Armed Commercial pilots

Pima

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From Washington Times....

"Since Mr. Obama’s election, pilots have told us that the approval process for letting pilots carry guns on planes slowed significantly. Last week the problem went from bad to worse. Federal Flight Deck Officers - the pilots who have been approved to carry guns - indicate that the approval process has stalled out.

Pilots cannot openly speak about the changing policies for fear of retaliation from the Transportation Security Administration. Pilots who act in any way that causes a “loss of confidence” in the armed pilot program risk criminal prosecution as well as their removal from the program. Despite these threats, pilots in the Federal Flight Deck Officers program have raised real concerns in multiple interviews."

I bring this up because on CC it has become a hot topic and I am curious of the opinions from this side, esp. since many military pilots go commercial. On CC the majority believe that the govt should end this program and divert funds into the Air Marshall Program
 
It's cheaper than Air Marshals and the pilots have the training. They are also in a good location to stay protected. I say, if they have the training, give them the guns. I think they probably understand the concept of a pressurized cabin. Pulling the trigger can be learned.
 
I'm all for it.

But I never understood why they don't separate the cabin from the cockpit as pressurization is concerned. Actually, don't even separate it. Just give them contol over the masks.

Why can't the pilots flip a switch and put everyone else to sleep and land safely.

JB
 
Why can't the pilots flip a switch and put everyone else to sleep and land safely.

JB

One word: litigation. It won't surprise me one bit to see some of the passengers passengers already lining up lawyers to sue Sully, the rest of his crew, NYC, the NYTA, and Laquardia airport over thier attempted U-boat adventure on the Hudson.

Imagine if the pilot responded to a terrorist threat by flipping that switch, and some passengers were actually KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, INTENTIONALLY! The horror!
 
Bullet,

It's a sad, sad world isn't it.

You're right of course, they would even sue the ham sandwich in the galley if they could.

JB
 
WH: No plans to end pilot-training program
Audrey Hudson - The Washington Times
Monday, March 23, 2009

The Obama administration has no plans to end a program that trains commercial airline pilots to carry guns and thwart terrorist attacks and in fact is seeking to expand resources for oversight and training, government officials and pilot organizations say.

"We're looking for new resources and more money to bring in for next year. The benefits of the program are obvious. The pilots are an intrinsic part of our whole aviation security strategy and one of our layers of security," said Robert Bray, director of the Federal Air Marshal Service which oversees the program.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/23/white-house-no-plan-end-pilot-training-program/

:cool:
 
WH: No plans to end pilot-training program

There probably is no rational argument to arm commercial pilots anymore. After only two months of Obama’s leadership, the world has become a safer place almost overnight. He’d been in office only hours before he decided to close Club Gitmo (of course no one has a clue what to do with the garbage imprisoned there now). According to the White House, we are no longer engaged in a Global War on Terror (there’s a new politically correct term, but the name slips my memory), and have forbidden the term “enemy combatant.” Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano stated that the term “terrorist” is outdated and now refers to terrorist acts as “man-caused disasters.” Meanwhile the Stimulus Bill provided $900 million to Hamas, and the White House has reached out to the leader of Iran and the more moderate members of the Taliban (what an oxymoron).

So let’s put the guns away and follow the advice of former British PM Neville Chamberlain who assured his people in 1938 that they have achieved “Peace in our Time.” Maybe we should just relax and sleep quietly in our beds. :wink:
 
Hahahaha, I had to read that whole post to appreciate it, thanks Viper. :thumb:
 
Viper can have milk and cookies now that you read me a bed time story?:shake: What fairy tale will you read to us tomorrow? Can it be the one about our taxes not going up...or how about how Nationalized Health is the route to go?
 
great post Viper. I read Secretary Napolitano's interview with the "Man- Caused Disaster" term. Very Creative. She didn't delve into it but if there are no acts of "terrorism" (because that has a connotation of living in fear) then what do we call those folks "formerly known as Terrorists" (to paraphrase "Prince")? "Disasterists"? Perhaps we could just redefine them as possessing a new and misunderstood syndrome- "MCD"? You have to love politically correct speech. Interestingly in the Sec Napolitano interview that I read in "Der Spiegel" - she talked about the excellent new tools that she has at her disposal to keep track of the afore mentioned individuals ( hmm- sounds like the Patriot Act might have had a few uses after all despite the campaign rhetoric?)
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,613330,00.html
 
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There probably is no rational argument to arm commercial pilots anymore. After only two months of Obama’s leadership, the world has become a safer place almost overnight. He’d been in office only hours before he decided to close Club Gitmo (of course no one has a clue what to do with the garbage imprisoned there now). According to the White House, we are no longer engaged in a Global War on Terror (there’s a new politically correct term, but the name slips my memory), and have forbidden the term “enemy combatant.” Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano stated that the term “terrorist” is outdated and now refers to terrorist acts as “man-caused disasters.” Meanwhile the Stimulus Bill provided $900 million to Hamas, and the White House has reached out to the leader of Iran and the more moderate members of the Taliban (what an oxymoron).

So let’s put the guns away and follow the advice of former British PM Neville Chamberlain who assured his people in 1938 that they have achieved “Peace in our Time.” Maybe we should just relax and sleep quietly in our beds. :wink:

HAHAHA! :yllol::yllol:

Like when we had this ridiculous cold front in October. The joke going around was I guess Obama already fixed global warming problem and he wasnt in office

I love using Chamberlain as my punchline, unfortunately for him, he couldn't see what Churchill saw.
 
Don't worry...global warming will be back when the republicans take control over on the hill in 10!
 
Don't worry...global warming will be back when the republicans take control over on the hill in 10!

hahaha! Its funny how things come and go with new problems. Like global warming, haven't heard a darn thing on the news in so long. Now the talk is drug cartel in mexico, possible stalemate in Afghanistan and our economy...
 
I wonder will the academy take back Gore's Oscar now?:rolleyes:
 
I'm all for armed pilots. Heck, I'm all for armed [insert responsible person here]. Statistics have shown that allowing citizens to carry has not resulted in any significant increase in violence (and some studies have shown decreasing crime rates).

I should shut up before I completely derail this forum.:redface:
 
Washington D.C. = highest gun control
Washington D.C. = highest gun crime rate
 
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