AT777 From United States, joined Aug 2006, 121 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 15502 times:
I was looking at the local news here in CLT and saw this article.
Thought it might interesting to some of you. I was unaware of a program for pilots that allow them to carry on a flight.
Ikramerica From United States, joined May 2005, 15069 posts, RR: 45 Reply 2, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 15317 times:
I wonder if anyone even noticed? A320 and 737/757 series are not exactly quiet, the cockpit door is reinforced, and the surfaces in the flight deck would certainly help muffle any sound.
But it does reinforce the answer to the question: what happens if a gun goes off in flight? Answer: nothing much unless it hits somebody...
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Md94 From United States, joined Oct 2006, 105 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 15078 times:
I bet those pilots ears rung until well after they landed. My buddy accidently let off a round from his 30-30 in a pickup while we were hunting. Oh my, it hurt our ears so bad...plus the look on both of our faces after it happened was priceless.
Kdm From New Zealand, joined Feb 2006, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 15003 times:
Is it only US carriers that carry guns and is it all of them? It was also the first I heard that this was the case. I hate guns at the best of times so am quite disappointed that they allow them on planes now.
L-188 From United States, joined Jul 1999, 27949 posts, RR: 71 Reply 6, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 14854 times:
I hope this doesn't get blown out of proportion to the point where the program is xld.
Last time I checked was that the weapon wasn't supposed to be out of it's locked case during the flight. So if that was the case here he was breaking the rules.
BHMBAGLOCK From United States, joined Jul 2005, 2646 posts, RR: 22 Reply 7, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 14681 times:
Quoting Kdm (Reply 4): Is it only US carriers that carry guns and is it all of them? It was also the first I heard that this was the case. I hate guns at the best of times so am quite disappointed that they allow them on planes now.
First, Air Marshalls have been carrying on US flights for decades, so it's not really new.
Second, would you rather that the next time Osama's boys want to crash a plane, maybe with you on board, that there be no armed resistance on board? Think of the difference this could have made on 9/11.
2175301 From United States, joined May 2007, 361 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 14572 times:
Unless the gun malfunctioned.... It is unlikely that there was really an accidental discharge - unless the gun was dropped and it was of certain designs.
However, some guns are much easier to "accidentally" misfire than others; and some guns are much more inherently safer (you really must pull the trigger for it to go off).
United1 From United States, joined Oct 2003, 1650 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 14520 times:
Quoting Kdm (Reply 4): Is it only US carriers that carry guns and is it all of them?
US pilots have had the option of going through special training/certification and being allowed to carry a weapon onboard for some time. Air Marshalls have been onboard US aircraft for decades and all are highly trained and armed.
Quoting Kdm (Reply 4): I hate guns at the best of times so am quite disappointed that they allow them on planes now.
Your completely entitled to your opinion however firearms are perfectly safe as long as the person who is carrying it knows what they are doing and behaves in a professional manner.
AirCop From United States, joined Nov 2005, 6103 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 14392 times:
Quoting United1 (Reply 9): Air Marshalls have been onboard US aircraft for decades and all are highly trained and armed.
Actually, very few flights have any air marshal's on board. The last figure I saw back in 2006 there were only 1500 air (sky) marshals employed by the DHS.
CaptOveur From United States, joined May 2004, 6767 posts, RR: 30 Reply 11, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 14281 times:
Quoting AirCop (Reply 10): Actually, very few flights have any air marshal's on board. The last figure I saw back in 2006 there were only 1500 air (sky) marshals employed by the DHS.
And they are constantly hiring. However, the background check excludes just about anyone. I know 3 people who have applied and passed federal background checks for ATF, DEA, FBI, USSS, but failed the background check for Air Marshal.
Things were better when it was two guys in a dorm room.
PHLJJS From United States, joined Oct 2005, 265 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 14121 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 6): I hope this doesn't get blown out of proportion to the point where the program is xld.
Last time I checked was that the weapon wasn't supposed to be out of it's locked case during the flight. So if that was the case here he was breaking the rules.
The program will not be canceled because of this. There are plenty of incidents where an FFDO has lost or misplaced their weapons over the years and the program is still around. This is the first I've heard of an incident requarding a discharge. Also, the weapon only needs to be in its locked case when the FFDO is not in a locked cockpit. When in the cockpit, they take the weapon out of the case and wear it holstered. If walking through the airport, riding in the cabin as a passenger (deadheading), leaving the cockpit in-flight to use the lav, etc, he/she must have the gun locked up. Last year, DHS also approved a locking holster for use instead of the metal lock box being used.
United1 From United States, joined Oct 2003, 1650 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 13978 times:
Quoting AirCop (Reply 10): Actually, very few flights have any air marshal's on board. The last figure I saw back in 2006 there were only 1500 air (sky) marshals employed by the DHS.
I never said that they were on every flight just that they have been onboard US aircraft for decades. You are right that they are not enough to cover every flight you usually have a higher chance of one being onboard "higher risk" flights (TLV, Middle East, DCA, Cities that have large sporting evens going on in them, etc) other then that its really random from a passenger perspective if they will be on a flight.
AvroArrow From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 783 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (5 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 13644 times:
Oops. Lucky that none of the crew got hit. Also lucky that seemingly no systems were damaged during the incident. Is there a standard sidearm that approved pilot have to use or are they free to choose their own? It'd be the ultimate irony if an airliner was somehow brought down by something like this incident. Although I realize the odds are pretty long, it'd still suck.
Give me a mile of road and I can take you a mile. Give me a mile of runway and I can show you the world.
Quoting United1 (Reply 14):
I never said that they were on every flight just that they have been onboard US aircraft for decades. You are right that they are not enough to cover every flight you usually have a higher chance of one being onboard "higher risk" flights (TLV, Middle East, DCA, Cities that have large sporting evens going on in them, etc) other then that its really random from a passenger perspective if they will be on a flight.
Also I see there normally on bigger planes than the single aisles and regionals.
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