision to allow a limited size 

and number of compressed gas 

cylinders in checked baggage is made as 

part of TSA’s overall risk-based security 

approach and is consistent with the 

requirement to review the prohibited 

items list in section 1962 of the TSA 

Modernization Act of 2018.16

Regulatory Flexibility Determination 

The RFA requires that agencies 

consider the impacts of their rules on 

small entities. For purposes of the RFA, 

small entities include small businesses, 

not-for-profit organizations, and small 

governmental jurisdictions. Individuals 

and States are not included in the 

definition of a small entity. 

The RFA does not apply to this 

interpretive rule and TSA is not 

preparing an analysis under 5 U.S.C. 

553 as TSA is not required to publish 

a notice of proposed rulemaking. 

International Trade Impact Assessment 

The Trade Agreement Act of 1979 

prohibits Federal agencies from 

establishing any standards or engaging 

in related activities that create 

unnecessary obstacles to the foreign 

commerce of the United States. The 

Trade Agreement Act does not consider 

legitimate domestic objectives, such as 

essential security, as unnecessary 

obstacles. The statute also requires that 

international standards be considered 

and, where appropriate, that they be the 

basis for U.S. standards. TSA has 

assessed the potential effect of this 

interpretative rule and has determined 

this interpretive rule would not have an 

adverse impact on international trade. 

Unfunded Mandates Assessment 

Title II of UMRA, establishes 

requirements for Federal agencies to 

assess the effects of their regulatory 

actions on State, Local, and Tribal 

governments and the private sector. 

Title II of UMRA requires each Federal 

agency to prepare a written statement 

assessing the effects of any Federal 

mandate in a proposed or final agency 

rule that may result in a $100 million or 

more expenditure (adjusted annually for 

inflation) in any one year by State, 

Local, and Tribal governments, in the 

aggregate, or by the private sector; such 

a mandate is deemed to be a ‘‘significant 

regulatory action.’’ 

This interpretive rule does not 

contain such a mandate. The 

requirements of Title II of UMRA, 

therefore, do not apply and TSA has not 

prepared a statement. 

Executive Order 13132, Federalism 

A rule has implications for federalism 

under E.O. 13132 of August 10, 1999 

(Federalism), if it has a substantial 

direct effect on the States, on the 

relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. TSA has analyzed 

this proposed rule under E.O. 13132 and 

determined that it does not have 

implications for federalism. 

Environmental Analysis 

TSA has reviewed this interpretive 

rule for purposes of the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA) 17 and has determined that this 

action will not have a significant effect 

on the human environment. This action 

is covered by categorical exclusion 

number A3(b) in DHS Management 

Directive 023–01 (formerly Management 

Directive 5100.1), Environmental 

Planning Program, which guides TSA 

compliance with NEPA. 

Energy Impact 

TSA assessed the energy impact of 

this action in accordance with the 

Energy Policy and Conservation Act 

(EPCA),18 and determined that this 

interpretive rule is not a major 

regulatory action under the provisions 

of the EPCA. 

Amendments to Interpretation 

TSA is making the following changes 

to the prohibited items list: 

1. Currently, section I.B(5) reads: 

‘‘Knives of any length, except roundedblade butter and plastic cutlery.’’ TSA is 

revising this section to read: ‘‘Knives of 

any length, except plastic cutlery and 

butter knives (the butter knife exception 

is limited to knives that are roundbladed, blunt-edged, without serration, 

and no longer than a common table 

knife.’’ 

2. Currently, section I.B(7) reads: 

‘‘Razor-type blades, such as box cutters, 

utility knives, and razor blades not in a 

cartridge, but excluding safety razors. 

TSA is revising this section to read: 

‘‘Razor-type blades, such as blades for 

box cutters, utility knives, and nondisposable safety razors. This 

prohibition includes box cutter and 

utility knife housings, with or without 

the razor blade, but excludes disposable 

safety razors and disposable safety razor 

blade cartridges.’’ 

3. TSA is revising section I.C(4) to add 

cat-eyes, to read: ‘‘Brass knuckles, 

including cat-eyes.’’ 

4. TSA added specific citations to 

regulatory cross-references in Section 

III.A and III.B. 

5. TSA is adding section III.E. to read: 

‘‘Compressed gas cylinders for air guns. 

Subject to the following limitations, a 

passenger may place air-powered rifles 

and pistols, components, ammunition, 

and accessories in checked baggage: (1) 

only four gas cylinders specifically 

intended for such rifles and pistols are 

permitted per person, (2) all of the gas 

cylinders must be unpressurized, and 

(3) none of the gas cylinders may exceed 

24 inches in length, 3 inches in 

diameter, or 0.1 cubic feet in total rated 

volume.’’ 

6. TSA made technical corrections to 

update statutory references, address 

typographical errors, and correct or 

clarify internal cross-references. 

The following is the list of prohibited 

items and permitted items reprinted in 

its entirety, with the changes inserted. 

