Thu, Jan 26, 2012
FFDOA Pushes For Permission To Wear Guns Outside Cockpit
Everyone knows that pilots who receive certain training are now
allowed to carry guns into the cockpits of the aircraft they fly.
Fewer of us probably knew there is a Federal Flight Deck Officer
Association to represent them. The association is lobbying for
relaxed restrictions which would allow armed pilots to carry their
weapons outside the cockpits, including when they're out of uniform
and riding as passengers in the cabins of airliners.
Association President Marcus Flagg observes, "That would put us
in line with standard law enforcement." In discussing the issue
with the Sun Sentinel, he declined to say how many pilots
participate in the program, but said the number of armed pilots is
just behind the number of FBI agents, which is about 13,800. In
justification of the push for the change, Flagg notes that there
are five times as many armed pilots as federal air marshals.
TSA says the restriction on carrying guns outside the cockpit
are in place to protect the traveling public. The paper reports
weapons experts say the policy likely is intended to eliminate the
possibility of a troublemaker taking a gun from pilot or of an
accidental discharge. Flagg counters that pilots are trained to
minimize those risks before being authorized to carry. he also says
the restrictions are discouraging many pilots who might otherwise
participate in the program.
TSA disagrees. Spokeswoman Kimberly Thompson of the Federal Air
Marshal Service says, "Interest in the program and participation
both remain strong. There are no shortages of applicants."
Some law enforcement officers are expressing the same disdain
for armed pilots in airliner cabins that they expressed when TSA
employees were issued uniforms and badges which made them look like
actual police. One comments to the Sun Sentinel, "I went through a
one day FAA course that taught me how to put an airplane on
autopilot and evacuate and aircraft safely. This does not make me a
pilot. These guys go through five days of firearms training that
deal with cockpit tactics. This does not make them law enforcement
officers. Keep them in the cockpit."
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