I am trying to find a set of all-plastic eating utensils (fork, spoon,
knife) that would be allowed to be brought onto an airplane.  I am not
looking for the flimsy disposable flatware, but truly thick and 
sturdy utentsils that could be machine washed and used over and over
again.  Can anyone help?

Dear prpro-ga;

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. The
Transportation Security Administration is the entity with the
authority to dictate what can and cannot be carried onto an aircraft.

In this document from the Transportation Security Administration dated
09-06-2005, ?round-bladed butter or plastic knives? are listed among
the permissible items one may take aboard an aircraft. I noted that
the other types of flatware (forks and spoons) were not mentioned.

PERMITTED AND PROHIBITED ITEMS
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_9_6_2005.pdf

Fear not! Since forks and spoons were noticeably absent from the list
of permissible items on the document obtained from their website, I
personally contacted the Transportation Security Administration?s
Consumer Response Center on your behalf and posed the question
directly to them. The very helpful and friendly TSA customer service
representative confirmed that is indeed permissible to carry plastic
flatware (forks, spoons, and ?round-bladed butter or plastic knives?)
aboard flights.

In the future you can obtain updates yourself free of charge by
calling the Transportation Security Administration?s Consumer Response
Center at 1-866-289-9673 or email them at:
TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov

Have a great (and safe) trip!

I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



INFORMATION SOURCES

Transportation Security Administration
http://www.tsa.gov

I telephoned the Transportation Security Administration?s Consumer
Response Center personally at 1-866-289-9673 and obtained verification
directly from the Customer Service Representative.

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 19 Oct 2005 11:59 PDT

Let me clalrify what I learned: I found out, directly from the
giverning source, that ANY of the plastic utensils you mentioned are
permissible to carry onboard an airline. Having said that, ANY set of
all-plastic eating utensils (fork, spoon, knife) that you would like
to purchase would be allowed to be brought onto an airplane.

According the TSA any kind are permissible so you might consider this
set of sturdy, washable, reusable plastic utensils from PARTY POOPERS:

Knives
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?btnG=Search+Froogle&hl=en&oid=17981344364386046551&pid=4849131606061744606&q=WASHABLE+PLASTIC+CUTLERY&scoring=p

Forks
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?btnG=Search+Froogle&hl=en&oid=17735286632745704998&pid=4849131606056162748&q=WASHABLE+PLASTIC+CUTLERY&scoring=p

Spoons
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?btnG=Search+Froogle&hl=en&oid=13337383963271140655&pid=4849131606058653274&q=WASHABLE+PLASTIC+CUTLERY&scoring=p

Or this medium weight set from SUITE SUPPLY:

http://www.suitesupply.com/White-Plastic-Medium-Weight-Forks.JRVPFM21.01.htm?trackcode=STEFROOJRVPFM21

tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 19 Oct 2005 12:00 PDT

That should have said : "governing source" ...sorry about that

Tutuzdad, thanks for your research (including making the call!)  I was
really looking for a resource for the heavyweight utensils themselves
(I already knew the TSA stuff); however, galincog gave me precisely
the solution I needed!  I ordered the utensils this morning.  I really
appreciate the extra effort -- and thank you both, tutuzdad and
galincog!

How about these?
http://store.yahoo.com/hitthetrailnewnanga/lexanutensils.html
I searched for reusable plastic fork in froogle.