Prohibited Items and Permitted Items 

Interpretation 

I. Prohibited Items 

For purposes of 49 U.S.C. 40101 et 

seq., 49 U.S.C. 44901 et seq., and 49 

CFR 1540.111, TSA interprets the terms 

‘‘weapons, explosives, and 

incendiaries’’ to include the items listed 

below. Accordingly, passengers may not 

carry these items as accessible property 

or on their person through passenger 

screening checkpoints or into airport 

sterile areas and the cabins of a 

passenger aircraft. 

A. Guns and firearms, such as: 

(1) BB guns. 

(2) Compressed air guns. 

(3) Firearms. 

(4) Flare pistols. 

(5) Gun lighters. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 73541 

(6) Parts of guns and firearms. 

(7) Pellet guns. 

(8) Realistic replicas of firearms. 

(9) Spear guns. 

(10) Starter pistols. 

(11) Stun guns/cattle prods/shocking 

devices. 

B. Sharp Objects, such as: 

(1) Axes and hatchets. 

(2) Bows and arrows. 

(3) Reserved. 

(4) Ice axes/Ice picks. 

(5) Knives of any length, except 

plastic cutlery and butter knives (the 

butter knife exception is limited to 

knives that are round-bladed, bluntedged, without serration, and no longer 

than a common table knife). 

(6) Meat cleavers. 

(7) Razor-type blades, such as box 

cutters, utility knives, and nondisposable razors. This prohibition 

includes box cutter and utility knife 

housings, with or without the blade, but 

excludes disposable safety razors and 

disposable safety razor blade cartridges. 

(8) Sabers. 

(9) Reserved. 

(10) Scissors, metal with pointed tips 

and a blade length greater than 4 inches 

as measured from the fulcrum. 

(11) Reserved. 

(12) Swords. 

(13) Throwing stars (martial arts). 

C. Club-Like Items, such as: 

(1) Baseball bats. 

(2) Billy clubs. 

(3) Blackjacks. 

(4) Brass knuckles, including cat-eyes. 

(5) Cricket bats. 

(6) Reserved. 

(7) Golf clubs. 

(8) Reserved. 

(9) Hockey sticks. 

(10) Lacrosse sticks. 

(11) Martial arts weapons, including 

nunchucks, and kubatons. 

(12) Night sticks. 

(13) Pool cues. 

(14) Ski poles. 

(15) Reserved. 

D. All explosives, including 

(1) Ammunition. 

(2) Blasting caps. 

(3) Dynamite. 

(4) Fireworks. 

(5) Flares in any form. 

(6) Gunpowder. 

(7) Hand grenades. 

(8) Plastic explosives. 

(9) Realistic replicas of explosives. 

E. Incendiaries, such as: 

(1) Aerosols, any, except for personal 

care or toiletries in limited quantities. 

(2) Fuels, including cooking fuels and 

any flammable liquid fuel. 

(3) Gasoline. 

(4) Gas torches, including microtorches and torch lighters. 

(5) Lighter fluid. 

(6) Strike-anywhere matches. 

(7) Turpentine and paint thinner. 

(8) Realistic replicas of incendiaries. 

(9) All lighters. 

F. Disabling chemicals and other 

dangerous items, such as: 

(1) Chlorine for pools and spas. 

(2) Compressed gas cylinders 

(including fire extinguishers). 

(3) Liquid bleach. 

(4) Mace. 

(5) Pepper spray. 

(6) Spillable batteries, except those in 

wheelchairs. 

(7) Spray paint. 

(8) Tear gas. 

G. Tools, such as: 

(1) Crowbars. 

(2) Drills and drill bits, including 

cordless portable power drills. 

(3) Hammers. 

(4) Saws and saw blades, including 

cordless portable power saws. 

(5) Other tools greater than 7 inches 

in length, including pliers, 

screwdrivers, and wrenches. 

II. Permitted Items 

For purposes of 49 U.S.C. 40101 et 

seq. and 49 CFR 1540.111, TSA does not 

consider the items on the following lists 

as weapons, explosives, and 

incendiaries because of medical 

necessity or because they appear to pose 

little risk if, as is required, they have 

passed through screening. Therefore, 

passengers may carry these items as 

accessible property or on their person 

through passenger screening 

checkpoints and into airport sterile 

areas and the cabins of passenger 

aircraft. 

A. The following medical and 

personal items: 

(1) Braille note taker, slate and stylus, 

and augmentation devices. 

(2) Cigar cutters. 

(3) Corkscrews. 

(4) Cuticle cutters. 

(5) Diabetes-related supplies/ 

equipment (once inspected to ensure 

prohibited items are not concealed), 

including: insulin and insulin loaded 

dispensing products; vials or box of 

individual vials; jet injectors; pens; 

infusers; and preloaded syringes; and an 

unlimited number of unused syringes, 

when accompanied by insulin; lancets; 

blood glucose meters; blood glucose 

meter test strips; insulin pumps; and 

insulin pump supplies. Insulin in any 

form or dispenser must be properly 

marked with a professionally printed 

label identifying the medication or 

manufacturer’s name or pharmaceutical 

label. 

(6) Eyeglass repair tools, including 

screwdrivers. 

(7) Eyelash curlers. 

(8) Knives, round-bladed butter or 

plastic. 

(9) Reserved. 

(10) Matches (maximum of four 

books, strike on cover, book type). 

(11) Nail clippers. 

(12) Nail files. 

(13) Nitroglycerine pills or spray for 

medical use, if properly marked with a 

professionally printed label identifying 

the medication or manufacturer’s name 

or pharmaceutical label. 

(14) Personal care or toiletries with 

aerosols, in limited quantities. 

(15) Prosthetic device tools and 

appliances (including drill, Allen 

wrenches, pullsleeves) used to put on or 

remove prosthetic devices, if carried by 

the individual with the prosthetic 

device or his or her companion. 

(16) Safety razors (including 

disposable razors). 

(17) Scissors, plastic or metal with 

blunt tips, and metal with pointed tips 

and a blade 4 inches or less in length 

as measured from the fulcrum. 

(18) Tweezers. 

(19) Umbrellas (once inspected to 

ensure prohibited items are not 

concealed). 

(20) Walking canes (once inspected to 

ensure prohibited items are not 

concealed). 

B. Toys, hobby items, and other items 

posing little risk, such as: 

(1) Knitting and crochet needles. 

(2) Toy Transformer® robots and the 

like. 

(3) Toy weapons (if not realistic 

replicas). 

C. The following types of tools: 

(1) Pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, 

and other tools 7 inches or less in 

length, excluding crowbars, drills, 

hammers, and saws. 

III. Items Prohibited in Sterile and Cabin 

Areas, but Permitted in Checked 

Baggage 

Passengers may place prohibited 

items other than explosives, 

incendiaries, disabling chemicals, and 

other dangerous items (other than 

individual self-defense sprays as noted 

below), and loaded firearms in their 

checked baggage, subject to any 

limitations provided in the Department 

of Transportation’s hazardous materials 

regulations provided in 49 CFR part 

175. 

A. Pepper spray or mace. A passenger 

may place one container of self-defense 

spray in checked baggage, not exceeding 

4 fluid ounces by volume, but only if it 

incorporates a positive means to prevent 

accidental discharge. See 49 CFR 

175.10(a)(9) and 49 CFR 171.8 for other 

applicable requirements. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
73542 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

B. Small arms ammunition. A 

passenger may place small arms 

ammunition for personal use in checked 

baggage, but only if securely packed in 

fiber, wood or metal boxes, or other 

packaging specifically designed to carry 

small amounts of ammunition. See 49 

CFR 175.10(a)(8) for other applicable 

requirements. 

C. Unloaded firearms. A passenger 

may place an unloaded firearm or starter 

pistol in checked baggage if the 

passenger makes the following 

declarations to the airline operator, 

either orally or in writing, before 

checking the baggage: (1) the passenger 

has a firearm in his or her bag and that 

it is unloaded; (2) the firearm is carried 

in a hard-sided container; and (3) the 

container is locked, and only the 

passenger has the key or combination. 

See 49 CFR 1540.111(c) for other 

applicable requirements. 

D. Club-like items. A passenger may 

transport club-like objects and sharp 

objects in checked baggage, as long as 

they do not contain explosives or 

incendiaries. 

E. Compressed gas cylinders for air 

guns. Subject to the following 

limitations, a passenger may place airpowered rifles and pistols, components, 

ammunition, and accessories in checked 

baggage: (1) only four gas cylinders 

specifically intended for such rifles and 

pistols are permitted per person, (2) all 

of the gas cylinders must be 

unpressurized, and (3) none of the gas 

cylinders may exceed 24 inches in 

length, 3 inches in diameter, or 0.1 

cubic feet in total rated volume. 

IV. Lists Are Not Exclusive 

Neither the prohibited items list nor 

the permitted items list contains all 

possible items. A screener has 

discretion to prohibit an individual 

from carrying an item into a sterile area 

or onboard an aircraft if the screener 

determines that the item is a weapon, 

explosive, or incendiary, regardless of 

whether the item is on the prohibited 

items list or the permitted items list. For 

example, if a cigar cutter or other article 

on the permitted list appears unusually 

dangerous, the screener may refuse to 

allow it in sterile areas. Similarly, 

screeners may allow individuals to 

bring items into the sterile area that are 

not on the permitted items list. In 

addition, items may be prohibited from 

the cabin of an aircraft, or allowed in 

only limited quantities, by Department 

of Transportation regulations governing 

hazardous materials. Individuals with 

questions about the carriage of 

hazardous materials on passenger 

aircraft may call the Hazardous 

Materials Information Center at 1–800– 

467–4922 for more information. 

Dated: October 20, 2023. 

David P. Pekoske, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2023–23653 Filed 10–25–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–05–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1